An important lecture about building and maintaining brotherhood and sisterhood in Islam. Numerous verses, hadiths and examples from the Salaf are given in the talk as well as the characteristics a believer should have.
Nothing can bring about a true and strong brotherhood like Islam. We find that when others try to unite behind another cause, they still have some hate towards each other deep down. “You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided” Hashr 59:14.
Now that we are practising, we find that we have many brothers. One of the first things that the prophet, peace be upon him, did when he migrated to Madinah was to establish brotherhood between the warring tribes of Madinah and between them and those who emigrated from Makkah.
Allah revealed: “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.” Aali Imraan 3:103
Things that weaken brotherhood:
Abu Hurayrah narrated from the Messenger: “Do not envy one another, and do not inflate prices for one another and do not hate one another, and do not turn your backs to one another and let not one of you undercut one another [in trade], rather be servants of Allah, brothers. The Muslims is the brother of a Muslims. He does not oppress him and he does not deceive him and he does not lie upon him, he does not speak down to him. “Taqwa is here [he pointed to his chest three times], it is enough as an evil for a Muslim to belittle his Muslim brother. The whole of a Muslims is haram to another Muslim: His blood, his wealth and his honour.” Muslim
If one lets himself fall into these affairs, then he falls into those issues that oppose brotherhood. It can happen that disputes occur between people, however, without hating one another.
We have numerous texts that show the importance of brotherhood, and the issues that destroy it, as well as the characteristics that a believer should have.
We should strive to avoid “ghil”, bitterness between us and anything that can compromise this brotherhood.
In a lengthy hadith, the prophet mentioned that there is not a believer who will fight the cause of his brother, more so that the one who on the day of judgment after the people have entered the fire and paradise. Those who will say, O our Lord! Our brothers, those who prayed with us, fasted with us, we do not see them. Allah will say to them, go to the fire and take out those who have a dinar of imaan.
Therefore, Imam Hasan al-basri said: “Make plenty of believing friends. For indeed they will have a shafaa’ah on the day of judgment.” They used to say, if you do not see me in Jannah, then ask about me.
Listen to the lesson for a more comprehensive explanation and examples.
Recorded at the Salafi Centre of Manchester on 9/7/17 and streamed LIVE on Sunnah Radio
