Brotherhood in Islam
Brotherhood is a fundamental duty for Muslims, treated as an act of worship ordained by Allah to strengthen relationships among believers. This bond is crucial for fortifying the structure of the Islamic community and unifying its members. It holds benefits not only for the individual but also for the entire Muslim ummah. However, one should be mindful of various issues that could undermine this connection, such as hypocrisy, exclusion, or infringement on others’ rights due to worldly disputes—whether familial or workplace-related. Ultimately, this bond should be characterized by genuine love and affection that seeks to please Allah.
Principles of Human Brotherhood
As narrated, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated, “And treat people with good character.” Engaging with others requires adherence to the moral ethics prescribed by Islamic teachings, focusing on the noble traits encouraged by the Prophet. While it may be challenging for any individual to embody all the virtues, one should strive to associate with those who exhibit the most of them to foster a healthy brotherhood. A notable Hadith states, “Two individuals who love each other for the sake of Allah unite in that love and part in that love.” Below are some key principles that should be observed in human brotherhood:
- Providing help and assistance when needed and offering acts of kindness.
- Establishing a bond of brotherhood for the sake of Allah, avoiding relationships based solely on personal gain.
- Cultivating love rooted in faith, creating companionship that fosters affection, joy, kindness, and gentleness.
- Maintaining confidentiality among brothers in times of financial need or during wrongful acts, and refraining from exposing each other’s secrets. The Prophet warned against several negative traits that individuals should avoid or shun, stating, “There are four characteristics, whoever possesses them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever possesses one of them possesses a trait of hypocrisy until he abandons it: when entrusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he disputes, he behaves immorally.”
- Advising one another against associating with those who exhibit poor morals to prevent negative influence.
- Fostering a heart free from envy, resentment, or harm, while encouraging good and forbidding wrong among each other.
- Promoting modesty and decency within the brotherhood, as exemplified by the Prophet’s saying: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) heard a man advising his brother about modesty and remarked, ‘Modesty is a part of faith.’”
- Upholding trust and confidentiality.
- Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the comfort or joy they bring to one another, thereby sustaining love and brotherhood.
- Wishing well for one another just as one would for oneself, refusing to accept harm directed towards a companion and striving to guide them away from worldly temptations towards obedience to Allah.
- Maintaining consistency in brotherhood by checking in on one another and paying visits.
- Using endearing names when addressing each other.
The Importance of Adhering to Companionship Etiquette
Upholding the principles of companionship yields numerous benefits, including preventing any individual from violating a fellow brother’s rights through insults or unjustly taking what belongs to him. Each should serve as a support system for the other in times of need, which helps sustain genuine love and healthy brotherhood, avoiding abandonment over trivial matters. The believers united in brotherhood are as one body, as illustrated by the Prophet’s saying: “You see the believers in their mutual compassion, love, and empathy as a single body; when one part suffers, the rest of the body responds with sleeplessness and fever.”