Brother Hood In Islam

By Shaykh Watheq AlObaidi1, 3.11.11

“With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Very-Merciful2

Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds. May there be blessings and peace upon our master, Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.

Dear brothers, in this khutbah (sermon), we will continue discussing the topic of raising children in a context of religious estrangement (i.e. Muslim-minority America), emphasizing to fathers and mothers the necessity of instilling and deeply rooting the tenants of faith, taqwa (God fearing3), high moral character, the virtue of brotherhood and love, the meanings of rahmat (mercy), altruism4, clemency5, wisdom, courage, and other noble principles in the hearts of our children.

But today we will especially discuss the virtue of instilling brotherhood, friendliness, and love. Allah most-exalted says ‘All believers are but brothers’ (49:10).

Oh dear gathering of Muslims, know that from the fruits of children‟s proper education is the development of sound tenets of faith, taqwa of Allah most-exalted, an Islamic, prophetic character which results in brotherhood, friendliness, and love. Therefore, it is imperative for the truthful Muslim to feel that brotherhood for the sake of Allah is of the strongest of links…that it is even stronger than genetic brotherhood itself! Brotherhood for the sake of Allah is built on altruism, rahmat, pardoning though possessing the ability to exact revenge, and abstinence from every action that hurts the person, property, or honor of men6. The youth who inculcate these characteristics will be amongst those shaded under the throne of Ar-Rahman (God ‘the All-Merciful’) on the day there is no shade save His.

The Messenger of Allah said that Allah most exalted will say on the day of Resurrection7 „Where are those who loved each other for the sake of my majesty? Today I will shade them in My shade; a day there is no shade save Mine.‟ (The Authenticated Hadith Collection of Imam Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah, also said „One of you does not truly believe until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.‟ (Agreed upon)

Oh dear gathering of Muslims; By Allah, the one besides whom there is no god, we face a grave risk if we don‟t raise our children on these praiseworthy, precious Islamic qualities; we must take practical steps to infuse them, and take advantage of the lessons of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, and his companions, may Allah be pleased with all of them.

Allah mentions in the Noble Qur‟an the brotherhood between the Sahaba (companions) regarding their possessions: ‘And left over property (fai’) is also for those who established themselves in the homeland (of Madinah) and in faith before the former ones (arrived in Madinah), who have love for those who emigrated to them, and do not feel in their hearts any ambition for what is given to the former ones (from fai’), and give preference (to them) over themselves, even though they are in poverty. And those who are saved from the greed of their hearts are the successful.’ (59:9)
When the Messenger of Allah declared the emigrants (from Makkah) and the Ansar (of Madinah) brothers, the Ansar preferred their brothers, the emigrants, even over their own selves, manifesting the highest degree of brotherhood. They did this because they realized that brotherhood firmly established them (in community). Hearts coming together over our mutual affairs let us be as one body – with not a single person oppressing another, nor resenting another. It lets us bear the high level of responsibility placed on our backs in this country, and lets each Muslim be a mirror for his brother. The Messenger of Allah said „The Muslim is the brother of a Muslim; he does not oppress, betray, forsake, nor resent him.‟
Know that whoever oppresses, resents, backbites, or dishonors his Muslim brother…he is not of those who Allah most exalted specified in that ayat ‘All believers are but brothers’ (49:10)…
….We must understand that this world is evanescent, whereas the Hereafter is everlasting. We must correct ourselves by distancing ourselves from harboring ill-feelings against others and repent for what has passed. We must purify our hearts in order to attain the noble ranks of those who have taqwa in their friendships. Allah most exalted says, ‘Friends, on that day, will become enemies to one another, except the God-fearing.’ (43:67)
Mujahid8 relates that when the grave of the son of Adam (i.e. a human) first speaks to him, it says „I am a home of worms, a home of solitude, a home of estrangement, a home of darkness…this is what I‟ve prepared for you. So… what have you prepared for me?‟
Abu Dhar said „Should I not inform you about the day of my poverty, the day I shall be put in my grave? My dear Muslim brother, have you prepared yourself for this day, or do you still run behind this evanescent world just as the herds of animals run through the wilderness, while you come to the Day of Resurrection bankrupt, without a stock of iman (faith), taqwa, Islamic character, or brotherhood?
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah , the Messenger of Allah said „Do you know who is the bankrupt one? They (the Companions of the Prophet) said: A bankrupt man amongst us is one who has neither dirham nor belongings. He replied: The bankrupt of my community will be he who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasts, and zakat (charity-tax) but since he cursed this one, slandered against that one, unlawfully consumed one‟s wealth, shed another‟s blood, and beat that one - his virtues will be credited to the one whom he made to suffer. If his good deeds fall short of clearing his burden, then the sins of those who he made to suffer will be thrown upon him. Then he will be thrown into the Fire.‟ (Ahmed, Muslim, Tirmidhi Hadith Collections)
So, my dear beloved brothers, it is essential that we raise and grow our children properly. Oh Allah, make us from amongst those who say and follow the best of it. And thus I conclude my speech. I seek the forgiveness of Allah Almighty for myself, yourself, my children, and the Muslims altogether.”

http://www.ictucson.info/Brotherhood.pdf