Muslim Brethren’s Mutual Rights

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
The process of growth and guidance in an Islamic community is materialized by observing human rights. Islam has significant advices regarding observance of rights of individuals, for; fraternal bond in Islam is not a mere spurious relationship or an emotional affair but it creates responsibility for both sides.
When in the social system of Islam mention is made of the faithful, undoubtedly the indisputable rights of brotherhood are stressed.
Imam Jafar Sadeq (AS) the 6th infallible successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) considers the observance of fraternal rights as the highest worship and says: “The faithful is the brother of the faithful. He takes care of him and guides him. He doesn’t betray him. He doesn’t wrong him, neither does he deceive him nor does he give him a promise which he breaks.”
Islamic books of Hadith (narration) are full of chapters dealing with a faithful man’s right toward his faithful brother. Some of the most important rights of Muslim brothers towards each other are as follows: Being benevolence, kindness, honesty, solving the problems of one’s brother in faith, paying his debt, visiting him when he is sick, quenching one’s anger with him.
Leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says: “One of the things the holy Prophet did in the first months of his arrival in Medina was the formation of brotherly bond among Muslims. When the bond of brotherhood is shaped between two Muslims they have to abide by certain rights and commitments.
Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) always worked for creating kindness and sincerity among people and prevented creation of hatred and animosity.
The reciprocal rights of individuals from any social strata are very wide. The holy Qur’an and Hadith have repeatedly recommended that each Muslim should be ready to fulfill these rights and his duty is not limited to his wife, children and parents. In other words, as soon as a person becomes Muslim certain duties and rights become obligatory for him and he should do them. For instance, a person should not do wrong to his Muslim brother but he should support him against any oppression. The holy Prophet says if a Muslim hears the cry of an oppressed and does not help him he is not a Muslim. Islam teaches us that oppressing and accepting oppression are both reprimanded. Muslims should not be indifferent towards oppression but they have to withstand against it and defend the rights of their oppressed brothers because if they keep silent oppression will prevail. God says in Surah Hud of the holy Qur’an: "And do not incline toward the wrongdoers; lest the Fire should touch you, and you will not have any friend besides Allah, then you will not be helped."
Among the important rights that God has made obligatory upon Muslim brothers is to preserve the dignity of other Muslims. Life, property and dignity of Muslims should be preserved and even their thought should be respected. Undermining the dignity of a faithful is a very great sin. Imam Sadeq (AS) says: The status of a faithful is higher than the status of the holy Ka'aba. Therefore the faithful are duty bound to preserve the dignity of their religious brothers and if someone endangers the dignity of a faithful they have to defend it.
Muslims are committed to observe honesty while dealing with their religious brothers. Honesty is so valuable that God says in ayah 122 of surah Nisa of the holy Qur’an: “and who is truer in speech than Allah?”
In the Islamic narrations, honesty in speech has been considered among moral principles. Imam Ali (AS) the first infallible successor to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) refers to honesty as the strongest pillar of faith. For this reason, in order to have a true Islamic community, Muslims should fell obligated not to lie to anybody especially their faithful brothers. Honesty brings reciprocal trust and bolsters individual and social relations.
Among the rights of Muslim brethren towards each other is to preserve and respect personality. A person’s social behavior is based on either respecting human beings or humiliating them. Prophets consider human being an honest creature with divine characteristics. If others are treated as honest creatures, they will observe mannerism and demeanor.
Imam Ali (AS) said: "He who has dignity of soul will never break it through committing sin." Brotherhood requires Muslims to observe respect in dealing with each other, for; disrespect leads to hypocrisy and hypocrisy undermines man’s adaptability; as a result the link of brotherhood weakens. The holy Prophet says: "He who respects his Muslim brother it is as if he has respected God Almighty."