دینی اخوت

Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "A believer is to another believer like a building, one part of which strengthens another part." And he (ﷺ), (to explain it further,) interlaced the fingers of one hand with the fingers of the other.

(Bukhari and Muslim)

The community that believes in the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as the final Prophet of Allah has, by Allah's command, been made into a single brotherhood through the bond of faith; and until the end of time it is this brotherhood that must act as the deputy and representative of prophethood. This is possible only when the various individuals and elements of the community remain a single unity — bound together through religious brotherhood, sincere sympathy and goodwill, and selfless cooperation, solely to please Allah — and their hearts remain fully joined to one another. That is why the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laid special emphasis on this in his teachings.

In this hadith Muslims are taught the lesson of togetherness: a Muslim is like a brick in a society. Just as bricks join together and give strength to one another, so too are Muslims helpers and supporters — the hands and arms — of one another.

A society in which no bond of love, affection, and unity develops among its people can never become a model society. That is why Islam has laid great stress on mutual association, love, and unity, so that people's hearts are joined together. The Qur'an declares this to be a great blessing for people; Allah says:

"And remember Allah's favour upon you when you were enemies to one another and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His grace you became brothers." (Aal-e-Imran 103)

That is, the believer is love personified and a fountain of love; the true relationship among believers is one of love. This distinguishing quality of the people of faith carries within it a revolutionary power. It is by the wonder of this very power that love becomes the conqueror of the world, and there comes into being a society in which people are sympathisers and comforters of one another — and then those acts of self-sacrifice and love appear of which humanity will forever be proud. Allah says:

"The believing men and women are protectors (helpers and supporters and) friends of one another." (At-Tawbah 71)

That is, it is among the praiseworthy qualities of the believers that they are friends, helpers, and comforters of one another, and that in every hard and difficult moment — without any expediency, relying only upon Allah and knowing Him alone to be the Disposer of all affairs — they consider it their duty to help their distressed brother who is beset by difficulty. May Allah grant us all the ability to understand the truth, to speak the truth, and to walk upon the truth. Amin!