Reverence towards the Sanctity of the Muslims
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“And whosoever honours the sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Rubb.”(22:30)
“And whosoever honours the Symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart.” (22:32)
“And lower your wing for the believers (be courteous to the fellow believers).”(15:88)
“…if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” (5:32)
Abu Musa (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.” He (salallahu alayhi wasallam) illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This Hadith enjoins unity in the Muslim community, each member of which is like a brick, which, when they are all combined, lend strength to each other.
Abu Musa (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever enters our mosque or passes through our market with arrows with him, he should hold them by their heads lest it should injure any of the Muslims.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Nu`man bin Bashir (radiallahu anhuma) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) reported: The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) kissed his grandson Al-Hasan bin `Ali (radiallahu anhuma) in the presence of Al-Aqra` bin Habis. Thereupon he remarked: “I have ten children and I have never kissed any one of them.” Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi b]wasallam) looked at him and said, “He who does not show mercy to others will not be shown mercy.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
To kiss children with kindness and affection is not only permissible but also a means of attaining Allah’s Mercy
`Aishah (radiallahu anha) reported: Some bedouins came to Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) and asked: “Do you kiss your children?” He said, “Yes” They then said: “By Allah, we do not kiss any of them.” The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) replied, “I cannot help you if Allah has snatched kindness from your hearts.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Showing kindness and affection to children is a sign of that mercy and compassion with which Allah endows mankind.
Jarir bin `Abdullah (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “He who is not merciful to people Allah will not be merciful to him.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Kind treatment to Allah’s creatures is very much liked by Allah. Even animals and birds are included in this category. Kind treatment with them makes a person eligible to the Mercy of Allah. Decent behaviour with people has been specifically mentioned in this Hadith although all creatures are covered by it.
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “When one of you leads the Salat, he should not prolong it because the congregation includes those who are feeble, ill or old.” One version adds: “those who have to attend to work.” While offering prayers alone, you may pray as long as you like.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Imam – (one who leads the congregational prayer), is enjoined to shorten the prayer in consideration of those who pray behind him. Shortening of prayer here means that the Surah of the Qur’an recited by him in the prayer should not be very long. This does not mean, however, that the postures of Salat, such as standing, bowing, prostration and sitting should not be done properly, as it is taken to mean by Muslims in general. Although it is a Sunnah about which the Noble Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) is reported to have said, “Pray as you see me praying.” Thus, it is essential to perform Salat properly.
`Aishah (radiallahu anha) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) would sometimes abstain from doing something he wished to do, lest others should follow him and it might become obligatory upon them.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This Hadith shows the affection which the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) had for his followers.
`Aishah (radiallahu anha) reported: The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited his Companions out of mercy for them, from observing continuous fasting without a break. They said: “But you observe fast continuously.” He replied, “I am not like you. I spend the night while my Rubb provides me with food and drink.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Qatadah Al-Harith bin Rib`i (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “I stand up to lead Salat with the intention of prolonging it. Then I hear the crying of an infant and I shorten the Salat lest I should make it burdensome for his mother.”
[Al-Bukhari]
Jundub bin Abdullah (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “When anyone offers the Fajr (dawn) prayer, in congregation, he is in the Protection of Allah. So let not Allah call him to account, withdrawing, in any respect, His Protection. Because, He will get hold of him and throw him down on his face in the Hell-fire.”
[Muslim]
Ibn `Umar (radiallahu anhuma) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his satan or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This Hadith is extremely important for the reason that it advises Muslims to live like family members. It says that one does not like to subject one’s own son, brother, etc, to suppression, nor leaves him helpless in trouble, but helps him when he is in need of it, endeavours to relieve him of hardship and admonishes him when he does anything wrong. Almighty Allah is pleased with such behaviour and gives him best reward for it in this world and the next.
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “A Muslim is a brother to a Muslim. He should neither deceive him nor lie to him, nor leave him without assistance. Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honour, his blood and property. Piety is here (and he pointed out to his chest thrice). It is enough for a Muslim to commit evil by despising his Muslim brother.”
[At-Tirmidhi]
This Hadith deals with the subject discussed in the preceding one. In fact, it elucidates the points raised there. Now, the heart is one thing which no one can check out; Allah Alone knows about it.
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbour malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here, (and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property and his honour.”
[Muslim]
This Hadith elaborates the importance of mutual brotherhood and goodwill among the Muslims. They are warned against jealousy which is a very malicious moral disease. One who suffers from it does not like to see others in happy circumstances and wants that they are deprived of whatever good they have.
This Hadith also prohibits Muslims from mutual hatred, enmity and indifference to others because all such things go against the concept of Islamic fraternity. The Hadith also warns Muslims against Najash (false bidding to raise the price in an auction) as it is clear deception and fraud is opposed to goodwill for others, while Muslims are required to express for each other goodwill, not ill-will.
This Hadith also prohibits making one bargain over the others because it generate malice and enmity.
Anas (radiallahu anh) reported: The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “No one of you shall become a true believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This Hadith deals more comprehensively with the subject discussed above. When a Muslim likes the same thing for another Muslim which he does for himself, then he will be obviously expressing goodwill to his fellow Muslims. When Muslims adopt this attitude at the community level, no Muslim will be an enemy of the other. In fact, each Muslim would then be a well-wisher and helper of other Muslims. May Allah enable us to adopt this attitude.
Anas (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed.” A man enquired: “O Messenger of Allah! I help him when he is oppressed, but how can I help him when he is an oppressor?” He (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “You can keep him from committing oppression. That will be your help to him.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This Hadith contains a very comprehensive injunction to eliminate disturbance and tyranny in the Muslim society. It not only ordains helping the oppressed but also encourages people endowed with moral courage to stop the oppressor’s oppression. Doing so requires great courage and boldness, but Muslims would be able to do full justice to their duty of wishing well to their fellow Muslims when they develop the moral courage to stop the oppressor from tyranny.
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “A believer owes another believer five rights: responding to greetings, visiting him in illness, following his funeral, accepting his invitation, and saying `Yarhamuk-Allah (May Allah have mercy on you),’ when he says `Al-hamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah)’ after sneezing.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Muslim’s narration is, “There are six rights of a Muslim upon a Muslim: When you meet him, greet him; when he invites you, respond to him; when he seeks counsel, give him advice; when he sneezes and praises Allah, say to him: `May Allah have mercy on you (Yarhamuk-Allah)’; when he is sick, visit him; and when he dies, follow his funeral.”
The bond of brotherhood among the Muslims has been further strengthened by the list in this Hadith about the rights of Muslims on one another.
Al-Bara’ bin `Azib (radiallahu anhuma) reported: The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) commanded us to observe seven things and forbade us seven. He ordered us to visit the sick; to follow funeral processions; to respond to a sneezer with `Yarhamuk-Allah (May Allah have mercy on you)’ when he says `Al-hamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah),’ to help the oppressed and to help others to fulfill their oaths, to accept invitation and to promote greeting. He forbade us to wear gold rings, to drink in silver utensils, to use Mayathir (silk carpets placed on saddles), to wear Al-Qassiy (a kind of silk cloth) to wear fine silk brocade.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Seifeddine-M
