Peacemaking as Compared to Worship
Adil Salahi, Arab News
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=63659&d=13&m=5&y=2005
Question
Could you please comment on the Hadith that says that peacemaking is superior in degree to fasting, prayer and alms giving.
Answer
The Hadith to which you refer may be translated as follows: “The Prophet said: ‘Shall I tell you of a degree that is higher than prayer, fasting and charity?’ His companions said: ‘Yes, please.’ The Prophet said: ‘Setting internal relations right.’ Then he said: ‘Letting internal relations go wrong is the eraser.’” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad). In another version an addition explaining the meaning of “the eraser” quotes the Prophet as saying: “Letting internal relations go wrong is the eraser. I do not say that it removes hair, but it erases faith.”
It is clear that the Hadith lays strong emphasis on keeping relations within the Muslim community at the best and highest level. This is something also stressed in the Qur’an where we read: “Have fear of God and set to right your internal relations. Obey God and His Messenger, if you are true believers.” (8: 1)
It should be noted that the _expression_ used in the Hadith and the Qur’anic verse is the same. It means more than just making peace. It aims to achieve stronger and better relations within the Muslim community, which is characterized by the Qur’anic description: “All believers are but brothers.” (49: 9)
Brotherly relations are much closer and more intimate than the mere absence of conflict. Such relations mean mutual love and care throughout the Muslim community, where every individual is important, and every complaint should be addressed. Setting internal relations right means the absence of any injustice, ensuring that everyone’s rights are respected, and everyone is looked after. A community may not have quarrels and disputes, but the element of care for one another may be absent. This is not the way Islam wants its community to be. It wants that everyone care for everyone else, trying to remove their distress and to bring them happiness. This is the sort of things that the Prophet refers to when he describes it as a degree higher than prayer, fasting and charity. This does not mean that
we should stop these acts of worship and concentrate on social relations. In fact only when we practice our worship properly can we attend to other duties, particularly at the social level.
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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