Abandonment and Desertion

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Of the two people who depart each other to abandon and walk out on each other, one is subject to disowning and condemnation or perhaps both of them will face such conditions.’ Mu’attib then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, one is unjust, what about the oppressed?’ The Imam said, ‘It is because he did not ask his brother (in belief) to maintain good brotherly relations and did not ignore his words. I heard my father saying, “Whenever two people dispute and one of them over power the other, the oppressed should turn to his companion and say to him, ‘O brother (in belief), I am the unjust,”’ so that forsaking and abandonment would not take place among them. Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, is the Judge with justice, He judges with justice for the oppressed against the oppressor.’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘(Due to) walking out on another person (separation) should not continue more than three days.’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about a man who has forsaken his relatives who do not recognize the truth.’ The Imam said, ‘It is not proper for him to abandon them.’”

“In the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) there was a man from our people, also called Shalqan. The Imam had appointed him over his household expenses (included among his dependents) but he had bad manners so he was removed from the job (by Murazim). One day the Imam asked me, ‘O Murazim, have you talked to ‘Isa (Shalqan)?’ I said, ‘Yes, I have talked to him.’ The Imam said, ‘You have done the right thing; there is nothing good in being neglectful. ’”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘My father has said, “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever of two Muslims forsake the other and do not make peace within three days they both will be considered out of Islam and there will be no Divine Guardianship relations among them. Whoever of the two speaks first to the other, he, on the Day of Judgment, will be the first one to enter paradise.’”

“Satan keeps throwing animosity among the believers until one of them forsakes his religion. When this happens, Satan stretches down on his back and says, ‘This is my victory.’ May Allah grant blessings to those who make peace between two of our friends. O believing people, unite and be compassionate to each other.”’

“As long as two Muslims continue abandoning each other, Satan enjoys it. When they meet, his (Satan’s) knees began to shake and his bone joints began to come apart and he cries, ‘Woe upon me; I have to face this destruction!’”