The rights of a Muslim over a Muslim: The default ruling is that they are obligatory, except where the evidence indicates they are a recommended practice
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His Eminence the Shaykh: From Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The right of a Muslim over a Muslim is six." What is the meaning of "The right of a Muslim over a Muslim is six"? And are they obligatory or a recommended practice?
The default ruling, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) says: "The right of a Muslim over a Muslim is such and such," is that it is obligatory, because rights must be fulfilled.And the word: (Upon) The scholars said: It signifies obligation, but if there is an indication that it is not obligatory, that indication is followed.For example: Among the rights is that if you meet him, you greet him. Initiating the greeting is a recommended practice, not obligatory, except when it exceeds three days, in which case it is obligatory. This is because it is permissible for a Muslim to boycott his brother for less than three days, and anything beyond that is not permissible for him.As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family said: "It is not permissible for a believer to boycott his brother for more than three days. They meet, and this one turns away and that one turns away, and the best of them is the one who initiates the greeting." And with that, we say: Boycotting him during these three days should not be done unless there is a benefit, such as if the one being boycotted is in sin, and boycotting him and not greeting him leads to abandoning that sin. In that case, the boycott is good.
And the summary of the answer is that we say: If the wording comes in this form: "The right of a Muslim over a Muslim" is such and such, the default ruling is that it is obligatory, unless the evidence indicates that it is recommended.
The default ruling, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) says: "The right of a Muslim over a Muslim is such and such," is that it is obligatory, because rights must be fulfilled.And the word: (Upon) The scholars said: It signifies obligation, but if there is an indication that it is not obligatory, that indication is followed.For example: Among the rights is that if you meet him, you greet him. Initiating the greeting is a recommended practice, not obligatory, except when it exceeds three days, in which case it is obligatory. This is because it is permissible for a Muslim to boycott his brother for less than three days, and anything beyond that is not permissible for him.As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family said: "It is not permissible for a believer to boycott his brother for more than three days. They meet, and this one turns away and that one turns away, and the best of them is the one who initiates the greeting." And with that, we say: Boycotting him during these three days should not be done unless there is a benefit, such as if the one being boycotted is in sin, and boycotting him and not greeting him leads to abandoning that sin. In that case, the boycott is good.
And the summary of the answer is that we say: If the wording comes in this form: "The right of a Muslim over a Muslim" is such and such, the default ruling is that it is obligatory, unless the evidence indicates that it is recommended.