Answer: It is not permissible to boycott another Muslim for more than three days when the reason is a worldly matter, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to shun his brother for more than three days.” Therefore, it is a duty upon Muslims to stay connected and to love one another for the sake of Allah, and not to follow Satanic impulses that lead to mutual estrangement. Allah Most High says: “Indeed, the believers are but brothers” (al-Ḥujurāt 49:10). This obligation is even stronger when the person in question is a blood relative, for in that case he enjoys the additional right of kinship and upkeep of family ties. If the misunderstanding concerns some worldly issue, it must not result in ongoing estrangement; rather, the Muslim must reconcile with his brother and remove the breach between them, and the better of the two is the one who takes the initiative.

If, however, the rupture is for a religious reason—namely, that the person has committed something prohibited or has abandoned a required duty, and he has been advised yet refuses to comply—then he should be boycotted continuously until he repents to Allah. By contrast, if the boycott is for a worldly motive, it is impermissible; and if it does occur, it must not exceed three days.

Question: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to shun his brother for more than three nights; when they meet, each turns away from the other, and the better of the two is the one who initiates the greeting,” or words to that effect. What if the person I have quarreled with neither prays nor fasts?