(6) The Brotherhood in Islam. Part (2)
There are two points to discuss in this regard:
D- Its conditions and rights
E- Living examples of brotherhood in Islam
D- Its Conditions and Rights
It should be for the sake and pleasure of Allah only, not for any worldly ends or gains (benefits), in order to strengthen the internal structure of the Muslim Ummah to be able to stand in the face of the intellectual and military invasions that are targeting its belief and way of life. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “All actions are judged in accordance with their intent”)Al-Bukhari, 1).
It should be held equally during times of ease and difficulties, in good as well as bad moods, and when being rich as well as poor. I would like to mention here the instance when Moses (Musa, alaihi salam) asked his Lord to send his brother Aaron along with him to Pharaoh.
He said: “And appoint for me a Minister from my family, Aaron, my brother; back me up through him, and let him share my task, so that we may glorify You even more, and we may often remember You, for indeed You have been always watching over us” (Taha: 29-35).
The Prophet (PBUH) also used to say: “No money has ever benefited me as much as the wealth of Abu-Bakr” (At-Tirmidhi, 3661).
And he (PBUH) said: “A believer is a brother to his fellow believer; he would not transgress against him nor fail him or hand him over. It is enough as an evil act that a person would cut off his brother more than three consecutive days; each time they meet, one would shun from the other; and the best of them is the one who would start greeting the other” (Muslim, 2580).
If it is not possible, one should at least fulfill the basic rights in Islam towards Muslims. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The rights of a Muslim upon a Muslim are six:
1- If you meet him, you should greet him
2- If he sneezes, you should ask a blessing for him
3- If he is sick, you should visit him
4- If he dies, you should attend his funeral
5- If he swears by Allah on you, you should not break his swearing
6- And if he invites you, you should accept his invitation” (Muslim, 2162).
E– Living Examples of Muslim Brotherhood:
- a) The first example that comes to mind in practical brotherhood in Islam is what the Prophet (PBUH) had established between the early migrants of Islam (Al-Muhajirin) and their supporters (Al-Ansar), and between the two famous tribes called Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj. The Prophet (PBUH) used to take by the hand of two of each of them and say: “Love one another for the sake of Allah in couples.”
Hence, the Prophet (PBUH) fraternized between Sa’d Ibn-Rabii’ and Abdur-Rahman Ibn-Auf. As an outcome of this, Sa’d offered the opportunity to share with Abdur-Rahman half of his money, to give him either of his dwellings, and to divorce one of his wives in order for Abdur-Rahman to marry her after Iddah.
However, this type of generosity from the side of the Ansar (supporters) was rendered by modesty and unselfishness from the side of the Muhajirin (migrants). As it is, Abdur-Rahman Ibn-Auf refused to take the belongings of Sa’d that way; instead, he just borrowed from him a sum of money and decided to make business, upon which Allah granted him success.
Allah Almighty said: “And (it is) for the poor fugitives who have been driven out from their homes and their belongings, who seek bounty from Allah and advocate Allah and His messenger. They are the loyal ones. And those who made their abode in the city and in the faith before them love those who have fled to them, and do not find in their hearts a need of what they are given, and prefer (them) before themselves though poverty may afflict them, and whoever is whoso is saved from his own avarice, these it is that are the successful ones” (Al-Hashr, 8-9).
- b) When Muslims captured seventy men from the infidels in the battle of Badr, Aziz – the brother of Mus’ab Bin-Umair – fell captive. When Mus’ab saw him, he told the Muslim assigned to him: Give him hard times, and ask from him whatever you need of money, for his mother is a wealthy woman. Upon this Aziz said: Is this how you advice others with regard to your own brother. Mus’ab replied: You are not my brother; my real brother is this one (and he pointed at the Muslim beside him).
We then notice here that religious brotherhood is stronger than kinship brotherhood, especially when the belief and creed is different.
One of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) donated a head of a sheep to one of his Muslim brothers. The latter sent it to a second Muslim, and the second to a third, and it kept going around through seven people till it came back again to the first one, out of love for each other.
A man named Masrooq was heavily in debt. His brother Khaithamah was also in debt. Masrooq went and paid the debt of Khaithamah for him without informing him, and Khaithamah went and paid the debt of Masrooq without him knowing it as well.
We ask Allah (SWT) to make among those who love one another for His sake.
Written by: Dr. Ahmed A. S. Hammouda
Professor in Al-Azhar University
And Islamic American University
Translated by: Abdullah Zettili
