for it fosters goodwill and thus puts an end to the estrangement. A marfūʿ report states, “The greeting of peace ends estrangement.” This is further supported by the ḥadith, “They meet, so this one turns away and that one turns away; yet the better of the two is the one who initiates the salām.” That the boycott is lifted by exchanging salām is the position adopted by the majority of scholars.

5 – The human soul naturally inclines toward vindication and revenge; therefore the Wise Lawgiver granted it a span of three days to discharge its resentment toward the one who angered it, and He permitted nothing beyond that.

6 – The ḥadith extols the virtue of the person who takes the initiative with salām, removing the estrangement and severance between himself and his brother. Such a person has conquered the prompting of his lower self, forgiving his companion and restoring amity. Allah the Exalted says: “Good and evil are not equal. Repel [evil] with what is better; then the one between whom and you was enmity will become as though he were a devoted friend. Yet none is granted this except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one endowed with great fortune.” (Fussilat 34–35)

7 – Al-Sharḥ ʿalā Manẓūmat al-Ādāb states: Whoever makes sin public—whether in deed, word, or creed—may be boycotted, and doing so is a sunnah that earns reward, for the boycott is undertaken for Allah’s sake, out of anger at His commandments being flouted or neglected. Imām Aḥmad said: “If it is known that someone persists in a sin, one incurs no sin by shunning him until he repents.” Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) shunned Kaʿb and his two companions and ordered the Companions to boycott them for fifty days.