Can a Person Not Strive to Surpass His Brother in Good Deeds?
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا يؤمن أحدكم، حتى يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسه
None of you truly believes until he loves for his (Muslim) brother what he loves for himself.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 13, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 45)
Does this ḥadīth mean that a person should not try to surpass his brother in good deeds?
❖ Answer:
The meaning of this ḥadīth is that, in general, a believer should love for his Muslim brother the same goodness he loves for himself, and dislike for him the same evil he dislikes for himself. This reflects the spirit of sincerity, brotherhood, and goodwill among believers.
It does not mean that one cannot try to surpass his Muslim brother in righteous deeds. In fact, striving to excel in good works is a recommended and praiseworthy act. The Companions رضي الله عنهم used to compete with one another in acts of goodness.
❖ Evidence from the Qur’an
Allah Almighty says:
وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous.
(Āl ʿImrān: 133)
❖ Example from the Sunnah
Sayyiduna Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports:
جاء الفقراء إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقالوا: ذهب أهل الدثور من الأموال بالدرجات العلى، والنعيم المقيم، يصلون كما نصلي، ويصومون كما نصوم، ولهم فضل من أموال يحجون بها، ويعتمرون، ويجاهدون، ويتصدقون، قال: ألا أحدثكم إن أخذتم أدركتم من سبقكم ولم يدرككم أحد بعدكم، وكنتم خير من أنتم بين ظهرانيه إلا من عمل مثله، تسبحون وتحمدون وتكبرون خلف كل صلاة ثلاثا وثلاثين …
The poor among the Companions came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “The wealthy have surpassed us in ranks and everlasting bliss. They pray as we pray, fast as we fast, but they also perform Hajj, ʿUmrah, Jihād, and charity with their wealth.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Shall I not tell you something which, if you do it, you will catch up with those ahead of you, and none will overtake you except one who does the same as you? After every prayer, say: Subḥānallāh, Al-ḥamdulillāh, and Allāhu Akbar thirty-three times each.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 843)
Conclusion:The ḥadīth “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself” emphasizes goodwill and sincerity among Muslims. It does not prohibit striving to excel in good deeds. On the contrary, competing in righteousness is encouraged and was practiced by the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم.
