we say to him, “Brother, the matter is spacious—praise be to Allah. Stand up, move forward and sit by the wall if you wish, or stay where you are; but to step out ahead of the people so that you are in front of them while they remain behind you—that is not appropriate.”

These are three separate issues: first, mutual hatred; second, severing relations; and third, turning one’s back. All of them are prohibited.

Allah the Exalted says, “The believers are but brothers,” and He says, “Humble toward the believers, mighty against the disbelievers,” and He says, “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are stern against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves.”

Explanation

Al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in Riyad al-Salihin: “Chapter on the prohibition of hatred, cutting off relations, and turning away.” We have already discussed this. The compiler, may Allah have mercy on him, supports it with Allah’s statement, “The believers are but brothers.” This verse appears in the context of two parties who come to blows while another group moves to reconcile them. Allah says, “The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your two brothers.” In the same passage He says, “If two parties among the believers fight, then make peace between them,” meaning that if two Muslim factions—two tribes—were to fight one another