TRUE BELIEF

 

 

 

 

 

TRUE BELIEF

 

 

 

 

Companion of Prophet, Anas reported that the Holy Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, said: "No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself".[Al-Bukhaari &Muslim].

 

 

Islam, through its instructions and legislations, was keen to organize people’s relation with their Lord the Almighty, in order for them to attain happiness in both this life and the Hereafter. At the same time, Islam legislates what governs people’s relations amongst each other, in order for love and harmony to prevail in the Muslim community. This can be achieved only when each individual is keen to protect and guard the welfare of others just as he would his own, and only then will the Muslim community become strongly bonded and well-established.

 

 

 

For this great objective to be fulfilled, the Holy Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, guided his nation to accomplish the principle of solidarity saying: "No one of you becomes a true believer until he/she likes for his/her brother/sister what he/she likes for himself/herself", clarifying that for faith to become deeply rooted in the heart one must love good for others just as he/she likes to attain it himself/herself, whether it is to be blessed with bounty or relieved from an agony; this is the path towards a perfect level of belief in ones heart.

 

 

If we ponder the above narration, we find that accomplishing such a state of belief requires the soul to possess a high degree of excellence and good manners when dealing with others. In this state a person overlooks mistakes, perseveres regardless of the harm others may afflict on him and forgives ill treatment. Additionally, he/she shares the joy and sadness of his/her fellow Muslims; he or she visits the sick, comforts the needy, sponsors the orphan, provides for the widow and offers help to others and cheers them with a smile.

 

 

 

Just as he/she likes people to be happy, he/she also wishes that they prosper in the Hereafter, and thus he/she always strives to guide them to the right path, whilst remembering the saying of Allaah (The One & Only God)): “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, `Indeed, I am of the Muslims`” [Holy Quran 41: 33]

 

 

 

The narration also goes beyond the boundaries of the Muslims to cover wanting good to reach disbelievers. He/She likes that Allaah (The One God) blesses them with the bounty of belief and that Allaah rescues them from the darkness of associating partners with Allaah (The One & Only God) and disobedience. This meaning is substantiated with the narration in which the Holy Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, said: "Being a true Muslim is achieved by loving for people what you love for yourself". [At-Tirmithi]

 

 

Indeed, in the Holy Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, we have the best example; he once said, advising Abu Tharr: "O Abu Tharr! I see that you are a weak person, and I love for you what I love for myself, so never be in charge of (even as little as) two people, or be responsible for an orphan’s wealth". [Muslim]

 

 

 

Our Salaf (i.e. righteous predecessors) took upon themselves the implication of this Prophetic advice, and were very sincere in its implementation in the best manner. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “I pass by a verse in the Book of Allaah, and wish that all people would have the knowledge I have about it.”

 

Another such example is when Waasi’ Ibn Muhammad wanted to sell a donkey of his once. The man who was buying it from him said to him: “Do you think it is good for me”. He replied saying: “Had I not thought so, I would not have attempted to sell it to you in the first place.”

 

 

 

 

 

These two examples and many more reflect the loftiness in faith these people reached which yielded such results.
One of the implications of the narration we are addressing is that a Muslim should not want for others what he or she hates to happen to himself or herself. This forces the person to shun many bad qualities, like envy, spite, selfishness, stinginess and other dispraised qualities which he or she would hate people to use when dealing with him or her.

 

 

Finally, one of the fruits of practically applying this great narration is that a virtuous community would be established for the Muslims when its members enjoy common love and a strong bond between them, so that they resemble one strong body that can not easily be defeated. Thus, the Muslim nation would achieve the sought after prosperity.