Section
On Estrangement

A Muslim may not shun his fellow Muslim for more than three days because of something that has occurred between them and naturally causes aversion, unless the other follows deviant doctrines and religious innovations or is among the sinful Muslims. Such people are to be shunned for Allah’s sake, for loving and hating for Allah’s sake are obligatory. Moreover, avoiding friendship with an innovator safeguards one’s religion, since one might hear specious arguments from him that take hold in one’s heart. Avoiding friendship with a sinful person serves to deter him from his sinful conduct.

Offering the greeting of peace ends the estrangement on the part of the person who has severed relations, if the other persists in harming him and in the conduct for which he shunned him. This is based on the Prophet’s words (peace and blessings be upon him): “The better of the two is the one who greets the other first.” If, however, the other has ceased that conduct, the estrangement is not ended in a manner that makes the shunning party’s testimony against him admissible unless he restores their former relationship. This is the meaning of Mālik’s statement. There are many transmitted reports commanding brotherhood for Allah’s sake and forbidding the severing of ties and turning away from one another. In many rulings of Islamic law, three days mark the upper limit of what is considered a short period. This period of estrangement is therefore tolerated, since people naturally behave this way when something provokes them. The basis for setting this limit in estrangement and other matters is Allah Almighty’s statement:

“So he said, ‘Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days.’” [Hūd: 65]

Success comes through Allah.

Section
Explaining the Sunnah Practices Relating to the Body

There are ten: five concern the head—rinsing the mouth, drawing water into the nose, using a tooth-stick, trimming the moustache, and letting the beard grow. Five concern the rest of the body—shaving the pubic hair, plucking the underarm hair, clipping the nails, cleansing oneself after relieving oneself, and circumcision. These have been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Rinsing the mouth and drawing water into the nose are among the sunnah practices of ablution, and they have already been discussed. Using a tooth-stick cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Were it not that I would cause hardship for my community, I would command them to use a tooth-stick with every ablution.” A finger suffices in place of a tooth-stick when one cannot find one.