Prophetic Traditions on Brotherhood
Brotherhood is regarded as one of the highest forms of human relationships, where individuals unite and bond through ties of affinity and love, whether through kinship or faith. Consequently, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the significance of these bonds in various authentic Hadiths, highlighted below:
Hadiths on Love Among Brothers
Brotherhood is a blessing granted by Allah (the Exalted) to His servants, as having a brother provides strength and support. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) spoke about love among brothers in the following ways:
- Reported by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “If one of you loves his brother, let him inform him of that.”
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned: “Whoever has land should cultivate it; if he does not cultivate it, he should grant it to his brother.”
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “We used to take land by thirds or quarters due to conditions. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up and said: ‘Whoever has land, let him cultivate it; if he does not cultivate it, let him give it to his brother. If he does not give it to his brother, let him keep it.’”
Hadiths Warning Against Harming a Muslim Brotherhood
The following prophetic traditions emphasize the importance of refraining from wrongdoing or harming a fellow Muslim:
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “A believer is the brother of a believer; it is not permissible for a believer to buy on the sale of his brother, nor to propose to a woman whom his brother has already proposed to until he leaves.”
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised: “Whoever has a grievance against his brother should seek to resolve it, for there is no dinar or dirham that will suffice before the rights of his brother are settled, for if he has no good deeds, let him take from the bad deeds of his brother and they will be cast upon him.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) advised: “If one of you fights his brother, let him avoid the face.”
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) remarked: “It is not permissible for a believer to forsake his brother for more than three days.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) added: “Forsaking one’s fellow Muslim brother is akin to spilling his blood.”
Hadiths Mentioning the Terms ‘Brother’ or ‘Brothers’
Several hadiths recorded from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) include the terms ‘brother’ or ‘brothers.’ Noteworthy examples include:
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim; he does not wrong him or desert him. Whoever fulfills the need of his brother, Allah will fulfill his need. Whoever alleviates a Muslim’s hardship, Allah will alleviate for him a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever conceals a Muslim’s faults, Allah will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded: “Be truthful; for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and both are in Paradise. Beware of lying; for lying leads to wickedness, and both are in Hell. Ask Allah for certainty and wellbeing, for no one has been granted anything better than wellbeing after certainty. Do not envy one another, do not harbor hatred, do not sever ties, and do not turn away from one another. Be servants of Allah and brothers, as Allah has commanded you.”