Q. Could you please comment on the Hadith that says that peacemaking is superior in degree to fasting, prayer and alms giving.
M. Shaheed
A. 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.
Delayed Division of Inheritance
Q. My father died about 15 years ago, when I was still a teenager. He left behind three sons and two daughters and our mother. Some five years ago, one of my sisters died. Now her children (five sons and one daughter) are demanding their shares of the family home that was the only thing my father left behind. We want to sell the house and give them their shares, but we also want to allocate a portion of the price as sadaqah on behalf of our father, but they object. Can we do it in spite of their disagreement? How should the property be divided?
S. Mahmood
A. The first thing to remember is that the division that I will outline presently applies to everything your father left behind, not only to the family home. People tend to overlook the fact that a deceased person’s estate includes everything he owned. They remember the major items only, but the estate includes even personal things that in some cases could be valuable.
It is wrong to leave anyone’s estate undivided among his heirs. This does not mean that a family home should be immediately sold, but the shares in the home should be determined and everyone should know their rights. Indeed, everyone should be given the proper authority to exercise these rights. However, your father’s property should be divided as follows: One-eighth to your mother, and the remainder, i.e. seven-eighths, should be divided into eight portions, two to each of the three sons and one each to the two daughters.
After your sister’s death, her heirs are entitled to receive her share. Since her husband had predeceased her, her heirs are her mother, who is still alive, as I understand, and her children. Her property, including her share of your father’s inheritance, should be divided as follows: One-sixth to her mother, and the remainder divided into eleven shares, two to each of her five sons and one to her daughter.
Both divisions are to be conducted after the execution of any will or the repayment of any debt. I understand that your father had not left any debt outstanding.
You cannot allocate any portion of your father’s property for charity, unless all the heirs willingly agree.
Therefore, the proper thing to do is to divide the inheritance as it is, and then everybody should be told that you want to raise some money as charity on behalf of your father. Let everyone contribute whatever they will, without pressure being brought to bear on anyone. Thus, those who are willing will contribute and none will be coerced.