Prohibition of Nursing Rancour

Guidance - II

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Abu Hurairah reported Allah’s Messenger (may Allah bless and greet him) as saying: The gates of Paradise are not opened but on two days, Monday and Thursday, and then every servant (of Allah) is granted pardon who does not associate anything with Allah except the person in whose (heart) there is rancour against his brother. And it would be said: Look towards both of them until there is reconciliation; look toward both of them until there is reconciliation; look towards both of them until there is reconciliation. This hadith has also been narrated on the authority of Suhail who narrated it on the authority of his father with the chain of transmitters of Malik, but with this variation of wording: “(Those would not be granted pardon) who boycott each other.”

(Sahih Muslim)

This hadith underlines the prohibition of nursing rancour against one’s brother. Nursing rancour breaks family and social relationship. It affects the very foundations on which a family or society is expected to run harmoniously. It is such a great sin that due to this Allah the Exalted would not grant His pardon to one who commits this sin. Thus such a person will stand as a great loser. However Allah is Most Forgiving; He can pardon a sinner if he mends his ways and seeks his forgiveness.

This hadith also brings into light the importance of two particular days in a week – Monday and Thursday. It is on these two days when Allah the Exalted keeps the gate of the Paradise open and forgives His servants who do not associate someone with Him in His powers and attributes except those who indulge in nursing rancour against each other or, in the words of another hadith, boycott each other.

Instead of nursing rancour against someone, the believers should love their fellow brothers just with the intention of winning the pleasure of Allah.

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