Source: Sermons of Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid, Compiled by: Tawheed.com
Mutual Brotherhood of Believers: The Basis in the Quran
Brothers in Islam! The bond of the faithful is not merely based on lineage or nationality, but on the foundation of faith. Allah, the Exalted, has declared all believers as brothers, stating:
﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ إِخْوَۃٌ﴾
Reference: (Al-Hujurat 49:10)
Translation: “Indeed, the believers are but brothers.”
Not only this, but Allah, the Exalted, has described the nature of the relationship and mutual responsibilities of believers as follows:
وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٧١﴾
Reference: (At-Tawbah 9:71)
Translation: “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Those are the ones Allah will have mercy upon. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
From this verse, it becomes clear that the mutual relationship of believers includes:
❀ Assistance and support
❀ Friendship and goodwill
❀ Enjoining good and forbidding evil
❀ Observance of prayer and payment of zakah
❀ Obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
پر قائم ہوتا ہے۔ یہی وہ لوگ ہیں جو اپنی اجتماعی زندگی میں اللہ کے حکم پر جمع ہوتے اور اسی کے حکم پر جدا ہوتے ہیں، اور رسول اکرم ﷺ کی محبت میں آپ پر ایمان لانے والے ہر مسلمان سے محبت کرتے ہیں۔ ایسے ہی لوگ اللہ کی رحمتوں کے مستحق بنتے ہیں۔
مومن ایک جسم کی مانند
نبی کریم ﷺ نے اہلِ ایمان کی اجتماعی کیفیت کو نہایت بلیغ مثال سے سمجھایا:
(مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ فِیْ تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ مَثَلُ الْجَسَدِ الْوَاحِدِ إِذَا اشْتَکیٰ مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعیٰ لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمّٰی)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6011, Sahih Muslim: 2586)
ترجمہ: “مومنوں کی مثال باہم محبت، باہم رحم اور باہم شفقت میں ایک جسم کی مانند ہے کہ جب اس کا ایک عضو بیمار ہوتا ہے تو سارا جسم بخار کے ساتھ تڑپ اٹھتا ہے اور بیدار رہتا ہے۔”
یعنی جس طرح جسم کے ایک حصے کی تکلیف پورے جسم کو بے چین کرتی ہے، اسی طرح مومنوں کو ایک دوسرے کی تکلیف میں شریک اور ایک دوسرے کے لیے سراپا ہمدرد ہونا چاہیے۔
اسلامی بھائی چارہ اللہ تعالیٰ کی عظیم نعمت
اللہ تعالیٰ نے مسلمانوں کو بھائی بھائی بنا کر ان پر بہت بڑا احسان فرمایا، اور اس نعمت کو یاد دلایا:
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾
Reference: (آل عمران 3:103)
Translation: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you when you were enemies, and He brought your hearts together, and by His favor you became brothers. And remember when you were on the edge of a pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes clear His verses to you that you may be guided.”
And further He said:
﴿وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٦٣﴾
Reference: (الأنفال8: 63)
Translation: “And He (Allah) brought together the hearts of the believers. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together, but Allah brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
The background of these verses is that before the Prophethood, tribal wars in Arabia continued for years; the wars of Aws and Khazraj in Medina, particularly the Battle of Banu al-Ba'ath, were well-known. Then Islam came, and Allah Almighty instilled such love in the hearts of those who accepted Islam that those who were enemies just yesterday became brothers, enmities turned into love, and a spirit of selflessness emerged—this was a great favor from Allah Almighty.
Addressing the Ansar at Hunayn: A Reminder of Brotherhood and Affection
Hazrat Abdullah bin Zaid رضي الله عنه narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ conquered Hunayn, he ﷺ distributed the spoils of war and gave to some people whose hearts were to be won over. Then it reached you that the Ansar also wanted to obtain spoils of war like them. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up, addressed them, and after praising and glorifying Allah, he ﷺ said:
(یَا مَعْشَرَ الْأنْصَارِ، أَلَمْ أَجِدْکُمْ ضُلَّالًا فَهَدَاکُمُ اللّٰہُ بِیْ؟ وَعَالَةً فَأَغْنَاکُمُ اللّٰہُ بِیْ؟ وَمُتَفَرِّقِیْنَ فَجَمَعَکُمُ اللّٰہُ بِیْ؟)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:4330, Sahih Muslim:1061)
Translation: “O group of Ansar! Did I not find you misguided, then Allah guided you through me? And you were in need, then Allah made you rich through me? And you were scattered, then Allah gathered you through me?”
When the Prophet ﷺ was asking them these questions, the Ansar kept responding to each question by saying that the favor of Allah and His Messenger is indeed great. This makes it clear that brotherhood, guidance, unity, and affection of hearts—these are all blessings from Allah that must be appreciated as a requirement of faith.
01) To Love One Another
The first right of a Muslim over his Muslim brother is that he loves him, for mutual love completes faith and serves as a means to the path of Paradise.
The noble saying of the Prophet ﷺ is:
(لَا تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتّٰی تُؤْمِنُوْا، وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوْا حَتّٰی تَحَابُّوْا، أَوَلَا أَدُلُّکُمْ عَلٰی شَیْئٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوْہُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ؟ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ بَیْنَکُمْ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:54)
Translation: "You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I not inform you of something that if you do it, you will love one another? Spread peace among yourselves."
That is, spreading peace is the foundation of mutual love.
Similarly, it was stated:
(تَصَافَحُوْا یَذْهَبِ الْغِلُّ، وَتَهَادَوْا تَحَابُّوْا وَتَذْهَبِ الشَّحْنَاءُ)
Reference: (Muwatta Imam Malik Marasil:1682)
Translation: "You should shake hands with one another; this will eliminate hatred and animosity among you, and give gifts to one another; this will make you love one another and erase enmity between you."
From these two Hadiths, it is understood that:
❀ Spreading peace
❀ Shaking hands
❀ Giving gifts
—All these increase love among Muslims and eliminate hatred and animosity.
Abu Idris al-Khawlani relates that he said to Hazrat Mu'adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه that he loved him for the sake of Allah. Hazrat Mu'adh رضي الله عنه sought confirmation and then conveyed the good news that he had heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
(قَالَ اللّٰہُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالٰی: وَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِیْ لِلْمُتَحَابِّیْنَ فِیَّ، وَالْمُتَجَالِسِیْنَ فِیَّ، وَالْمُتَزَاوِرِیْنَ فِیَّ، وَالْمُتَبَاذِلِیْنَ فِیَّ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 3018)
Translation: “Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: My love has become obligatory for those who love one another for My sake, who sit together for My sake, who visit one another for My sake, and who spend on one another for My sake.”
And Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: A man set out to visit his brother, and Allah appointed an angel on the road. The angel asked, "Where are you going?" He replied, "I have a brother in this town, and I am going to visit him." The angel said:
(هَلْ لَّكَ عَلَیْهِ مِنْ نِّعْمَةٍ تَرُبُّهَا؟)
Translation: “Is he someone from whom you have received a favor, for which you are going to visit him?”
He said: No, I only love him for the sake of Allah. The angel said:
(فَإِنِّیْ رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ إِلَیْكَ بِأَنَّ اللّٰہَ قَدْ أَحَبَّكَ کَمَا أَحْبَبْتَهُ فِیْهِ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:2576)
Translation: “I have come to you with a message from Allah that just as you loved him for the sake of Allah, Allah has also loved you.”
Mutual Love: The Sweetness and Delight of Faith
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ کُنَّ فِیْهِ وَجَدَ حَلَاوَۃَ الْإِیْمَانِ: أَنْ یَّکُوْنَ اللّٰہُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَحَبَّ إِلَیْهِ مِمَّا سِوَاهُمَا وَأَنْ یُّحِبَّ الْمَرْءَ لَا یُحِبُّهُ إِلَّا لِلّٰہِ، وَأَنْ یَّکْرَہَ أَنْ یَّعُوْدَ فِیْ الْکُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْقَذَہُ اللّٰہُ مِنْهُ، کَمَا یَکْرَہُ أَنْ یُّلْقٰی فِیْ النَّارِ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:16, Sahih Muslim:43)
Translation: “Whoever possesses three qualities will taste the sweetness of faith: (1) Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else, (2) he loves someone only for the sake of Allah, (3) he finds returning to disbelief as repugnant as being thrown into fire.”
Love for the Sake of Allah: The Shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(إِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَقُولُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ: أَیْنَ الْمُتَحَابُّونَ بِجَلَالِی الْیَوْمَ؟ أُظِلُّهُمْ فِیْ ظِلِّیْ یَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلِّیْ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:2566)
Translation: “Allah, the Exalted, will say on the Day of Judgment: Where are those who loved for My sake? Today, I will grant them a place in My shade, while there is no shade except My shade.”
And he said: “Seven categories of people will be shaded by Allah… Among them are two men who loved each other for the sake of Allah, met upon that, and parted upon that.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:660, Sahih Muslim:1031)
Translation (relevant part): “Two men who loved each other solely for the sake of Allah, gathered upon that, and parted upon that.”
Expressing Love is Also a Sunnah
Hazrat Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that a man passed by the Prophet ﷺ while he was sitting with another man. He said: O Messenger of Allah! I love this man for the sake of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said: Have you informed him? He said: No. The Prophet ﷺ said: Go and tell him.
Reference: (Musnad Ahmad and Abu Dawood:5125. And it was graded as Hasan by Al-Albani)
Translation: “Tell him, for this will strengthen the love between you.”
02) Being Compassionate Towards One Another
A Muslim should be compassionate towards his Muslim brother, feel his pain as his own, and support him in his time of need as much as possible.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(مَنْ کَانَ مَعَهُ فَضْلُ ظَهْرٍ فَلْیَعُدْ بِهِ عَلٰی مَنْ لَّاظَهْرَ لَهُ، وَمَنْ کَانَ لَهُ فَضْلٌ مِّنْ زَادٍ فَلْیَعُدْ بِهِ عَلٰی مَنْ لَّا زَادَ لَهُ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1728)
Translation:
“Whoever has an extra mount should give it to the one who has no mount, and whoever has extra food and drink should give it to the one who has nothing.”
Hazrat Abu Sa'id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه (the narrator of the Hadith) states that the Prophet ﷺ mentioned many things besides mounts and food, until we understood that we have no right to anything that is in excess of our needs.
The Selflessness of the Companions رضي الله عنهم
Hazrat Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that when Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه migrated to Medina, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ established a bond of brotherhood between him and Hazrat Saad bin Al-Rabi رضي الله عنه. Hazrat Saad رضي الله عنه was very wealthy. He said:
“I am the richest among the Ansar, I will divide my wealth into two parts, one part for me and one for you. I have two wives; whichever one you prefer, I will divorce her, and after her waiting period, you may marry her.”
Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه replied:
(بَارَكَ اللّٰہُ لَكَ فِیْ أَهْلِكَ وَمَالِكَ)
Translation:
“May Allah bless you in your family and wealth.”
Subsequently, Hazrat Abdul Rahman رضي الله عنه began trading diligently and became prosperous in a short time. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw signs of marriage on him, he asked. He informed that he had married an Ansari woman. The Prophet ﷺ said:
(أَوْلِمْ وَلَوْ بِشَاۃٍ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3780, 3781)
“Hold a walimah even if it is just by slaughtering a goat.”
This was the time when a Muslim was a true well-wisher of another Muslim.
03) Meeting with a Smile
A Muslim should meet his Muslim brother with good manners and a smile.
The Prophet ﷺ said to Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه:
(لَا تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوْفِ شَیْئًا، وَلَوْأَنْ تَلْقٰی أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2626)
Translation:
“Do not underestimate any good deed, even if it is just meeting your brother with a cheerful face.”
He also said:
(تَبَسُّمُكَ فِی وَجْهِ أَخِیْكَ صَدَقَةٌ...)
Reference: (Al-Tirmidhi: 1956. And it was authenticated by Al-Albani)
Translation (related part):
“Smiling at your brother's face is also a charity.”
04) Engaging in Good Conversation
Allah Almighty commands:
﴿وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا﴾
Reference: (Al-Baqarah 2:83)
Translation:
“Speak to people good words.”
And He said:
﴿وَقُل لِّعِبَادِى يَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ﴾
Reference: (Al-Isra 17:53)
Translation:
“Tell My servants to say that which is best.”
The Prophet ﷺ stated:
(اَلْکَلِمَةُ الطَّیِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2989, Sahih Muslim: 1009)
Translation:
“A good word is a charity.”
05) Compassion, Gentleness, and Humility
Allah Almighty described the qualities of the Companions رضي الله عنهم:
﴿رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ﴾
Translation:
“They are compassionate among themselves.”
Similarly, it was stated:
﴿أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ﴾
Translation:
“They are gentle towards the believers and harsh against the disbelievers.”
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(إِنَّ اللّٰہَ رَفِیْقٌ یُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ...)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2593)
Translation:
“Allah is gentle and loves gentleness, and He grants that which is not granted through harshness.”
Regarding humility, it was stated:
(مَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلّٰہِ إِلَّا رَفَعَهُ اللّٰہُ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2588)
Translation:
“Whoever adopts humility for the sake of Allah, Allah elevates him.”
06) Visiting the Sick
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(مَنْ عَادَ مَرِیْضًا نَادَی مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَائِ...)
Reference: (Sunan Ibn Majah: 1443. And it is Hasan according to Al-Albani)
Translation:
“Whoever visits a sick person, a caller from the heavens announces: You are fortunate, your walk is good, and you have built a house in Paradise.”
And he said:
(إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ إِذَا عَادَ أَخَاہُ الْمُسْلِمَ لَمْ یَزَلْ فِیْ خُرْفَةِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتّٰی یَرْجِعَ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2568)
Translation:
“When a Muslim visits his Muslim brother, he remains in the fruits of Paradise until he returns.”
07) Showing Kindness
Hazrat Jareer bin Abdullah رضي الله عنه narrates:
(بَایَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللّٰہِ صلي الله عليه وسلم عَلٰی إِقَامِ الصَّلاَۃِ وَإِیْتَائِ الزَّکَاۃِ وَالنُّصْحِ لِکُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1401, Sahih Muslim: 56)
Translation:
“I pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I would establish prayer, continue to give zakat, and be sincere to every Muslim.”
And he said:
(لَا یُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُکُمْ حَتّٰی یُحِبَّ لِأَخِیْهِ مَا یُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِه)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:13, Sahih Muslim:45)
Translation:
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
08) Cooperation
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ﴾
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah 5:2)
Translation:
“Cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety.”
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(اَلْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ کَالْبُنْیَانِ یَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:481, Sahih Muslim:2585)
Translation:
“A believer is like a wall, one part strengthening the other.”
09) Helping the Oppressed
(أُنْصُرْ أَخَاكَ ظَالِمًا أَوْ مَظْلُوْمًا)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:2444)
Translation:
“Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed.”
The Companions asked: How do we help an oppressor? He said:
(تَکُفُّهُ عَنِ الظُّلْمِ فَذَاكَ نَصْرُكَ إِیَّاہُ)
Translation:
“Preventing him from oppression is indeed helping him.”
10) Interceding
﴿مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَٰعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُۥ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا﴾
Reference: (An-Nisa 4:85)
Translation:
“Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share in its reward.”
11) Making Dua for Others in Their Absence
(مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ یَدْعُوْ لِأخِیْهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَیْبِ إِلَّا قَالَ الْمَلَكُ: وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:2732)
Translation:
“When a Muslim makes supplication for his brother in his absence, the angel says: 'The same is for you.'”
The Five Rights of a Muslim
(حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَی الْمُسْلِمِ خَمْسٌ...)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1240, Sahih Muslim: 2162)
Translation:
“A Muslim has five rights over another Muslim: to respond to greetings, to visit the sick, to follow the funeral, to accept invitations, and to say (upon sneezing) 'May Allah have mercy on you' after someone says 'Alhamdulillah.'”
Matters That Disturb Brotherhood
Brothers in Islam! After discussing the importance of brotherhood and the mutual rights of Muslims, we now mention the causes that transform the atmosphere of love among Muslims into hatred and enmity. It is essential to avoid these matters.
01) Backbiting
Allah Almighty has strictly prohibited the believers from backbiting.
﴿وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ﴾
Reference: (Al-Hujurat 49:12)
Translation:
“Let not some of you backbite others. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it.”
That is, just as eating the flesh of a dead brother is highly disliked, similarly, backbiting him should also be highly disliked.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(مَنْ أَکَلَ لَحْمَ أَخِیْه فِی الدُّنْیَا قُرِّبَ لَهُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ فَیُقَالُ لَهُ: کُلْهُ مَیِّتًا کَمَا أَکَلْتَهُ حَیًّا، فَیَأْکُلُهُ وَیَکْلَحُ وَیَصِیْحُ)
Reference: (The narrator in Al-Fath stated: Its chain is good)
Translation:
“Whoever eats the flesh of his brother (i.e., backbites) in this world, on the Day of Resurrection, his flesh will be brought to him and it will be said: Eat it in its dead state as you have eaten it in its living state.” Then he will eat it and become ugly and will scream.
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
(أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِیْبَةُ؟)
The Companions asked: Allah and His Messenger know best.
He said: (ذِکْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا یَکْرَہُ)
Translation: “To mention your brother with something he dislikes.”
It was asked: What if that thing is indeed present in him?
He said: (إِنْ کَانَ فِیْهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ، وَإِنْ لَّمْ یَکُنْ فِیْهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2589)
Translation:
“If that thing is present in him, then you have backbitten him, and if it is not present, then you have slandered him.”
02) Slander (Namimah)
Slander is also a major sin that destroys mutual relationships.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(إِنَّهُمَا لَیُعَذَّبَانِ... أَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَکَانَ یَمْشِیْ بِالنَّمِیْمَةِ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1378, Sahih Muslim: 292)
Translation:
"Both of the occupants of these graves are being punished... One of them used to engage in gossip."
And he said:
(لَا یَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ نَمَّامٌ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 105)
Translation:
"A gossipmonger will not enter Paradise."
03) Suspicion and Intrusiveness
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا﴾
Reference: (Al-Hujurat 49:12)
Translation:
"O you who have believed! Avoid much [negative] assumption, indeed, some assumption is sin, and do not spy."
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(إِیَّاکُمْ وَالظَّنَّ فَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَکْذَبُ الْحَدِیْثِ...)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6066, Sahih Muslim: 2563)
Translation:
"Avoid suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of speech..."
04) Mockery and Calling with Bad Names
﴿لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ... وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ﴾
Reference: (Al-Hujurat 49:11)
Translation:
"Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them... And do not insult one another by [offensive] nicknames."
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(بِحَسْبِ امْرِئٍ مِنَ الشَّرِّ أَنْ یَّحْتَقِرَ أَخَاہُ الْمُسْلِمَ)
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 1927)
Translation:
"It is sufficient for a man to be considered bad that he belittles his Muslim brother."
05) Envy and Hatred
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(لَا تَحَاسَدُوْا وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوْا...)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2563)
Translation:
"Do not envy one another and do not harbor hatred..."
And he said:
(اَلْحَسَدُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ هِیَ الْحَالِقَةُ... تَحْلِقُ الدِّیْنَ)
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2510)
Translation:
“Envy and malice are diseases that obliterate (destroy) faith.”
06) Cutting Off Ties
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(وَلَا یَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ یَّهْجُرَ أَخَاہُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6065, Sahih Muslim: 2559)
Translation:
“It is not permissible for a Muslim to cut off ties with his brother for more than three days.”
And he said:
(تُفْتَحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ یَوْمَ الْاِثْنَیْنِ وَیَوْمَ الْخَمِیْسِ... أَنْظِرُوْا هَذَیْنِ حَتّٰی یَصْطَلِحَا)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2565)
Translation:
“Every Monday and Thursday, the gates of Paradise are opened… but the two individuals who have enmity between them are given respite until they reconcile.”
Conclusion
Islam has made brotherhood and camaraderie an essential part of faith. Mutual love is a means of attaining Allah's love, while mutual enmity is a cause of His displeasure. Therefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim to:
✔ Love his Muslim brother
✔ Wish well for him
✔ Conceal his faults
✔ Share in his pain and suffering
✔ Avoid envy, malice, backbiting, and gossip
