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. This entire world is a brotherhood of Allah’s people whom His created. Islam establishes brotherhood based on 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)
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: Rejection of falsehood and acceptance of the Truth as revealed by the One True God. Not only is this Brotherhood based on faith, but it is also a part of that faith. 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.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:10)
This 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. We must free the Brotherhood from the servitude to the ideology of nation-states and the unjust international organizations so we can stop killing ourselves. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“And Fear Allah, That You May Receive Mercy.” (Surah 49: Ayah 10)
Here is some Importance of Brotherhood in Islam:
- 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
- Brotherhood build a powerful religion and faith
- Muslims are entitled to a religious community
- A close bond human is a natural medicine
- Islam urges treating others in a good way
- To help another Muslim from oppression
- Brotherhood can share out the problem
- Brothers can stand up one to another
- To learn to treat we want to be treated
- Acknowledging your brothers’ merits
- Advise him if he seeks your advice
- A Strong manifestation of Unity
- Muslim love for each other
- Islam is the source of unity
- Muslims have empathy and care
- Unity in brotherhood protects the Muslims
- The reconciliation between Muslim brothers
- Greeting of peace is the right of brotherhood
- Visiting the sick and offering prayers for him
- The strong bonds brothers alert to the enemy
- Every Muslim are related as brothers and sisters
- Allah will make it easy in the world and the Hereafter
- No one can abandon a brother more than three days
- Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Judgment
- Unity between brothers stronger under the flag of Islam
As brothers and sisters, the Muslims are entitled to rights that are specific to the religious community, including the right to be treated with proper manners and etiquette, to be prayed for, to be greeted with peace, to be visited when sick, and to enjoy friendly companionship. 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.” (Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhārī 13)
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. It has three levels of degree: religion, family, and humanity. Each of these levels has a set of rights and duties that a Muslim must uphold with others. Allah says:
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“They say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts any resentment toward those who have faith. Our Lord, you are kind and merciful.” (Surah Al-Hashr 59:10)
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:
- “And among His signs is the creation of heavens and earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours, verily in that are the signs for those who know.” (Quran, 30:22)
- “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)
- “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.” (Quran, Al-Hujurat (49.13)
- “If only they had listened to us they would not have been slain.” Say: “Avert death from your selves, if ye speak the truth.” (Surah Al-Imran, 168)
- “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)
- “O, my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother: so separate us from this rebellious people!” (Surah Al-Maida, 25)
- “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)
Muslim Brotherhood is the basis for a good Muslim society and making friends among Muslims opens the way toward better understanding and building a better Muslim Community. 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 just as Allah has described them in the Quran: Allah says:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْعَالِمِينَ
“And among His signs is the creation of heavens and earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours, verily in that are the signs for those who know.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:22)
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.” (Surah 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.” (Surath Luqman 31:15)
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. And it is only possible if we act upon the teachings of the Holy Quran and Holy Prophet (SAW) especially in this regard.