The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The rights of a Muslim over a Muslim are six..." What is the ruling on fulfilling them?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, may Allah guide you and protect you: In the hadith: Sahih Muslim 2162b some of them are clearly a recommended practice, such as greeting with peace, but some are ambiguous or unclear as to whether they are obligatory or a recommended practice.
The Shaykh : Mention them so that the brothers can hear.
The questioner : The six?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner :Bulugh al-Maram 16:1 meaning the meaning of the hadith and following funerals and visiting the sick.
The Shaykh : Yes,Mishkat al-Masabih 1525 these rights mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) include what is obligatory and what is a recommended practice. The default status of a right is that it is obligatory, because the word "right" means something established, and establishment is a characteristic of the obligatory. However, if other evidence indicates that a matter is not obligatory, we act according to that evidence; otherwise, the default is obligation. For example, Sahih Muslim 2162b regarding initiating the greeting of peace, we do not say it is obligatory, nor do we say it is not obligatory. It is permissible to boycott one's brother for up to three days, but anything beyond three days is forbidden. Consequently, the greeting of peace that ends the boycott is obligatory, and it is not permissible to leave it off, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 2560a On this occasion, I would like to clarify that boycotting among Muslims is forbidden; this is the default rule. However, the Lawgiver granted a dispensation for boycotting for three days, because a person may have some dispute, conflict, or difference of opinion with his brother and become angry with him. So the Lawgiver allowed him three days for what is in his heart to subside. Otherwise, the default is that boycotting is forbidden. If someone asks: "Is boycotting people who commit sins obligatory?" The answer is: If boycotting them leads to their repentance from the sins, then boycott them. If it does not lead to that, do not boycott them, because boycotting only adds to the trouble and does not increase this sinner in anything but persistence in his sin, as is observed. Thus, boycotting is a remedy: if it is beneficial, use it; otherwise, do not.
As for responding to the sneezer if he praises Allah, it is obligatory, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2747Sahih (Darussalam) meaning: if he sneezes and praises Allah.
As for visiting the sick, the correct view is that it is a collective obligation, and it is not permissible for Muslims to have a brother who is sick and for none of them to visit him. Rather, he must be visited, but it is a collective obligation; if those sufficient to fulfill it do so, it drops from the rest.
As for following his funeral, it is also a collective obligation. It is necessary to follow his funeral, wash him, shroud him, pray over him, and bury him. It is not permissible for Muslims to neglect these. These rights mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this hadith include what is obligatory and what is not obligatory. The default is obligation; the default is that they are obligatory. Yes.
Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim
حق المسلم على المسلم ستThe Shaykh : Mention them so that the brothers can hear.
The questioner : The six?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner :
Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “A Muslim has six duties towards other Muslims: When you meet him, you should salute him; when he invites you, accept his invitation; when he asks for your advice, give it to him; when he sneezes and praises Allah, say May Allah have mercy on you; when he is ill, visit him; and when he dies follow his funeral.” Related by Muslim.
حق المسلم على المسلم ست إذا لقيته فسلم عليه، وإذا استنصحك فانصح له، وإذا دعاك فأجبهThe Shaykh : Yes,
when he sneezes and praises God say, ‘God have mercy on you’
وإذا عطس فحمد الله فشمتهWhen you meet him, offer him greetings
إذا لقيته فسلم عليهIt is not permissible for a Muslim to have estranged relations with his brother beyond three nights, the one turning one way and the other turning the other way when they meet; the better of the two is one who is the first to give a greeting.
لا يحل لمؤمن أن يهجر أخاه فوق ثلاث يلتقيان فيعرض هذا ويعرض هذا وخيرهما الذي يبدأ بالسلامAs for responding to the sneezer if he praises Allah, it is obligatory, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
it is a right due from every one who hears him to say: 'Yarhamukallah (May Allah have mercy upon you)'
حق على كل من سمعه أن يقول له يرحمك اللهAs for visiting the sick, the correct view is that it is a collective obligation, and it is not permissible for Muslims to have a brother who is sick and for none of them to visit him. Rather, he must be visited, but it is a collective obligation; if those sufficient to fulfill it do so, it drops from the rest.
As for following his funeral, it is also a collective obligation. It is necessary to follow his funeral, wash him, shroud him, pray over him, and bury him. It is not permissible for Muslims to neglect these. These rights mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this hadith include what is obligatory and what is not obligatory. The default is obligation; the default is that they are obligatory. Yes.