Abu ad-Dardā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Shall I not tell you of something better in degree than fasting, prayer, and charity?" They said: Yes. He said: "Reconciling between people, for discord among them is the shaver."
Reported by At-Tirmidhi (No. 2509), Abu Dawud (No. 4919) and Ahmad (No. 26236).
The Prophet (ﷺ) asked his Companions: Shall I tell you of something that brings a greater reward than frequently performing voluntary fasting, prayer, and charity? They said: Yes. He said: It is reconciling between those in conflict, for disputes lead to division, estrangement, hatred, and turning away from one another. The enmity that results from discord is a trait that destroys and eradicates both religion and worldly life, just as a razor completely removes hair.
Lessons
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to ask his Companions questions and arouse their eagerness to know the answer.
At-Tībi said: This Hadīth encourages and urges reconciliation between people and the avoidance of causing discord, for reconciliation is a means of holding fast to the rope of Allah and preventing division among Muslims. Discord, on the other hand, is a breach in the religion; thus, whoever strives to mend it and remove its corruption attains a rank higher than that of one who fasts, prays, and is occupied only with his own personal worship.
Explanation in Arabic
سأل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أصحابه: هل أخبركم بأفضل من أجر الإكثار من نافلة الصيام والصلاة والصدقة؟ قالوا: نعم.
قال: الإصلاح بين المتخاصمين حيث تورث الخصومة الفرقة والوحشة والتباغض والتدابر بين الناس، فإنَّ ما يترتب على فساد ذات البين من البغضاء هي الخصلة التي من شأنها أن تهلك وتستأصل الدين والدنيا كما يستأصل الموسى الشعر.
هدي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بسؤال الصحابة وتشويقهم لمعرفة الجواب.
قال الطيبي: الحث والترغيب في إصلاح ذات البين واجتناب إفسادها؛ لأن الإصلاح سبب للاعتصام بحبل الله وعدم التفرق بين المسلمين، وفساد ذات البين ثلمة في الدين فمن تعاطى إصلاحها ورفع فسادها نال درجة فوق ما يناله الصائم القائم المشتغل بخاصة نفسه.
