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Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Charity is due upon every joint of a person on every day the sun rises; and to judge justly between people is charity (and bringing about reconciliation is also a form of doing justice).”

Islam wants a person to be, in his own self, a source of mercy and well-being for those around him. His existence should be like a shady tree whose shade brings rest and comfort to everyone who comes beneath it. A person’s conduct is the reflection of his creed. So when someone strives to bring about reconciliation between people, it shows that he possesses an exceedingly noble character and conduct. Those who reconcile people have great ranks: in this world everyone honours them, and in the Hereafter Allah Most High will grant them a magnificent reward. Allah Most High says in the Holy Qur’an:

“And if two parties among the believers fall into a quarrel, make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, then fight the one that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. Then if it returns, make peace between them with justice, and act justly; indeed Allah loves those who act justly.” (Al-Hujurat 9)

In another place He said:

“There is no good in much of their secret counsels, except in one who enjoins charity, or a good word, or reconciliation between people; and whoever does this seeking the pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great reward.” (An-Nisa 114)

In another narration the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Shall I not tell you of something higher in rank than fasting, charity and prayer?” We said: “Why not!” He said: “It is making peace between people; and sowing discord between people is the act that shaves away (all good deeds).” (Abu Dawud)

Reconciliation has such importance in the religion that even untruth has been permitted for its sake. Thus it comes in a hadith that lying is allowed on only three occasions: a man’s lying to please his wife, lying in war, and lying for the purpose of reconciling people (reported by Tirmidhi). “Lying” here means words that carry a double meaning. Another noble hadith states that he is not a liar who brings about reconciliation between people, who says a good word and conveys something virtuous — that is, he says such things as help in mending relations and bringing peace, and conveys from one side to the other words that remove the other’s displeasure, so that the two may come close to each other. The importance of reconciliation is evident from the fact that once, while reconciling some people, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was delayed so long that the time of prayer began to slip away and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr began to lead the prayer (reported by Bukhari).

Against them stand those who, for their worldly interests, create discord among Muslims through all kinds of pretexts and excuses. However outwardly religious such people may appear, they are empty of the spirit of faith. They are utterly destructive and a cancer upon society. Their reckoning in the Hereafter will certainly be very severe.