Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother

ASSALAMALIKUM

i request you kindly suggest me about a problem am facing with a muslim brother.recently myself and another muslim brother had a little quarrel regarding an issue which has now resulted in a bitter result.he doen'nt talk to me but he is continuosly teasing,commenting and insulting me in presence of other people.but ofcourse Alhamdullilah i didnot lost my patience till now.i just keep silence and going on with my work.but now adays he is disturbing too much.please tell me how can i handle him islamically because he is elder than me and he is too a muslim.

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Answer:

Quarrel with muslim

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …..please tell me how can i handle him islamically because he is elder than me and he is too a muslim.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Haa Meem verses 34-35:

34 Nor can goodness and evil (ever) be equal! Repel (evil) with that which is better (goodness): then will he, between whom and thee was hatred, become as it were thy friend and intimate!

35 And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint; none but persons of the greatest good fortune.

Respected brother, regardless of what your friend with whom the Shaytaan has caused a misunderstanding chooses to say or do, you as one who fears Allah should display patience for the Sake of Allah, and repel every evil he does towards you with nothing but goodness…that would be piety and righteousness on your part in the Sight of your Lord.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1740 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘A believer does not taunt, curse, abuse or talk indecently.’

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2073 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) used to fast on Monday and Thursdays, and when someone remarked on this to him he (saws) said, "On Monday and Thursday Allah forgives every Muslim except two who are at variance, for He Says they must be left till they make peace with each other."

Al-Muwatta Hadith 47.13

Yahya related from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Ata ibn Yazid al-Laythi from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "It is not lawful for a muslim to shun his brother for more than three nights: ie. they meet, and this one turns away and that one turns away! The better of the two is the one who says the greeting (salaams) first."

It simply does not befit the character of a believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day to taunt, curse, or abuse anyone….leave alone his believing brother!!!

Respected brother, if you have shown patience towards the evil attitude displayed by your believing brother, and have sincerely tried to solve the misunderstanding and make peace with your believing brother only for the Sake of Allah, and your friend has shunned your approaches of peace….it is he who will bear the burden of the sin.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan