Twice a week, the Prophet ﷺ tells us, the gates of Paradise are opened, and every servant who associates nothing with Allah is forgiven, except one: a person between whom and his brother there is rancour. Of him it is said: leave these two until they reconcile, leave these two until they reconcile.
Where this hadith comes from
This is a hadith qudsi: a saying in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) conveys words from Allah Himself, outside the wording of the Qur'an. It is narrated by Abu Hurayrah (ra) and recorded by Muslim, and it is graded sahih (authentic).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) reports that the gates of Paradise are opened on Mondays and on Thursdays, and that every servant who associates nothing with Allah is forgiven, with one striking exception: a person who carries a grudge against his brother. Its lesson sits squarely in akhlaq (character) and tazkiyah (purifying the heart), and that is where we will keep it.
The key words
What it means, line by line
The gates are opened twice a week and forgiveness is poured out on every servant who keeps his worship for Allah alone (la yushriku billahi shay'an, associating nothing with Him). The one condition that holds a person back here is not a great sin but a shahna': a grudge nursed against a brother. Of the two at odds it is said, leave these two until they reconcile, repeated three times for weight.
The verse names the cure. Believers are told to hold firmly to the rope of Allah together and not split apart, and then to remember a favour: once they were enemies, and Allah joined their hearts so that by His grace they became brothers. The hadith warns that a grudge puts your forgiveness on hold; the verse shows that the unity it asks of you is itself a gift Allah works in hearts.
Forgiveness held back by a grudge
Picture the scene: mercy is being poured out, the gates are open, sins are being wiped away, and one person is set aside, not for some great crime, but for a grudge. He is told, in effect, 'wait here until you make peace.' The hadith reveals how seriously Allah takes the bonds between believers: a heart at war with a brother is a heart that has put its own forgiveness on hold.
Reconciliation is worth more than being right
We cling to grudges because we feel wronged, because we are 'right.' This hadith asks a sharper question: is being right worth forfeiting Allah's forgiveness twice a week? The believer learns to value reconciliation above the satisfaction of the grievance. Mend the tie, release the rancour, take the first step even if you were wronged, and walk back into the mercy you were keeping yourself out of.
Carry this with you
Do not let a grudge hold your forgiveness hostage.
Mercy is poured out regularly.
The gates open and servants are forgiven, twice a week and more. Be found ready, not estranged.
A grudge holds you back.
The one at war with his brother is set aside from forgiveness until he reconciles.
Reconciliation beats being right.
Is the satisfaction of a grievance worth forfeiting Allah's forgiveness? Value the mended tie more.
Take the first step.
Even if you were wronged, move to make peace, and walk back into the mercy you were missing.
A du'a to carry
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟
Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. (Al-Hashr 59:10)
A du'a for a heart at peace
Twice a week the gates swing open and mercy rains down, and the only one left standing in the cold is the one who would not let go of a grudge. Do not be him.
O Allah, empty our hearts of rancour toward the believers, and make us quick to reconcile. Forgive us and our brothers and sisters, and leave no resentment in us toward those who believe. Ameen.
The hadith qudsi is from sunnah.com: 'The gates of Paradise are opened on Mondays and Thursdays...' narrated by Abu Hurayrah (ra), recorded by Muslim, graded sahih. The supporting Qur'an (59:10) is in Uthmani script verified via quran.ai (ar-uthmani-minimal) with the Saheeh International translation. Per the editorial policy this stays with the character lesson (reconciliation and releasing grudges). FOR SCHOLAR REVIEW before publication.