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Lesson: 62 Islamic Brotherhood: The Basis and Foundation of Human Unity
Most of the
sociologists say: man is a social existence and in the structure of his existence
and creation he has strong inclinations toward a collective life. Now let us
see under the shade of which elements such collectiveness becomes a reality.
Today a group
of sociologists are of the opinion that the factors called race, common history,
common land or soil and blood are the elements that make up nationhood or a
unity of communities. It is the gathering that is made up of the above-mentioned
elements which in the science of rights, is called a nation.
But Islam has
not recognised anyone of the above-mentioned factors the basis of human unity.
Rather it has decided that unity of thought and belief is the foundation of
nationhood. Islam has said that the individuals who have unity of thought and
opinion in the matter of belief and thinking are brothers of one another. The
Holy Quran says: The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between
your brethren and be careful of your duty to Allah that mercy may be had on
you.
After the relation
of father and son, the nearest relation and affiliation between two human beings
living at a time is the relation of brotherhood. Islam has made this unbreakable
tie a must for the Islamic society and, for the first time in human history,
brought into existence such a great human society wherein a milliard human beings
are brothers of one another in Faith.
Traditions
1- Imam Sadiq
(a.s.) said: A believing Mo-min is the brother of another Mo-min, they are like
limbs of the same body, when one part is pained another part also feels that
pain and the spirit of both of them is from the Spirit of God and, in fact,
the connection between the spirit of a believer and God is stronger than the
connection of a ray with the sun. 2- The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Faithful people are, from the viewpoint
of love and affection, like a single body. When one organ of the body gets a
pain all other organs of the body express their pain through signs like fear,
sleeplessness and grief, and rush to the help of the part in trouble. 3- Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) gave a sermon in Mina
wherein he asserted: The value of the blood of Muslims is equal for all. The
shelter given to anyone even by the smallest of them has to be respected by
all of them and in front of aliens they are united and the possessors of one
power. 4- And it is also recorded from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.): The Faithful persons,
in relation with one-another, are like one building the parts of which strengthen
and protect one-another. 5- It is also on record: The Faithful are like one soul.
One of the
precious signs of the Islamic brotherhood is unity and coherence. In this connection
Islam has insisted very much through a number Quranic verses;
And hold
fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember
the favour of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts
so by His favour you became brethren
About the circumstances
leading to the revelation of this Ayat, the commentators write: One day two
persons belonging to the tribes of Aus and Khazraj respectively named Thalaba
bin Ganam and As ad bin Azraarah clashed with one another and both of them began
to announce the great deeds which their tribes had done after embracing Islam.
Thalaba said: Khuzaimah bin Thabit, the Zus shaadatain having two witnesses
in his favour and Hanzalah (the one who was bathed by angels) who are an honour
for Islam were from us. Likewise Aasim bin Thabit and Sa ad bin Muaaz also belonged
to our tribe. In reply Asad bin Zurarah who belonged to the Khazraj tribe said:
Four persons from our Qabeelah have served Islam in a great way through the
teaching of Quran: Ubayy bin Ka'b, Muaaz bin Jabal, Zaid bin Thabit and Abu
Zaid. Moreover, Saad bin Ubadah, the chief arbitrator of Madinah is from us.
Matters worsened by and by, both the tribes got alerted and taking arms in hands
stood against one another. It was feared that the fire of war would once again
spread and their land painted with blood. The news reached the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) who at once came to the venue and ended this dangerous trouble in
his extraordinary way of advice. He made peace and clear heartedness between
them. The above verses were revealed at that time and, in the form of a common
commandment, gave effective invitation to unity to all the Muslims.
A. And know
that this is My path, the right one therefore follow it, and follow not other
ways, for they will lead you away from His way; this He has enjoined you with
that you may guard against evil. B. And united their hearts; had you spent all that is in the earth, you could
not have united their hearts, but Allah united them; surely He is Mighty, Wise.
Explanation
The above verse
refers to the confrontation between Aus and Khazraj tribes who had fought for
ten years continuously.
Traditions
1. The Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: The group that gathered round an evil individual
and the person who desires to create disunity should be killed. 2. Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) said in a sermon: And always be with the biggest
group the majority supporting the truth as the Hand of God is on the big group.
Refrain from disunity because a single man is a partner of the devil just as
a lonely sheep is the morsel of the wolf. Beware: anyone who calls you to this
slogan meaning the slogan of separatist Kharijis. Kill him even if he wear my
turban. 3. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: The one who gets separated from the group of Muslims
even an inch has cut off the relation of Islam from his self. 4. It is similarly recorded: One who gets away from the group of Muslims and
breaks off his covenant with the Imam leader will meet his Lord on the Day of
Judgement in a condition wherein he will have no justification to produce.
Now that you
have seen some of the verses and traditions about the benefit of unity and the
harms of disunity we should know that this our great Islamic Revolution which
we achieved with the help of the Lord of the worlds was one of the most important
results of the unity formed under the great leadership of Imam Khomeini, the
Naib of the Imam Mahdi (a.s.). Now that the great revolution has succeeded by
the Grace of God its sustenance and continuance is also dependent on unity.Question: What is the meaning of unity?
Answer: Unity
does not mean that everyone gives up his belief or the Madrassa performs the
job of a university or the university attends only to the job of the Hauza-e-Ilmiyah.
Rather the meaning of unity is that despite difference of belief, there is no
tug of war or quarrel. The Holy Quran says: And obey Allah and His Apostle
and do not quarrel for then you will be weak in hearts and your power will depart,
and be patient; surely Allah is with the patient. In the matter
of unity between Sunnis and Shias the late Ayatollah Burujardi and the late
Sheikh Shaltoot, the chancellor of Al-Azhar university of Egypt had played a
big role just as the martyr Ayatollah Mutahhari and the martyr Dr. Shariati
has played a big role in the unity of Madrassa and university.
It is essential
for Muslims to guard against the evil designs of big powers especially of the
big Shaitan and his servants so that they may be able to defeat their conspiracies
and render the slogan of the dishonest Englishmen Divide and rule fruitless.
Another
example of the result of Islamic unity
One of the
biggest manifestations of the radiance of this brotherhood is that a brother
never encroaches upon the life and property and honour of his brother.
This point
is reflected in one of the most precious assertions made by the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) in the big audience in Mina. Addressing his companions he said: Today
is the day which is very precious in the sight of Allah and this land the land
of Mina is also likewise very valuable and so also this month Zilhajj through
which we are passing now. Yes, O people! The life and property and honour of
you is respectable for you one another just as this day and land and month are
respectable.
The Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) repeated this phrase for three times then, facing the sky he said:
O Allah! Be witness that I have completed the conveyance of message fully for
the fortification of brotherhood.
Eventually
we must remember that whenever the Muslims feel that in the Islamic society
or between two Muslim individuals there is any dispute they must rise up for
its solution on the basis of justice. Otherwise a peace that is made by encroaching
the rights of either of the parties is not only temporary but it also results
in a feeling of dislike for Islam.
