(31) Chapter: Making Peace among People

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: 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]. Commentary: This Hadith highlights the following four main points:1. It is desirable to help someone who is in straitened circumstances because of a debt. If the lender forgives a partof the loan or gives concession of time in repayment of loan, it is an act of great merit. As Allah says: "And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay; but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know.'' (2:280) 2. If someone seems to incline towards evil, he should be scolded so that he would keep himself away from it and would turn to virtue. 3. Such people who quarrel among themselves should not be left to mutual bickering but efforts should be made for their reconciliation. 4. People who are quarreling should also co-operate with those who make efforts for reconciliation, and respect their spirit of goodwill.