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Fatwa CenterExplanation of Hadith
Question
Dear Brother, I need and appreciate it if you can shed light on the following Hadith. I read a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 702 about Ka'b Bin Malik , the Sahabah who stood the test and trials by being boycotted by his fellow Sahabah and Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) until the decision from Allah to accept his repentance came.Can you please explain how this Hadith is applicable in this day and age? And if a Sheikh decide to act upon the Hadith to boycott someone, how will the Sheikh know about the decision from Allah?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Basically, it is Haram for a Muslim to desert his Muslim brother more than three nights for the sound Hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from Anas Ibn Malik from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) who said: "It is Haram for a Muslim to desert his Muslim brother more than three days" .
According to Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah Mercy be upon him), Muslim scholars believe that it is prohibited to abandon a Muslim more than three nights', i.e. a three-day-desertion is permitted. Such a permission is granted since a human being is naturally disposed for anger and deficient character, i.e. so that one may have temporary lapses.
As for desertion for more than three nights, it is not permitted unless one is an innovator or sinful. If one repents and returns to what is right, it becomes Haram to desert him for the Hadith of Ka'b Ibn Malik (Radiya Allahu Anhu) when the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and his companions deserted him until Allah, The Exalted, forgave him in the Qur'anic revelation. So, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and his companions offered their congratulations to him. That incident was a special case and the Divine Revelation (i.e. Qur'an) was sent down. Now, we should stop deserting anyone, when we see signs of his real repentance.
Allah knows best.
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