He who has wronged his brother, concerning his honor or anything else, let him ask for his pardon today before there comes a time when there will be neither a dinar nor a dirham

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that anyone who has wronged his Muslim brother—whether in honor, wealth, or blood—must seek his pardon while still in this worldly life, before the Day of Judgment comes, where neither a gold dinar nor a silver dirham will benefit him as ransom. On that Day, compensation will be made by good and bad deeds: the one who was wronged will take from the good deeds of the wrongdoer in proportion to the injustice done to him. And if the wrongdoer has no good deeds, then the sins of the oppressed will be placed upon the oppressor, in equal measure to the wrong committed.

Lessons

• The importance of being keen to avoid wrongdoing and transgression.
• An exhortation to hasten in clearing oneself from any unsettled dues or wrongs against others.
• Righteous deeds are corrupted and their reward is lost by wronging and harming others.
• The rights of people are not forgiven by Allah unless they are returned to their rightful owners.
• The dinar and dirham are means of gaining benefit in this worldly life, but on the Day of Judgment, only good and bad deeds will be of value.
• Some scholars have stated regarding the matter of honor: If the one who was wronged is unaware of the offense, there is no need to inform him. For example, if a person had insulted someone in a gathering and later repented, he does not need to tell the wronged person. Rather, he should seek forgiveness for him, supplicate for him, and speak well of him in the same gatherings where he used to insult him. By doing this, he clears himself of the transgression.