 |
Shaikh Isam Rajab working with young ICNM members
Brotherhood in Islam
Allah swt says in the Holy Qur'an, "The believers are but brothers. [49: 10]
And, the Prophet (pbuh) has said, "No one of you will complete his faith until he loves for his brothers what he loves for himself."
Our religion is the religion of Brotherhood. This is why we celebrated Eid last week; why we try to meet five times daily in the masjid; why we have this meeting every week; and, why we long for Hajj every year. These activities demonstrate to us that there is no difference between Muslims, except for the righteous deeds. This is what the Prophet (pbuh) has told us. This is what Allah says in the Qur'an. "Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous." [49: 13]
Our Brotherhood is very important. This is why the first thing the Prophet (pbuh) did when he arrived to Medina was to build the masjid. After this, he helped build the brotherhood between the immigrants and the tribe of supporters, "al Ansar."
Brotherhood keeps the community strong. This is why specialists of history, when discussing modern civilization, believe it won't last long. Why? Because the inner structure is ruined. The industrialized world appears to be advanced in everything, yet not in the relationships between people. Islam focused on these relationships, for it is the critical factor for the success of civilization.
Fellow Muslims, the Prophet (pbuh) has mentioned many narrations that express how important is it to strengthen our Brotherhood. Allah swt will reward those people who try to link these relationships. The Prophet (pbuh) mentioned the rights of each Muslim upon another, when he said. "The rights of one Muslim on another are six: When you meet him, greet him. When he invites you, accept. If he seeks your advice, then give it. If he sneezes and says al-hamdulillah, then say yarhamak Allah. When he is sick, then visit him, and when he dies follow his funeral."
Allah swt says, "O son of Adam I was sick and you did not visit Me." He will say, "O Lord how can I visit You. You are the Lord of the worlds?" He says, "Did you not know that My servant so and so was sick yet you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him you would have found Me with him?"
The Prophet (pbuh) said, "There is not a Muslim that visits another in the morning except that 70,000 angels ask forgiveness for him until the night, and if he visits him at night then 70,000 angels ask forgiveness for him until the morning, and he will have earned a garden in paradise.
Allah swt will reward you for travelling to visit your Brother in faith. A narration says that Allah swt has sent an angle to ask a man traveling to visit his Brother. "Why are you traveling?" He said, "To visit my brother." The angle said, "That's the only your reason?" He answered, "Yes." The angel then responded, "Allah swt has sent me to tell you that he has forgiven all your sins for this!"
How would you feel, Brothers and Sisters, if you had trouble and couldn't find any Brother or Sister to support you? On the other hand, how does it feel to know that they would? It makes me happy to know that many Brothers ask about my life, and can feel they care about me. Once a Brother said to me, "Shaikh, don't say this or that." I can't express my feelings, because I know he want's to protect me. He want's me to be careful. We need these kinds of relationships.
The Prophet (pbuh) has mentioned a narration that says, "Any Muslim who helped his brother when he needed help, Allah will help him on the Day of Judgment when he needs help!" One of the loveliest things to Allah swt, one of the things that pleases Allah swt the most is when you help your Brother in faith.
On the other hand, let's look at the punishment for those who they harm their Brothers in faith. Allah swt said, "And those who harm believing men and believing women for something other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin." [33: 58]
Not only if you harmed your Brothers in faith, but even if you helped someone else to harm your Brother or you helped killing him, the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Who ever helped killing Muslim with a part of a word, not a word, but a part of a word, he won't smell paradise."
Brothers and Sisters, an important thing toe mention regarding Brotherhood is never to use this relationship, never use Brotherhood for personal gain.
We know examples where someone looks for rich people. They say, "Oh Brother, we are poor and need your help." They pressure this Brother to give them money as a loan. Later, they tell their Brother, "We can't pay, so please forgive us!" The Prophet (pbuh) said about this, "Whatever has been taken by imbaricment, it is haram, Illegal."
The Prophet (pbuh) never once used his position for personal profit. When he arrived Madina, and decided to build the majid, the land was owned by two young Muslims. They were happy, because it was an honor that the Prophet (pbuh) had chosen their property for the location of the masjid. They asked if they could donate this land, yet the Prophet (pbuh) refused. Instead, he gave them money.
Another time, when the Prophet (pbuh) decided to travel to Madina, Abu Bakr was excited to join him as a companion on this trip. He presented a camel for the Prophet (pbug) to ride. But the Prophet (pbuh) refused to take it free!
There was a companion of the Prophet (pbuh) named Orwa. After the death of the Prophet (pbuh), he traveled to Iraq to spread Islam and call people to the religion of Allah swt. He needed to buy a horse. He found a sturdy one, and paid the price the seller asked. The next day, Orwa returned to the seller and gave him more money. Although Orwa had already given him what he had asked, he now gave him more! The seller was astonished.
The next day, Orwa came again to the seller, and he again gave him more money! The man couldn't figure this out. He asked, and Orwa responded, "When I bought the horse, I liked it the first time. Therefore, I gave you what you asked. But, when I tried it the second day, when I rode my new horse again, I found it to be worth even more. That is why I returned, and paid you what I believed the horse was worth. And, then on the third day, I rode my new horse again only to find it was worth even more. Therefore, I paid you again, because this was exactly what the fine horse was worth!
We are the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh). We were commanded to give people their worth, whatever it costs.
Can imagine this, Brothers and Sisters? If so, then compare between the Companions and what we do today. This is the difference between us and them. What we sometimes see, and sometimes do ourselves, is not Muslim behavior. If I know my Brother has a business, I help him where I can by buying from him. He should respect his duty to our community to be sure and sell only quality products at a fair price. We see examples of those who know they have the only legal products, and use this advantage to increase the price. Muslim Brotherhood imparts a dual responsibility on both buyers and sellers.
|
|
|
