Prophetic Sayings Encouraging Familiarity
Islam places great emphasis on the concept of connection and familiarity among individuals. As stated in the Quran: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” Numerous authentic Hadiths reinforce this idea, encouraging people to engage with one another. Some key Hadiths include:
- A man asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Which form of Islam is best?” He replied: “To feed others and to greet with peace both those you know and those you do not know.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “The rights of a Muslim upon another Muslim are five: responding to the greeting, visiting the sick, following the funeral procession, accepting invitations, and saying ‘Yarhamuk Allah’ (may Allah have mercy on you) when someone sneezes.”
- He also said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain family ties, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned: “People are like precious metal mines, like silver and gold. The best among them in the time of ignorance are the best among them in Islam if they possess understanding. Souls are like soldiers assembled; those who become acquainted with each other will unite, and those who do not will differ.”
- He also conveyed: “The believer is one who is friendly and easy to associate with, and there is no goodness in one who does not associate easily.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A smile in your brother’s face is an act of charity. Commanding good and forbidding evil is also an act of charity. Guiding a man in a land of confusion is an act of charity. Helping a man who is unable to see is an act of charity. Removing harmful objects from the path is an act of charity. Pouring from your bucket into your brother’s bucket is also an act of charity.”
Prophetic Sayings on Family Ties
Islam encourages maintaining family ties, with familiarity among relatives being a vital component of this connection. Allah states: “And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs (that bore you). Indeed, Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.” Numerous Hadiths emphasize the importance of kinship and familiarity, such as:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever wishes for his provision to be increased and his life to be prolonged should maintain the bonds of kinship.”
- He explained: “The womb is attached to the Throne and says: ‘Whoever maintains connections with me, Allah will maintain connections with him, and whoever severs me, Allah will sever him.’”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: “Learn your genealogies so that you may uphold the bonds of kinship, for indeed maintaining family ties leads to an increase in provision and prolongs life.”
- He also stated: “Know your lineage so you can maintain your family ties, for there is no closeness in kinship if it is severed, even if it is near, nor distance if it is maintained, even if it is far.”
Prophetic Sayings on the Rewards of Familiarity
Many Hadiths discuss the rewards associated with fostering familiarity among people. Some of these include:
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Seven individuals will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His: a just ruler, a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for His sake and parting for His sake, a man who is invited by a woman of beauty and position but says, ‘Indeed, I fear Allah,’ a man who gives in charity and conceals it such that his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent, and a man who remembers Allah in solitude until his eyes overflow with tears.”
- He also stated: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not inform you of something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread peace among yourselves.”
- Upon arriving in Medina, the people rushed to meet the Prophet (peace be upon him). When they recognized him, they exclaimed that the Messenger of Allah had come. The first thing he said was: “O people, spread peace, feed others, uphold family ties, pray at night while others sleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) indicated that the absence of familiarity among people is a sign of the end times, saying: “Before the Day of Judgment, there will be trials and killings. It was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we know the trial, but what is the killing?’ He replied: ‘With the tongue of the Abyssinians, this refers to killing and hostility, where individuals will hardly recognize one another.’”
Fostering familiarity yields numerous positive effects on both individuals and the community. It is essential for nurturing love and brotherhood among society, reducing feelings of envy, hatred, and animosity. Thus, the Hadiths serve to encourage individuals to engage in familiarity and promote the essence of community ties.