Loving For Your Brother What You Love For Yourself

ierc — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:42:37 +0000

Loving For Your Brother
What You Love For Yourself
Author: Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbalee
Source: Jaami’ Al-‘Uloom Wal-Hikam
Hadeeth Thirteen:
Abu Hamzah Anas bin Maalik (Radiya ‘Llahu ‘anhu) who was the servant of
the Messenger of Allaah (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) reported that the
Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“None of you truly believes (in Allaah and in His religion) until he loves for his
brother what he loves for himself.” [Bukharee & Muslim] 1
Commentary on the Hadeeth
The negation of faith as referred to in this hadeeth means the absence of the
true spirit and epitome of faith. Faith may be negated when some of its
pillars or duties are not fulfilled. This is exemplified in the following
hadeeths. The Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When an adulterer [or fornicator] commits illegal sexual intercourse, he is not a
believer at the time he is committing it; and when one drinks alcohol, he is not a
believer at the time he drinks it; and when a thief steals, he is not a believer at the time
of stealing.” 2
The Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said:
“By Allaah, he does not believe! By Allaah, he does not believe! By Allaah, he does
not believe!” It was asked: “Who is that, O Messenger of Allaah?” He (Salla
1 Recorded by al-Bukhaaree in Kitaab Al-Eemaan (Book on Faith) no.13; also recorded by
Muslim in Kitaab Al-Eemaan (Book on Faith), no. 45/71
2 Recorded by al-Bukhaaree in Kitaab Al-Mazaalim (Book on Injustices) no.2475; also
recorded by Muslim in Kitaab Al-Eemaan (Book on Faith), no. 57/100
2 www.ulamaa.com
’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “That person whose neighbour does not feel safe
from his evil.” 3
Wish For Your Fellow Muslims Whatever You Wish For Yourself
One of the obligatory characteristics of faith is that the Muslim should wish
the same things for his fellow Muslims that he wishes for himself. Likewise,
he should hate for them whatever he hates for himself. If he lacks this
characteristic, his faith is incomplete. Abu Hurayrah (Radiya ‘Llahu ‘anhu)
narrated that the Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“In order to be a Muslim, wish for your fellow Muslims that which you wish for
yourself.” 4
Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘Aas (Radiya ‘Llahu ‘anhu) narrated that the
Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever wishes to be delivered from the Fire and to enter the Garden should die
with faith in Allaah and the Last Day and should treat the people as he wishes to be
treated by them.” 5
Abu Dharr (Radiya ‘Llahu ‘anhu) said: “The Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) told me:
“Abu Dharr, I see that you are weak, and I love for you the same things that I love for
myself. Therefore, never become an amir [a leader], not even over two persons, and
never manage the property of an orphan.” 6
The Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised Abu Dharr not to
become an amir because he sensed his weakness and desired that those who
were weak avoid positions of leadership. The Prophet, however, ruled over
people because Allaah gave him the necessary strength. In addition, Allaah
ordered the Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to call people to obey
him and to direct their religious and worldly affairs.
In the same vein, Muhammad bin Waasi’ went to sell a donkey that he
owned. A man asked him: “Would you like for me to own it?” He answered:
“If I didn’t like it, I would not have decided to sell it.”
3 Recorded by al-Bukhaaree in Kitaab Al-Adab (Book on Etiquette) no. 6016
4 Recorded by at-Tirmidhee in Kitaab Az-Zuhd (Book on Asceticism) no. 13; also recoreded
by Ibn Maajah in Kitaab Az-Zuhd (Book on Asceticism) 4217; and Ahmad, hadeeth no. 2/310
5 Recorded by Muslim in Kitaab Al-Imaarah (Book on Emirate) chapter 1844/46
6 Recorded by Muslim in Kitaab Al-Imaarah (Book on Emirate) chapter 1826/17
3 www.ulamaa.com
This is an allusion to the fact that he did not wish for his brother in Islaam
what he did not wish for himself. All the above incidents are but examples of
advice to Muslims, which is part of religion.
Utmost Goodwill
This hadeeth indicates that a believer is pleased with what pleases his fellow
believers and that he desires for them the good that he desires for himself.
This is a result of being completely free from holding grudges, cheating, and
envy. The envious person likes to be superior to others and hates that others
are superior or equal to himself. This feeling contradicts faith, which
stipulates that one should wish others to enjoy the same blessings that he
enjoys without losing any of them. In the Qur’aan, Allaah (Subhanahu wa
ta’ala) has praised those who are not haughty towards others and hate
corruption. Allaah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
“That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who
rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do
mischief (by committing crimes).” [Al-Qasas (28):83]
Envy Is Permissible In Two Cases
A believer becomes a true believer only when he likes for others what he likes
for himself. It is good for a believer to wish for that with which another
person has been given if it is beneficial for one’s religion. The Prophet (Salla
’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Do not wish for the likes of anyone except two: a man upon whom Allaah bestowed
knowledge of the Book [the Qur’aan], who stands up [in salaah (prayer)] and
recites it during the hours of the night, and a man upon whom Allaah bestowed
wealth, and he spends it in charity during the hours of the night and the hours of the
day.” 7
The Prophet (Salla ’Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said, concerning the person
who sees another spending his money according to the prescriptions of
7 Recorded by al-Bukhaaree in Kitaab Fadaa’il Al-Qur’aan (Book on the Virtiues of the
Qur’aan) no. 5025; also recorded by Muslim in Kitaab Salat Al-Musaafireen (Book on the
Prayer of the Travellers) 815/266
4 www.ulamaa.com
Allaah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and says: “If I had money, I would have spent
it in the same way he spends it, ”that he would be given an equal reward.” 8
However, one should not aspire to worldly pleasures. This is shown in the
following Qur’aanic verse, in which Allaah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
“So, he [Korah] went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were
desirous of the life of the world, said: “Ah, would that we had the like of
what Qârûn [Korah] has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great
fortune.” But those who had been given [religious] knowledge said: “Woe to
you! The reward of Allaah [in the Hereafter] is better for those who believe
and do righteous good deeds..” [Al-Qasas (28):79-80]
As for the Verse in which Allaah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
“And wish not for the things in which Allaah has made some of you to excel
others.” [An-Nisaa’ (4):32]
‘Wishing’ has been interpreted here as envy, in the sense longing ardently
and wrongfully for something that belongs to another. It has also been
interpreted as aspiring to illegal things or things that are decreed by Allaah
impossible for that person to obtain. By an example would be the desire of
women to become men or to have the same religious and/or worldly
advantages such as jihaad, inheritance of a heritage portion equal to men,
having the same degree of manly rationalism, and being equal to men as
witnesses etc.
Nevertheless, a believer should regret missing religious virtues. Hence, he
has been ordered to consider those who are more religious than him as an
example and compete with them as much as he can. This is revealed by the
following verse:
“and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to
the obedience of Allaah).” [Al-Mutaffifeen (83):26]
A believer should not dislike for others to have the same religious virtues.
Rather, he should like all people to compete in attaining such virtues and
encourage them to do so. This is part of giving sincere advice to his fellows.
If another excels him in religious virtue, he should exert his utmost effort to
catch up with him. He should feel sorry because he is not doing his best and
8 Recorded by at-Tirmidhee in Kitaab Az-Zuhd (Book on Asceticsm) no 2325; also narrated by
Abu Kabshah Al-Anmaary and classified as sahih hasan
5 www.ulamaa.com
because he cannot reach him. This is not by way of envy, but by way of
competition and aspiring to be at the same level as his in addition to feeling
sorry for his failure to do what ought to be done, and for being inferior to
those who are foremost in faith and performing righteous deeds.
A believer should always think of himself as falling short in his seeking the
highest degrees. This should lead him to do two precious things: first
exerting his maximum effort to attain and build upon his own virtues; and
second, to realise his imperfections.
It is permissible for one who is blessed with some favour to tell others about
it, so long as he does so for religious interest, and realises that he is deficient
in his thanks to Allaah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) for this favour. This is
supported by Ibn Mas’ood’s (Radiya ‘Llahu ‘anhu) saying:
“I do not know of anybody who is more versed in the Book of Allaah than
myself.”
This is not to imply that one dislikes others to be granted such blessings, as is
indicated by the following saying of Ibn Abbaas (Radiya ‘Llahu ‘anhu):
“When I come upon a Verse in the Book of Allaah I really wish for all people
to know what I know about it.”
Further, As-Shaafi’ee (Rahimahu ‘Llah) said:
“I wish for all people to know this science, and to attribute nothing to me.”
By the same token, Utbah, a young man, used to tell his close friends:
“Give me water or dates to break my fast so as to have a [divine] reward
equal to mine.”

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seerah 8

ierc — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:47:46 +0000

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Get Islamic updates on ur twitter account

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Classes @ IERC for the Students of GANGOLLI

ierc — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:00:39 +0000

1) Islamic History Classes,

Time: Every Saturday after MAGHRIB.

2)Qur’an Study Circle,

Time: Every Sunday after ASAR.

3)Qur’an Taleem for female Students,

Time: Every Sunday @ 9:30am.

VENUE: IERC, 1st floor, Momin Complex, Main Road, Gangolli.

For more details contact: ierc.ggi@gmail.com

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online counselling

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Visit http://www.islamonline.net

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Allah hu Allah

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ISLAMIC HISTORY CLASSES AT IERC EVERY SATURDAY.

ierc — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:44:52 +0000

Assalamu alaikum dear brothers,

Every Saturday after magrib namaaz Islamic history classes will be held at IERC by Ulema. All the youngsters are invited.

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READ QUR’AN WITH UNDERSTANDING TO GAIN PEACE.

ierc — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:40:03 +0000

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Qur’an Study Circle

ierc — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:10:40 +0000

All the students(males only) of Gangolli are Invited for Qur’an Study Circle (QSC) on every SUNDAY @ 17:00hrs (5:00pm) IST, Venue: IERC, 1st Floor, Momin Complex, Main Road, Gangolli. Plz inform other Brothers also.

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What scientists say about Holy Qur’an

ierc — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:42:44 +0000

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Islamic Educational & Research Centre (IERC), Gangolli.

Loving For Your Brother What You Love For Yourself

seerah 8

Get Islamic updates on ur twitter account

Classes @ IERC for the Students of GANGOLLI

online counselling

Allah hu Allah

ISLAMIC HISTORY CLASSES AT IERC EVERY SATURDAY.

READ QUR’AN WITH UNDERSTANDING TO GAIN PEACE.

Qur’an Study Circle

What scientists say about Holy Qur’an