I am your Brother and Sincerely So!

Assalamu alaikum. As a student who is passionately involved in the study of the Prophet’s biography and those of his noble companions, I can safely say that one common thing found in their honorable lives was genuine love and sincere brotherhood. Love, kindness, caring, sacrifice and joining the ties of relationship were the commonest things found in the life of our Master (saw) and him being the best of teachers, all these qualities automatically filtered down the hierarchy. Allah in His inimitable style says: “...And fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-watcher over you.” Q: 4:1

Coming to terms with the reality of our lives today as far as brotherhood and unity is concerned, I shed uncontrollable tears and I could see darkness looming in the horizon. That element of sincerity in love between fellow beings has long being snatched away by the evil vulture of materialism. Now we are confused because we don’t know who our real brothers are. A person can conveniently smile with you, eat from the same plate with you, stay in the same house with you, but deep inside he hates you, deep inside he plans for your failure, a case of outward love and inward hatred (pure hypocrisy). Believe you me; this is about the commonest thing in our lives today as opposed to what was obtainable in the lives of the Sahaba (companions).

It will be foolish of me to start talking about friends if we can’t settle internal bickering within our respective families. A sad picture of most families today is that of hatred, animosity, envy and complete absence of sincere love between family members. It was narrated on the strength of Jubair Ibn Mut’im (RA) that he heard the Prophet (saw) saying, “Qati’ (the person who severs the bond of kinship) will not enter Paradise” Bukhari. Wallah! It is this apparent negative factor that contributes to the epileptic nature of our prosperity.

Undoubtedly, if we are sincere in our relationship with close relatives it will go a long away in molding the character of the entire society. The absence of this is evident in the wide outspread of hate, chaos and depression within the larger society. Where there is no love hatred becomes the order of the day.  I came across a very frightening Hadith as regards our treatment of a fellow Muslim which was narrated on the strength of Abu Sirma (RA):  that Allah’s Messenger (saw) said: “He who causes harm to a Muslim will be harmed by Allah, and he who acts in a hostile manner against a Muslim, will be treated in a hostile manner by Allah.” Abu Da’wud and At-Tirmidhi

I can’t help sobbing when I read about the genuine nature of the love between companions, how they wished good for one another, how they shared their joys and happiness, how they equally share in the pains of their fellow brothers. The sacrifice and the feeling of brotherhood was something else. All these could not be detached from the fact that they had real knowledge about Allah, their Eeman was pure, and all the time they thought of accountability on the Day of Judgment, they were simply out to seek for Allah’s pleasure. Is it the same today? No! My knowledge about Allah is not good enough, my eeman is still an infant and my believe in accountability is not genuine so how on earth can I be sincere in my love for my fellow brother?

It is sad even after all the benefits kept in sincere love for fellow beings we still can’t harness this great potential.  It was related on the strength of Abu Hurairah (RA) that Our Master (saw) said: “He who wishes to have his provisions expanded and his term of life prolonged, should treat his relatives well” Bukhari

Talking about the genuine love between the Sahaba (companions) which in essence is suppose to be translated in our respective lives we can’t help but refer back to the Glorious Qur’an. Allah in His inimitable style paints an amazing image of how the companions demonstrated their brotherhood in Suratul Hashr. In relation to the great sacrifice made by the Ansars (the helpers in Madinah) Allah says: “And those who before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Banu An-Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.”Q: 59:9.

A poem from “Enjoy your life” of Dr Al-‘Arifi could be termed as the synopsis of my sentiments regarding the above topic

“The Relationship between me and my brothers

And my cousins is indeed problematic

If they consume my flesh, I spare theirs

If they destroy my honor, I build theirs

They do not hurry to my aid

But I hurry if they call me to theirs

I do not hold grudges against them

For the leader never bears grudges”

If you want to relate with anyone do it for the sake of Allah and be sincere and never harbor ill feelings against an innocent soul.