What do we do when Muslims quarrel with each other?

وَإِن طَآٮِٕفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَہُمَا‌ۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ فَقَـٰتِلُواْ ٱلَّتِى تَبۡغِى حَتَّىٰ تَفِىٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَإِن فَآءَتۡ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَہُمَا بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَأَقۡسِطُوٓاْ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ (٩) إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٌ۬ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ

If two parties among the Believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them: but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of Allah; but if it complies, then make peace between them with justice, and be fair: for Allah loves those who are fair (and just).
The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers: And fear Allah that ye may receive Mercy.

(Qur'an 49:9-10)



(This fighting has been enjoined by Allah, it is obligatory and comes under Jihad, it is not the fitnah (mischief) about which the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S has said: "It is a situation in which the one standing is better than the one moving, and the one sitting is better than the one standing". For that fitnah implies the mutual fighting of the Muslims in which the parties might be fighting for a false sense of honour and worldly possessions and neither may be having the truth on its side. As for the fight that is undertaken in support of the group who is in the right against the aggressor, it is not taking part in the fitnah but carrying out Allah's Command.)

Meaning of the Verse:

1. Allah does not approve that the other Muslims should just sit and watch the clash when two groups of their own community have fallen to mutual fighting. But whenever such a sad situation arises, we should try to make peace.

2. But if one of them still trangresses, then the Muslims should not allow the aggressor to continue his aggression and leave the victim alone, or, still worse, join hands with the aggressor. But their duty is that if all their efforts at reconciliation between the parties fail, they should find out as to who is in the right and who is the aggressor. Then they should join hands with the one who is in the right and fight the aggressor.

3. The Command to "fight" the aggressor does not necessarily mean with the weapons and killed, but it implies the use of force against him, the real object being the removal of his aggression. No more and no less force should be used than what is absolutely necessary.

4. "..until it complies with the command of Allah" shows that the fighting is not meant to punish the rebel (the aggressing gang) for his rebellion, but to force him to return to the Command of Allah. The rebel group should submit to what is right according to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah S.A.W.S. and should give up the attitude and conduct that amounts to aggression.

5. "..make peace with justice" True peace is that which is based on justice. Otherwise the inevitable result of pressing those in the right and encouraging the aggressors would be that the real causes of the evil would remain as they were, rather would go on adding up.