Is it permissible for a person to forsake a fellow Muslim for more that 3 days?

Nasihah (Advice): Make Dua for your brother/sister in their absence

 

Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “The supplication of a Muslim for another Muslim in their absence will certainly be answered. Every time a Muslim makes Dua (for good) for another Muslim, the Angel appointed for this particular task says: ‘Ameen! May the same be for you too’.” (Sahih Muslim)

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Question and Answer:

 

1. Is it okay to refrain from communicating with a Muslim if they may cause harm to you? Does this go against the teaching that one cannot refrain from speaking to another Muslim for more than three days? 

 

1. The Hadith in reference is as follows:

 

 

لاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ

 

“It is not permissible for a Muslim to forsake his (Muslim) brother/sister for more than three days.” (Sahih Bukhari)

 

This ruling is subject to there being no valid Islamic reasoning for forsaking one’s Muslim brother/sister. If however, a person forsakes another Muslim for more than 3 days to avert any harm that may be caused to himself/herself or his/her worldly/religious life, then this will not fall under the ambit of the above ruling. (Faydhul Qadeer 4/506 – Mirqaat 8/3147)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

 

(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) 

 

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