BROTHERHOOD IN ISLAM

In his deep human intuition, the Prophet Mouhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) upon his arrival in Madinah (Hijrah) decided to establish brotherhood between the inhabitants of Makkah (Muhaajireen) and those of Madinah (Ansaar). He resolved to establish an atmosphere of brotherhood, integrity and cooperation between these Muhaajireen who had left everything - homeland, family, wealth, to follow him to Madinah and on their side, the Ansaar who had offered them a safe haven and generous hospitality.

With the aim of preventing each party (Ansaar and Muhaajireen) from claiming for itself the first place in the affection of the Prophet and in the splendours of Islam. Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) took advantage of this union to consolidate Islamic brotherhood between them. “Fraternise for the sake of Allah", he said to them, “you are brothers! And the companions were quick to make this brotherhood prevail over everything else. We cannot say to what degree of devotion this brotherhood of religion reached, which was stronger than that of blood, because it was of a supernatural order."

From then on, every Muslim in Madinah had a Muslim from Makkah as a brother. All these hearts, united by the love of Allah, were one and the same heart throbbing in different chests. Each Ansaari‎ had brought home, with joy and pride, a Muhaajir chosen by lot.

According to Abu‎ Musa, the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said that "The believer is to the believer like the stones of a building, which reinforce each other, and he intertwined his fingers." (Bukhari)

Each brother loved his brother more than himself, and when one of them died, the other inherited his property, to the exclusion of normal heirs. (This law established immediately after the Hijra was subsequently abrogated).

“Without doubt those who had Imaan, who made Hijra (migrated for Allah's pleasure) and who strove in Allah's way with their wealth and their lives (the Muhaajireen), as well as those who granted shelter (to them) and assisted (the Ansaar), they are all guardians (heirs and helpers) of each other.” (8:72)

Some of the Ansaar have so far opted for divorce so that their brothers (Muhaajireen) can take as wives one of their prettiest divorced women.

This fraternity, based on a perfect faith (Imaan), brought the establishment of a healthy and harmonious society and a new era opened for the progress and flourishing of Islam.

The basis of this fraternity is not in the colour of the skin, the language spoken, blood ties, etc. but on the contrary, it emanates from a true belief - pure and sincere.

"The Mu'mineen are all brothers, so reconcile between your brothers and fear Allah so that mercy may be shown to you." (49:10)

Allah has commanded the believers to be humane and pious and to always seek the salvation of his brother. That is to say, loving the worshipers of Allah, those who obey him and his Messenger. This friendship does not extend to those who have an opposing ideology, who refuse to believe in Allah, who disobey him even if they are his closest relatives. The Qur'an shows this to us in pure and simple sentences.

"You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day befriending those who oppose Allah and His Rasul (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) even though they are their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their families." (58:22)

These sentences did not just remain engraved on paper but on the contrary, they were translated into action. Following this example, Hadhrat Huzaifa (Radiyallahu anhu‎), one of the first adherents of Islam, showed no sign of remorse at the death of his (infidel) father. Indeed, Hadhrat Huzaifa (Radiyallahu anhu‎), who accompanied Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) just after the battle of Badr, suddenly found himself in the presence of the corpse of his father, immediately the features of his face convulsed, the death of your father would have shaken your soul, said the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam).

"No, by Allah! But I knew my father was gifted with intelligence, I hoped that he would come to the path of salvation. His death took away this hope and hence my pain". A second example is found in the person of Hadhrat Abu‎ Ubaïdah‎‎‎ (Radiyallahu anhu‎) who did not hesitate to kill his father, Abdullah bin Jarraah in the battle of Badr or Uhud because they are separated by an opposite ideology, that is to say one was Mu'min and the other Kaafir (infidel).

However, the friendship that a Muslim brother attached to his other brother was of an unequal and boundless limit. Here is an example. In the battle of Yarmuk, a wounded Islamic soldier asked for some water when someone passed by him with water. The latter was about to offer it to him, when another voice was heard asking for water. The injured man then asked his companion to go and serve his brother because he might be suffering the most. The latter went towards the second soldier and as he was about to serve him, another voice asked for water. The latter ordered his provider to serve some to the third because it was possible that he was suffering more than him. When he arrived by the third man, he was already dead. He returned to the second who was also already dead as well as the first.

How much this degree of friendship for the next brother was anchored in the depths of the hearts of these companions (Sahaabah) that they had even accepted to give up their lives because of this fraternity.

Hadhrat Nu'maan ibn Bashir (Radiyallahu anhu‎) said that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said:- 

"Muslims are like one body. When the eye is sick, the whole body suffers and when the head suffers the whole body suffers." (Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) considered Islamic brotherhood as one of the clear signs of a perfect Imaan (faith). It even characterizes the indispensability of a perfect Imaan. That is to say, without this love for one's neighbour, Imaan in itself is not complete.

“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

In another tradition cited by Hadhrat Abdullah bin A'mr‎ (Radiyallahu anhu‎), Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said: 

"A 'true' Muslim is one who does not cause harm to Muslims neither with his tongue nor with his hands."

How unfortunate it is nowadays to see that this friendship is not manifested among some of our Muslim brothers, but on the contrary, they try to destroy their brothers by any means.

It is high time that each of us searches our hearts to see the degree of love we have for our brother.

“He is not a (perfect) Muslim who eats his fill while his neighbour is hungry.” (Baihaqi)

Allah in His limitless Mercy loves His creatures more than a mother loves her children. By this small percentage (1%) of affection which manifests itself on earth, even the most ferocious beast manages to love its young. Nevertheless, although He is filled with Kindness, Clemency, Mercy and Grace, He does not forgive a person who harbours resentment and hatred in his heart. Loving one's brother for the cause of Allah is a very noble character and a quality so appreciated by Allah, thus his favours and protection are assured in this world and in the hereafter.

"There are seven kinds of people whom Allah will protect under his shadow on the Day of Qiyaamah (Resurrection) when there will be no other shadow than His. And one of them is: Two beings who "love for the sake of Allah with reciprocal affection, unite because of Him and separate for Him." (Bukhari)

In the absence of such friendship, hatred and resentment arise. These two  elements are destructive to one’s  faith (Imaan) and good deeds.

It is serious to harbour hatred and resentment in one's heart because Allah does not shower grace on such a person:

Hadhrat Abu‎ Hurairah (Radiyallahu anhu‎) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said:

“Every Monday and Thursday, the deeds of all men are presented before Allah and He forgives all except the mushrikeen and the person who harbours hatred between him and his brother until they reconcile.” (Muslim)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) urges us to seek reconciliation as soon as possible so as not to give the opportunity to Shaitan to further tie the knot of rancour and hatred. He said about this:

“It is not permissible for a believer to disassociate from his brother for more than three days. Whoever does so will enter Hell (Jahannam).” (Abu Daawud)

The most effective means for the development of brotherhood is Taqwa (fear of Allah). It is very essential to understand the value of Imaan in order to better understand the value of the one who possesses it. The more one fears Allah, the more friendship increases. Once this fear is there, friendship is attached to it. They are complementary; we just have to obey Allah so that He showers his favours on us just as this tradition proves to us.

The Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said that Allah said:

“O Jibril (Alaihis Salaam), I love this or that servant, love him too. Then he orders him to go and inspire in the hearts of men love for this person.” 

One of the ways to acquire Taqwa is to propagate salaam, which will bring about brotherhood.

Abu‎ Huraïrah (Radiyallahu anhu‎) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said:

"You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not guide you to one thing: If you do so, you will love 'one and the other'. Spread peace (Assalaamu-Alaïkum) between you." (Bukhari)

Therefore, greeting according to Islamic principles opens the door to reconciliation and strengthens fraternal bonds.

In one tradition, it is said:

“Let them equalise their Saffs, otherwise Allah will sow discord between their hearts.”

We see that a 'small' greeting has great value for the establishment of brotherhood and a 'small' negligence in Salah can cost us dearly to the point that brotherhood is flouted. Therefore, it is more than essential to practice Islam in its entirety without neglecting a Sunnah or a Mustahab even though they seem insignificant - because it is said that "the abandonment of a Sunnah causes the introduction of a (Bid'ah) innovation and consequently innovation leads to hell.

HADITH

“The best part of wisdom after religion is to love the humans, and doing good to everyone, pious or impious!” (Mishkaat Vol. 1)

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu anhu) reported: "I was with the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) who said: 'Surely in paradise there are pillars of emerald with silk engravings. There are open doors shining like the bright stars. I inquired, 'O Messenger of Allah, who will be admitted?' 'Those who loved each other in the cause of Allah will be admitted,' he said." (Baihaqi) 

Hadhrat  Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) said: "Whoever relieves a Muslim from the sorrow of this world, Allah will relieve him from the sorrow of the Day of the Last Judgment, whoever hides the sin of a Muslim, Allah will hide his sins in this world as well as in the Hereafter. Whoever grants ease to a person in difficulty, Allah will grant him ease in this world and in the Hereafter, Allah helps the servant on condition that he helps his brother.” (Bukhari)

[English version of "La fraternité en Islâm" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 1]