Brotherhood in action
The manual for building a harmonious society as per the Sunnah
Summarising compassion and brotherhood in Islam is a mammoth task, but this booklet will give a brief overview of the topic.
The Quran says:
Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that you may receive Mercy. (49:10)
This is one of the major verses on this topic as well as the hadith from the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), as narrated by An Nu’man ibn Basheer:
عَنْ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ مَثَلُ الْجَسَدِ إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّى
“The example of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of one body. When any one of its limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
This particular hadith is my favourite hadith on this topic. When the Prophet (peace be on him) talks about the attributes of love and mercy and compassion, these are not the exclusive property of Muslims, but we share them with the entire human race. The unique point in this hadith is the Prophet’s (peace be on him) description of the relationship binding the believers together as a single body.
There are more than three million words in Arabic, but from these three million the Prophet (peace be on him) chose one particular word, when he could have chosen any other. We need to reflect on this metaphor, as he specifically chose it. When I do a workshop on this, I usually distribute different limbs to the attendees. All together the limbs make up the body. However on his own, no attendee can claim he, by himself, is the body. In other words, all of us together constitute the body. Each limb is different in its nature – the heart, the blood circulation, lungs, brain. Just as the members of the human race, or any community or any family each one has differences. Yet despite their differences, they have to function together to make the body work. This is what the hadith is teaching us. You have to celebrate your differences, and work together as the body does. If we attack each other we will die. In various illnesses, such as arthritis, certain cells of the body decide to attack the body, causing a major problem. The Prophet (peace be on him) is confirming that we need to be tolerating and accommodating towards one another, feeling compassion for each other.
The topic of love, which no extremist will ever mention, is covered by a vast number of narrations, including sound narrations from Muslim, Bukhari, Imam Ahmed, Tirmidhi and so on.
What is brotherhood?
How do you achieve it and what are the benefits and the barriers to it? In this Free Booklet we will look at:
- Brotherhood and its consequences, obstacles, etc.
- When and how to give nasiha (sincere advice) in the best way and what to avoid.
Islam is a guide to living a fruitful life not just as an individual but also collectively as a society. Each directive and recommendation in the Quran and the Sunnah lead to one’s self development spiritually and socially and impact one’s relations with those one interacts with, bringing about a positive environment. Some steps are as simple as a smile, others require a greater effort to overcome man’s propensity to look out for himself and fulfil his own desires. Yet it is precisely when we look beyond ourselves that we create the best environment for ourselves to thrive and flourish. It is when individuals initiate and follow the Sunnah that we curb toxic practices within society which lead to disunity and conflicts that fester and divide communities and the Ummah at large. The power to transform society lies in the hands of every individual who is part of it.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim, the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation defines himself as a knowledge seeker. Praise be to Allah, his Foundation was the pioneer in disseminating Islamic knowledge in the UK over 20 years ago.
His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought and different Islamic denominations through highly advanced classical and religious texts.
Prior to coming to the UK, he established an office for the research and publication of important manuscripts and published three books on Comparative Jurisprudence (Fiqh). He also worked in Lebanese Shariah courts as a trainee judge.
In 2000, Shaykh Haytham moved to the UK, where he founded Utrujj to spread the message of Islam with an emphasis on clarity, authenticity and practicality.
Due to his wide breadth of experience, he is a scholar and advisor on Islamic Finance and Shariah for international organisations ranging from investment firms to legal and accountancy firms. In addition, he has 20 years of experience advising British lawyers, as well as charities such as Save the Children and UNICEF.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is leader of the Lebanese Sunni community in the UK under Dar Al-Fatwa in the UK and an authorised Faqih with knowledge of the Shariah. He takes a keen interest in promoting love and tolerance within the Muslim community as well within wider society, and voicing the need for social justice.
Often consulted by his students for his wise, compassionate and balanced stance, he loves spreading knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah in a way that is authentic, relevant and down to earth.
Other FREE Booklets:
Ghazali’s 20 Rules for Dealing with People
Birth and Death Rites – Culture vs Islam
Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
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