Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his pardon (before his death), as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. (He should secure pardon in this life) before some of his good deeds are taken and paid to his brother, or, if he has done no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of his brother are taken to be loaded on him (in the Hereafter).
To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)
Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 6534
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his pardon (before his death), as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. (He should secure pardon in this life) before some of his good deeds are taken and paid to his brother, or, if he has done no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of his brother are taken to be loaded on him (in the Hereafter)."
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith establishes the principle of divine justice regarding interpersonal rights (huquq al-'ibad). The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasizes that material wealth becomes irrelevant in the Hereafter, where only deeds hold value.
The mention of Dinar and Dirham signifies that worldly currency cannot compensate for spiritual debts. The Hereafter operates on an economy of deeds, where good deeds serve as currency for salvation.
The transfer of good deeds from the wrongdoer to the wronged represents perfect divine justice. If the wrongdoer lacks sufficient good deeds, he bears the burden of the victim's sins - a terrifying prospect that should motivate immediate repentance and reconciliation.
This teaching underscores the urgency of settling human rights in this world. Scholars emphasize that seeking forgiveness must be specific and direct, not general, and should include restitution where applicable.
The hadith serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate accountability extends beyond our relationship with Allah to include all human relationships, making interpersonal reconciliation an essential aspect of Islamic spirituality.