This chapter is about islah, reconciling people who have fallen out. Bringing hearts back together is shown to be among the most beloved deeds, woven into the fabric of daily worship rather than reserved for grand occasions.
Watch how far the Prophet (ﷺ) went to protect peace: he counted just settlement as charity, lifted blame from a man who softened an oath for the sake of harmony, even left a congregation waiting while he settled a quarrel. The lesson is that mending relationships is sacred work, and rigid pride must yield to it.
Hadith 248
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول صلى الله عليه وسلم: "كل سلامى من الناس عليه صدقة، كل يوم تطلع فيه الشمس: تعدل بين الاثنين صدقة، وتعين الرجل على دابته فتحمله عليها، أو ترفع له عليها متاعه صدقة. والكلمة الطيبة صدقة، وبكل خطوة تمشيها إلى الصلاة صدقة، وتميط الأذى عن الطريق صدقة" ((متفق عليه)). (17)
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "On every joint of man, there is charity, on everyday when the sun rises: doing justice between two men is charity, and assisting a man to ride an animal or to load his luggage on it is charity; and a good word is charity, every step which one takes towards (the mosque for) Salat is charity, and removing harmful things from the way is charity". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Every day, each part of the body owes charity, and the Prophet lists simple ways to pay it: settling disputes fairly, helping someone with their mount or load, a kind word, steps toward prayer, and clearing harm from the path.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 248 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 248
Hadith 249
Umm Kulthum bint 'Uqbah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن أم كلثوم بنت عقبة بن أبي معيط رضي الله عنها قالت سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "ليس الكذاب الذي يصلح بين الناس فينمي خيرًا، أو يقول خيرًا" ((متفق عليه)). و في رواية مسلم زيادة، قالت: "و لم اسمعه يرخصه في شيء مما يقوله الناس الا في ثلاث، تعني: الحرب، و الاصلاح بين الناس، و حديث الرجل امراته، و حديث المرأة زوجها".
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'The person who (lies) in order to conciliate between people is not a liar, when he conveys good or says (something) good". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. The narration in Muslim added: She said, "I never heard him (she meant the Prophet (ﷺ)) giving permission of lying in anything except in three (things): war, conciliating between people and the conversation of man with his wife and the conversation of a woman with her husband".
In plain words
Someone who smooths things between people by conveying good is not counted a liar. A narration notes permission to bend words only in three cases: war, reconciling people, and between spouses. Mending relationships is given special leeway.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 249 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 249
Hadith 250
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صوت خصوم بالباب عالية أصواتهما، وإذا أحدهما يستوضع الآخر ويسترفقه في شيء، وهو يقول: والله لا أفعل، فخرج عليهما رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: “أين المتألي على الله لا يفعل المعروف؟ " فقال: أنا يا رسول الله ، فله أي ذلك أحب ، ((متفق عليه)) .
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard the voices of altercation of two disputants at the door; both the voices were quite loud. One was asking the other to make his debts little (so that he could pay them) and was pleading with him to show leniency to him, whereupon the (other one) said: "By Allah, I will not do that". Then there came Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to them and said, "Where is he who swore by Allah that he would not do good?" He said: "O Messenger of Allah, it is me. Now he may do as he desires". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Hearing two men argue, one refusing to ease a debt for the other, the Prophet asked where the man was who swore not to do good, and he at once relented. A gentle nudge toward generosity overcame a stubborn oath.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 250 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 250
Hadith 251
Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي العباس سهل بن سعد الساعدي رضي الله عنه ، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بلغه أن بني عمرو بن عوف كان بينهم شر، فخرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلح بينهم في أناس معه ، فحبس رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وحانت الصلاة، فهل لك أن تؤم الناس؟ قال: نعم إن شئت، فأقام بلال الصلاة، وتقدم أبو بكر فكبر وكبر الناس،وجاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يمشي في الصفوف حتى قام في الصف، فأخذ الناس في التصفيق، وكان أبو بكر رضي الله عنه لا يلتفت في صلاته، فلما أكثر الناس التصفيق التفت، فإذا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأشار إليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فرفع أبو بكر رضي الله عنه يده فحمد الله، ورجع القهقرى وراءه حتى قام في الصف، فتقدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فصلى للناس، فلما فرغ أقبل على الناس فقال: "أيها الناس ما لكم حين نابكم شيء في الصلاة أخذتم في التصفيق ؟ إنما التصفيق للنساء. من نابه شيء في صلاته فليقل سبحان الله، فإنه لا يسمعه أحد حين يقول سبحان الله إلا التفت، : يا أبا بكر: ما منعك أن تصلي الناس حين أشرت إليك؟" فقال أبو بكر: ما كان ينبغي لابن أبي قحافة أن يصلي بالناس بين يدي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. ((متفق عليه)). (20) .
There was some quarrel among the members of Banu 'Amr bin 'Auf. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went with some of his Companions to bring about peace between them and he was detained. The time for Salat approached and Bilal (May Allah be pleased with them) went to Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: "Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has got late and it is the time for Salat. Will you lead Salat?" He said: "Yes, if you desire". Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) proclaimed the Adhan and then pronounced Iqamah. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward and commenced As- Salat. (He recited Takbir and the people followed him). In the meantime, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived and, passing through the rows, took his stand in the first row. The people started clapping. It was the habit of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) that whenever he started praying, he would never look round. He paid no heed (to the clapping). When the clapping increased, he turned round and saw Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He (the Prophet (ﷺ)) beckoned him to continue performing Salat. But Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) raised his hands and praised Allah. Then he retreated, taking his steps backwards. When Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw that, he went ahead and led Salat. When he finished Salat, he faced the congregation and said, "Why do you clap when something happens during the Salat. Clapping is only for women. If something happens in the course of Salat you should say, Subhan Allah. It is bound to attract attention. And you, Abu Bakr, what prevented you from carrying on with Salat, after I beckoned to do so?" He said, "It was not becoming for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead Salat in the presence of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet was delayed settling a quarrel between people, so Abu Bakr led the prayer until he arrived. The episode shows how making peace was important enough to keep even the congregation waiting, and models humility in worship.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 251 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 251