The bonds of Brother and Sisterhood

Abu Hamzah Anas bin Malik, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:

"None of you truly believes (in Allah and in His religion) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself"



In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:

"The servant does not reach the reality of faith until he loves for others what he loves for himself."



In Sahih Muslim from Abdullah ibn Amr Al-Ass, the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:

"…..Whoever wishes to be delivered from the fire and enter the garden should die with faith in Allah and the Last Day and should treat the people as he wishes to be treated by them…"
[Sahih Muslim; Book 020, Number 4546]



These three hadiths carry similar meanings that is to love for other Muslims what one loves for oneself. They lay down a very significant principle of behaviour of Muslims with each other. A true Islamic community is when it is built upon love and compassion for its members. Every member should care for and help one another. They should treat others in ways they want to be treated.

It is a community with no barriers among the races, colour, or group or ranks in implementing this Islamic concept of brotherhood and love. All these barriers need to be removed for this concept to be realized. Other more harmful barriers such as jealousy, selfishness and envy must too be gotten rid of in order to succeed as a community
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Loving goodness for others is part of loving them. We love good things for them as much as we love those things for ourselves. We treat them the way we want them to treat us. Subhannallah this is one key concept which we are all begining to forget slowly. To treat each other how we would like to be treated. To forgive each other in the same manner we would want to be forgiven. To accept each other in the same manner we would want to be accepted. To respect each other in the same manner we'd want to be respected. Part of good treatment of others are excusing them and giving them fair chances. If someone makes a mistake, we should find excuses for them and not jump to conclusions. There are many possibilities or ways for us to excuse for each other, thus enabling us to live peacefully and avoid confrontations.

The Beloved Rasool said "I was only sent to perfect noble character" .. and indeed we can see through the ways and mannerisms as muslims we should strive to have and the manner in which we should conduct ourselves with our brethren, that when we begin to forget how to behave, our communities fall into destruction.

When we deal with other Muslims in the community, we should deal in the best manner. Mercy and compassion should exist in our treatment of others.

May Allah help us all to Love each other purely for His sake. May Allah help us all to love for each other in the same manner as we love for ourselves. May Allah aid us all in being selfless and helping others without them even having to come to us to ask. May Allah make it easy for us to forgive each other, and to get rid of our baseless immoral egos. May Allah help the Muslim Ummah rise up and remember why our Beloved Prophet came and remember who we are and where we are going. Ameen!