Is it permissible for a person to forsake a fellow Muslim for more that 3 days?
Question
Is it okay to refrain from communicating with a Muslim if they may cause harm to you? Does this go against the teaching that one cannot refrain from speaking to another Muslim for more than three days?
Answer
The Hadith in reference is as follows:
“It is not permissible for a Muslim to forsake his (Muslim) brother/sister for more than three days.” (Sahih Bukhari)
This ruling is subject to there being no valid Islamic reasoning for forsaking one’s Muslim brother/sister. If however, a person forsakes another Muslim for more than 3 days to avert any harm that may be caused to himself/herself or his/her worldly/religious life, then this will not fall under the ambit of the above ruling. (Faydhul Qadeer 4/506 – Mirqaat 8/3147)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
لاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ
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