A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he leave him at the mercy of others. The Islamic Brotherhood is not based on economic interests, race, or colour. It is based on something infinitely superior. One True God. Islam teaches universal brotherhood as indicated and expressed in our daily prayers and our pilgrimage to Makkah. Brotherhood is not only based on faith, but it is also part of that faith. Allah says:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا
“Hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. Remember the favour of Allah upon you, when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became brothers by his favour.” (Surah Al Imran 3:103)
Islam’s mission is to serve humanity. Islam teaches us to help the needy without any discrimination of colour, creed, race, nationality or religion. The level of fraternity consists of purifying the heart of all enmity, hatred, and resentment towards those who have faith, including for the just predecessors of Islam. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“The believers are nothing else than brothers. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.” (Surah Al-Hujurāt, 10)
Brotherhood means meaningful cooperation among Muslims and harmony to encourage what is good and discourage what is evil. Islam is the religion of love, peace, and affection. Islam teaches the lesson of brotherhood between Muslims which we can say the Muslim Brotherhood. Allah says:
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
“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 charity and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have mercy upon them, for Allah is Almighty and Wise.” (Surah Al-Tawba 9:71)
Brotherhood was a force for good, a purveyor of peace and justice for everyone. It provided stability in a quarrelsome world. To the downtrodden and oppressed everywhere, it provided freedom. It’s a good friend who is like a brother. Muslims already have the foundation, because a Muslim is a brother to one another. We could gain many benefits from the importance of brotherhood.
Here is some Importance of Brotherhood in Islam:
- Muslims assist Muslims according to their capacity
- Muslim over another Muslim is covered his faults
- Muslim could help due to a bond of brotherhood
- Islam calls unity in a brotherhood of good deeds
- Muslims remind not to commit disobeying Allah
- Muslims are entitled to a religious community
- Muslims urges treating others in a good way
- Muslims give sincere counsel, and love
- Muslims receive mercy from Allah SWT
- Muslims are a source of unity
- Muslims love for each other
- Muslims have empathy and care
- Muslims is a brothers to one another
- Muslims create allies between believers
- Muslims learn to treat we want to be treated
- Muslims help other Muslims from oppression
- Muslim brother except what he loves for himself
- Muslims see and feel the unity and bonds Muslims
- Muslims be united luminescence of Allah’s SWT blessing
- Muslims purify the heart from hatred, malice, and animosity
Brotherhood in Islam is a comprehensive concept that is based on a good character with others, treating others the way we want to be treated, and uniting together upon common values. If our families are Muslims, then they must also be afforded the rights of religious brotherhood. But even if they are not Muslims and oppose us, we must still treat them well to the best of our ability. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.” (Al-Hashr 59:10)
Having a close relationship between brothers is one of the basic needs of a human because as long as we lived, we would always need the assistance of another person. Remember to always be kind to everyone, because we never know whose help we will need someday. Let us all be brothers and sisters regardless of religion, faith, belief, and race. May Allah SWT always gives us His blessing in every of our relationship. Allah says:
لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ أَوْ قَالَ لِجَارِهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
“None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 13)
The believers love for each other what they love for themselves. They avoid harming one another, they are generous with one another, and they behave in the best manner. It’s a good friend who is like a brother. Muslims already have the foundation, because a Muslim is a brother to one another. We could gain many benefits from the importance of brotherhood.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
- “O, mankind! Surely we have created you of a male and female and make your tribes and families that you know each other, surely the noblest among you unto Allah is one who fears him Behold! Allah is Knower Aware.” (Al-Hujurat (49.13)
- “O, my Lord! forgive me and my brother! admit us to Thy mercy! for Thou art the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!” (Surah Al-Araf, 151)
- “Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other).” (Al-Anbiya – 21:92)
- “But their brethren (the evil ones) plunge them deeper into error, and never relax (their efforts).” (Surah Al-Araf, 202)
- “Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while); and send to the cities men to collect-” (Surah Al-Araf, 111)
Believers should love for each other what they love for themselves. They avoid harming one another; they should be generous with one another and should behave in the best manner with each other. One of the greatest blessings of Islam is its admirable success in creating strong, warm, rich and durable bonds of love and brotherhood between human beings which no other religion has ever dreamed of. Allah says:
لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
“…so through the Companions, Allah may enrage the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Al-Fath 48:29)
Muslim Brotherhood is not based on economic interests, race, or colour. Those people who join in the worship of Allah produce a Muslim Brotherhood that demonstrates the best moral values of the faith. The believers are brothers in Religion. The entire world is a brotherhood of Allah’s people. Love and be loved is the wisdom that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) preached and practised. Islam establishes human brotherhood based on faith. Allah says:
لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ أَوْ قَالَ لِجَارِهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
“None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 13)
The level of brotherhood involves purifying the heart of all enmity, hatred, and grudge for those who have faith, including for the righteous predecessors of Islam, those who believed in the previous prophets, and the general masses of believers throughout all of history. Love is the basic food for wholesome life. Islam is the religion of love and affection. The entire world is a brotherhood of Allah’s people. Allah says:
لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
“…so through the Companions, Allah may enrage the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Al-Fath 48:29)
Every person we meet will fall into one or more categories of brotherhood in Islam. As Muslims, we must treat them well according to the rights for which they are entitled, whether they are family members or fellow human beings. Love and be loved is the wisdom that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) preached and practised. Islam establishes human brotherhood based on faith. Allah says:
وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا ۖ وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ
“If they strive to make you associate with Me that of which you do not know, do not obey them but accompany them in the world with good conduct and follow the way of those who turn back to Me.” (Surat Luqman 31:15)
When we help our brothers and sisters in Islam, in reality, we are helping ourselves. When we pray for them, the angels pray for us. Fulfilling the rights of brotherhood in Islam is a means for Allah to support us and reward us in the Hereafter. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“The believers are but brothers, so make reconciliation between your brothers and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” (Surat al-Hujurat 49:10)
We should promote brotherhood so that we can portray the true and best picture of the Islamic religion to the world so that non-Muslims would adopt this faith much more readily because they would see the fruits of this faith in its enthusiast. The feeling of brotherhood is mandatory for unity. May Allah help us to establish the true spirit of brotherhood by forgetting our so-called differences.
