Brotherhood Module 5 – Circle 4

What is Brotherhood? The state or relationship of being brothers or sisters Fellowship between people An association of men or women, such as a union, united for common purposes All the members of a profession, trade, organisation, or religion Module 5 – Circle 4

Is brotherhood part of Islam?   “The Mu’minoon are but a single Brotherhood.” (The Holy Qur’an, 49:10) And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided. 3:103 Module 5 – Circle 4

What should Muslims do when they unite? Allah swt says: “The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin the ma`roof (all of Islam), and forbid the munkar (all that is evil; kufr): they observe regular prayers, pay Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.” (The Holy Qur’an, 9:71) Module 5 – Circle 4

How should Muslims feel when their brothers/sisters are in trouble? The Prophet pbuh said: 'You will see the believers in their mutual kindness, love and sympathy just like one body. When a limb complains, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever' (Muslim and Bukhari) Module 5 – Circle 4

Are people stronger when they are united? "Once upon a time in a village, there lived a father and his eight sons. They worked in their field from early morning till late evening, very hard and lived happily in prosperity. But the father was very sad about a particular habit of his children, they perpetually quarrelled among themselves always; even for silliest causes. The father advised the children and asked them to live in love but the sons could not keep their promise for long and they used to end up in quarrel the next moment. One day the clever father, decided to teach the sons the lesson of unity, called everyone near to him. Suddenly the sons heard the footsteps of their father. He had in his hand a bundle of sticks. Then he called the eldest son and asked him take one stick from the bundle and break it. He took a stick and could easily break it. Then the father asked him to take two sticks and asked the son to break them together. He could do that easily. And the next time he could break even three sticks together. Now the father asked the son to take the entire bundle of sticks and break it holding together. But this time it was a hard task and one by one all the eight sons tried their hands; but no one could break it. Now the father asked the children "Did you understand the lesson behind this"? No explanation was needed for them as all of them understood what their father wanted them to learn that 'unity is power.'" All of them understood what their father wanted them to learn - 'unity is power.' Module 5 – Circle 4

Is it ok to be jealous of your brother/sister? The Prophet pbuh said: “Do not envy one another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from another; and do not undercut one another, but be you. O servants of Allah, brothers.” (Muslim) Module 5 – Circle 4

Don’t be a hater! The Prophet pbuh said: "It is a great evil for a Muslim to look down upon his brother. The life, wealth, and honour of a Muslim should not to be violated by another Muslim" [Muslim]. Module 5 – Circle 4

Is it ok to compete with your brother/Sister? Zayd Ibn Aslam narrated from his father as saying, "I heard Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (ra) say, 'The Prophet pbuh commanded us to donate to charity, so I gave some of my wealth. Then I said, 'Today I will compete with Abu Bakr if I can ever do so.' Then I donated half of my wealth. The Prophet pbuh asked me, 'What did you leave for your family?' He said, 'I said the same as what I gave out.' But Abu Bakr brought all of his wealth and the Prophet pbuh asked him, 'What did you leave for your family?' He replied, 'I left them with Allah and His Messenger,' I said, 'I will never compete with you for anything again.” Module 5 – Circle 4

Is it good to share with your brother/sister? The Prophet said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself." (Bukhari) Module 5 – Circle 4

Does a Muslim have rights over you? The Prophet pbuh said: “The rights of one Muslim on another are six” it was said: What are they O messenger of Allah? He said: “When you meet him greet him, and when he invites you accept, and if he seeks your advice then give it. And when he sneezes and says al-hamdulillah then say yarhamak Allah, and when he is sick then visit him, and when he dies follow his funeral” (Bukhari & Muslim). Module 5 – Circle 4

Making dua for your brother/sister TheProphet pbuh said, “The supplication of a Muslim for his brother in his absence will certainly be answered. Everytime he makes a supplication for good for his brother, the angel appointed for this particular task says: `Ameen! May it be for you, too’.” [Muslim]. Module 5 – Circle 4

What if a person is from a Different Country from you, or has a different coloured skin to you? “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.” The Last Sermon of the Prophet pbuh (khuTbat ul-wadaa`) Allah's Messenger pbuh said to him, "You are not better than people with red or black skins unless you excel them in piety." (Tirmidhi).   Module 5 – Circle 4

What if a Muslim’s opinions are different to yours? The beauty of our Deen is that everything is not black and white, and there is plenty of room for interpretation. If a person testifies that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad pbuh is His Messenger, then we do not have a right to question his belief. Module 5 – Circle 4

Mocking Destroys Brotherhood   O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong. [49:11] Module 5 – Circle 4

Backbiting Destroys Brotherhood “Neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful” [al-Hujuraat 49:12]  Module 5 – Circle 4

Is Unity with non-Muslims acceptable? “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity” [60:8] Module 5 – Circle 4

An example of true brotherhood Hadhrat Abu-Jahm-bin-Huzaifah (RA) narrates: "During the battle of Yarmuk, I went out in search of my cousin, who was in the forefront of the night of the fight. I also took some water with me for him. I found him in the very thick of battle in the last throes of death. I advanced to help him with the little water I had. But, soon, another sorely wounded soldier beside him gave a groan, and my cousin turned his face, and directed me to take the water to that person first. I went to this other person with the water. He turned out to be Hishaam bin Abil Aas (RA). But I had hardly reached him, when there was heard the groan of yet another person lying not very far off. Hisham (RA) too pointed me in his direction. Alas, before I could approach him, he had breathed his last. I made all haste back to Hishaam (RA) and found him dead as well. Thereupon, I hurried as fast as I could to my cousin, and lo! in the meantime he had also joined the other two."  Module 5 – Circle 4