MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP OF ISLAMIC WORKERS AKHUWWAH OR BROTHERHOOD FOR THE LOVE OF ALLAH

QURANIC TEACHINGS  Surely, the believers are but brothers. So set things right between your brothers, and be aware of Allah-perhaps you obtain mercy. Al Hujurat, 49:10  And hold fast all of you together to the Rope of Allah and be not divided. And remember Allah’s favor on you, for you were enemies, but He joined your hearts together, so that by His Grace you became brethren. Al Imran 3:103.

QURANIC TEACHINGS  And He has united their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts. But Allah has united them: Certainly, He is All Mighty and All Wise. Al Anfal 8:63

QURANIC TEACHINGS  Mohammad is the messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers and merciful among themselves. Al Fattah 48:29.

TEACHINGS OF PROPHET MOHAMMAD (SAW)  “ The believer is friendly and easy to befriend. And there is no good in the person who does not befriend and does not get befriended.” Musnad Ahmed.  “Those who sit nearer to me are the ones among you with the best manners, the humble, who befriend and are befriended.” Tabarani.

Teachings of Prophet Mohammad (SAW)  “Allah (SWT) says ‘Indeed, my love shall be bestowed upon the ones who visit each other for my sake, who love one another for my sake, who approach one another in humility for my sake, who rush to help each other for my sake.’ Musnad Ahmed.  “On the Day of Judgment, seats will be placed around the throne of Allah for a group of people whose faces resemble like full moon, who will have no fear or sadness. They will be the one who loved each other for Allah.”

Words of righteous.  “By Allah, if I were to fast the whole day, pray the whole night and spend all of my money in Allah’s way, but were to die without love in my heart for the people who obey Him or the hatred for the ones who disobey Him, all the above mentioned actions would be of no benefit to me.” Ibn omar.

Advice of a Tabee to his son. O my son !Be the companion of one  Should you serve him, he appreciates you  Should you befriend him, he holds you in esteem.  Should you fall in difficulty, he helps you.  Should you extend your hand out in goodness, he extends his.  Should he witness one of your good deed, he remembers it.  Should he witness one of your bad deed, he stops it.  Should you ask him, he gives you.

CONDITIONS OF BROTHERHOOD.  Purely for the sake of Allah.( A man set out to visit his brother and Allah sent an angel to him. Hadith, Muslim)  Iman and Taqwah.( Friends will be foes that day except the righteous. Quran)  Islamic manner and style.  Mutual advice.( Muslim is a mirror for other Muslim. Hadith)  Help in good and difficult times.(Example of the believers is like a body. Hadith)

Don’ts of brotherhood. Prophet said  Keep away from suspicion.  Do not probe or spy on.  Do not envy.  Do not be hateful to one another.  Do not suppress, fail him or scorn him.  Do not hold him in contempt.  A Muslim’s blood, honor and his wealth is forbidden. ( Muslim, reported Abu Huraira)

Do’s of brotherhood.  When you love your brother, tell him so.  When you meet him, hasten to smile and shake hands and hug him.  When you take leave, ask him to make dua for you.  Visit your brother often on regular basis.  On special occasions, congratulate him and rejoice with him. On sad occasions, share the grief with him.

RIGHTS OF BROTHERHOOD (IMAM ALGHAZALI)  Material assistance.  Personal aid.  Holding one’s tongue.  Speaking out.  Forgiveness.  Dua.  Loyalty and sincerity.  Informality.

1-MATERIAL ASSISTANCE- THREE DEGREES  1st. Degree: Place your brother equal to your servant and assist him from your surplus.  2 nd Degree: Place your brother at the same level as yourself and share with him equally.  3 rd Degree: Prefer your brother to yourself and prefer him over yourself. (Siddiq) Self sacrifice is the fruit of this degree.

2-PERSONAL AID, THREE DEGREES  Attending to the needs when asked and when in plenty, with joy pleasure and gratitude.  Attending to his needs like your own and without asking.  You should not confine in fulfilling his needs. You should prefer him and put him before your children and relatives.

3-HOLDING ONE’S TONGUE  Should not mention his faults in his absence or in his presence.  Keep silent about the secrets he confides in.  Keep silent from criticism of his dear ones.  Abuse and argumentation are twin branches of hypocrisy.  Observe silence in your heart by giving up suspicions.  Don not spy and do not pry.

4-SPEAKING OUT  Express affection.  Participate in joy and sadness.  Greet with Salaam  Call him with favorite name.  Praise him for the genuine good qualities.  Communicate to him praise by others.  Thank him for what he does for you.  Defend him in his absence.  Advice about faults in secret.

5-FORGIVENESS  Two kinds of failings: 1- In religion through commission. One is to remind and make dua for him. 2- In discharging his duty to you. Be patient and forgive.  Whenever he apologizes to you, accept his apology. If a man’s brother apologizes to him and he does not accept his excuse, he incurs sin like unjust tax collector.

6-PRAY FOR YOUR BROTHER.  During his life and his death.  Pray for him as you pray for yourself.  A man’s prayer for his brother in secret is not rejected.  When a man prays for his brother in secret, the angels say,’and to you the same.

7-LOYALTY AND SINCERITY  Steadfastness in love.  Maintain it till death and after.  Caring and love of his family.  Envy can not co exist with it.  Keep this love and loyalty even when one achieves authority and wealth.  Be extremely wary of separation and be conscious of its causes  Do not befriend your friend’s enemy.  Not listening to gossip about your friend.

8-INFORMALITY and relieving from discomfort or inconvenience.  If you drop your “kulfa”(formality) your “ulfa” (love) will last.  Should not ask him for help with money or influence.  If a man practices four things in his brother’s house his society is complete: he eats with him, uses his toilet, prays and sleeps.  Humility and looking up to his brother.  Consulting him in all your plans.