The Concept of Brotherhood in Islam
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
" لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ "
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2515
The Quran also supports this hadith by emphasizing the importance of brotherhood among the believers, and urging them to reconcile their differences and cooperate in righteousness and piety. Allah SWT says in Al Quran-
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy” [Quran 49:10]
8 duties that a Muslim should fulfill towards his brother in Islam, such as:
Material assistance: helping him with his needs and supporting him in times of hardship.
Personal aid: defending him from harm and injustice, and protecting his honor and reputation.
Holding one’s tongue: refraining from backbiting, slandering, or mocking him, and concealing his faults and mistakes.
Speaking out: advising him sincerely, reminding him of Allah, and enjoining him to do good and avoid evil.
Forgiveness: pardoning his offenses and overlooking his shortcomings, and not holding grudges or resentment against him.
Prayer: supplicating for him in his absence, asking Allah to bless him and grant him success.
Loyalty and sincerity: being faithful and honest with him, and not betraying or deceiving him.
Informality: being humble and friendly with him, and not being arrogant or distant .
Allah SWT says in Al Quran-
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.” [Quran 3:103]
Allah SWT says in another verse-
وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.” [Quran 5:2]
Al-wala wal bara
Al-wala wal bara is an Arabic phrase that means “loyalty and disavowal”. It is a concept associated with Islam that signifies loving and hating for the sake of Allah. It means to be loyal to Allah and His Messenger and those who believe in Him, and to disavow those who oppose Allah and His Messenger and those who disbelieve in Him.
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمْ رَٰكِعُونَ
وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْغَٰلِبُونَ
“Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship]. And whoever is an ally of Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allah - they will be the predominant.” [al-Ma’idah 5:55-56]