Prophetic Sayings on Brotherhood in Islam
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed several teachings regarding the concept of brotherhood in Islam, which include the following:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, he does not wrong him nor does he abandon him. Whoever aids his brother in need, Allah will aid him in his need.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned: “When a Muslim visits his sick brother, he remains in a garden of Paradise until he returns.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised: “Do not harbor hatred, nor turn away from each other, nor compete with one another; be servants of Allah and be brothers.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared: “The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he does not betray him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he abandon him. Every Muslim’s honor, wealth, and blood are sacred to another Muslim. Piety is here. It is enough of a sin for a person to belittle his Muslim brother.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed: “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or oppressed.” A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, I help him if he is oppressed, but how do I help him if he is the oppressor?” The Prophet replied, “By preventing him from wrongdoing; that is how you help him.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) proclaimed: “There are seven whom Allah will shelter in His shade on a day when there will be no shade except His: a just ruler, a youth who grew up in the worship of his Lord, a man whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love each other for the sake of Allah, meeting and departing on that basis, a man who was approached by a woman of high status and beauty, but he said, ‘I fear Allah,’ a man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives, and a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes overflow with tears.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “The rights of a Muslim over another Muslim are five: responding to greetings, visiting the sick, following funeral processions, accepting invitations, and offering good wishes to the one who sneezes.”
- According to Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The believer is like a mirror to another believer; the believer is the brother of a believer, protecting him from loss and guarding him from behind.”
- From ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him), he reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) narrated from his Lord, Blessed and Exalted, saying: “My love is guaranteed for those who love one another for My sake, for those who support each other for My sake, for those who visit each other for My sake, and for those who spend on each other for My sake.”
- A sacred Hadith states: “Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘Those who love each other for My majesty will have pulpits of light, and the prophets and martyrs will envy them.’
Brotherhood in the Holy Quran
The theme of brotherhood is also highlighted in various Quranic verses, including:
- Allah, the Exalted, states: “Indeed, the believers are brothers; so make settlement between your brothers and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
- Allah, the Exalted says: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah, all of you together, and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together, and you became, by His favor, brothers; and you were on the edge of a pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear the verses [of guidance] to you that you may be guided.”
- Allah, the Exalted says: “And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts any resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed, You are Kind and Merciful.’
- Allah, the Exalted says: “So if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakat, then they are your brothers in religion. And We detail the verses for a people who know.”
- Allah, the Exalted states: “And We removed whatever is in their breasts of resentment, [so they will be] brothers on couches facing each other.”
The Importance of Brotherhood in Islam
Brotherhood in the context of language signifies a bond of solidarity and affection; it is said that there is a fraternal relationship between two individuals, indicating a connection based on mutual support and friendship. Traditionally, before the advent of Islam, kinship ties were considered the pinnacle of human relationships. However, Islam introduced a new hierarchy, asserting that the brotherhood of faith takes precedence as the highest form of relationship. Allah, the Exalted, emphasizes this concept: “Indeed, the believers are brothers.”