These are very concerning days and there is a lot of ill-feeling around, but as a believer in the One God, we should always try to display love for all and hatred for none. Work together for the good of mankind.
Islam has laid much stress on the importance of Brotherhood & Sisterhood. To achieve that we must respect and help one another and always be ready to overlook the faults of others, ready to forgive and show mercy.
The Holy Qur’an relates in Chapter 49, verse 11:
“Surely, all believers are brothers. So make peace between your brothers, and fear Allah that mercy may be shown to you.”
Of course, we are all different and this is in fact one of the blessings of Allah, the One God, that he has created us all differently. But that means that we all have different views and outlooks. We get on with some people and not others. Therefore, it is important then that if we want brotherhood, then we have to give respect and goodwill to everyone, no matter whether we get on with them or not.
The Holy Qur’an declares in Chapter 49, verse 14:
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female; And We have made you tribes and sub-tribes that you may know one another. Verily the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is most righteous among you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware”
It is a very beautiful verse which helps us to develop this brotherhood, by first showing that we are all equal in the sight of Allah, it doesn’t matter whether we are rich or poor, black or white, we are all one brotherhood and sisterhood. Therefore, we should strive to develop this love and respect for each other for Allah’s sake. This is why Islam teaches that if there is any disagreement between you, then try to resolve it within three days so that it does not build and develop.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, always showed love and respect to all his followers and was always ready to find the good in them and overlook their weaknesses. He even was ready to show forgiveness to his enemies as was shown when he entered Mecca and forgave all the Meccans who had been persecuting them for eighteen years.
Likewise, the Sahaba (companions of the Holy Prophet) were also quick to forgive each other for the sake of Allah. It is related that once Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) had a disagreement.
Hazrat Abu Bakr regretted and asked Hazrat Umar to forgive him, but he refused. Hazrat Abu Bakr then went to the Holy Prophet and told him what had happened. The Holy Prophet then said to him three times:
“May Allah forgive you, O Abu Bakr.”
Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, soon regretted his role in the argument and went to find Hazrat Abu Bakr to make peace. When he found him with the Holy Prophet, the Holy Prophet showed his displeasure at Hazrat Umar, even though Hazrat Abu Bakr was quick to point out that,
“I (Abu Bakr) was more in the wrong than he (Umar) was.”
The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then addressed all his followers by saying:
“Verily, when Allah sent me to you, you all said to me ‘you are lying’, whilst Abu Bakr said, ‘He has spoken the truth’. In addition to that he has comforted me and helped me with his self and his wealth. So, for my sake, will you not leave my companion alone?” (Bukhari)
This story shows the difference between us and the companions of the Holy Prophet. Whereas most of us will keep a dispute going for days, months or even years, the Prophet’s companions even though they did get into arguments with each other, quickly wanted to resolve their differences.
It was only a matter of seconds before Abu Bakr regretted his harsh words to Umar and he quickly asked Umar to forgive him. Likewise, it was only a few minutes before Umar, who was renowned for his temper, to regret his role in the dispute and he tried to make peace with Abu Bakr.
It is something that we should ponder over.
We all say things that we quickly regret, whether we believe it to be true or not. Perhaps it could have been said better, or perhaps you did not expect the reaction or perhaps for Allah’s sake you wish you did not upset a fellow brother. But then plucking up the courage to try and resolve the situation is hard. But again, for the sake of Allah and brotherhood, we should try to quickly restore peace.
Again, there is another story about Hazrat Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, when the Holy Prophet gave Rabia Al-Aslami a plot of land which was next to Hazrat Abu Bakr’s land. A dispute arose between them about a date-palm tree which was on the boundary. Both argued that it belonged to them.
Hazrat Abu Bakr then said something negative, and he quickly regretted it.
He then said “O Rabia say the same to me, and that way we will be even.”
Rabia said “I will not do so” as he didn’t want to say anything negative to Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr declared that he was giving up his right to the disputed piece of land and walked away to the Holy Prophet.
When the Holy Prophet heard what had happened, he said:
“Yes, indeed, do not say similar words to him, but instead say ‘May Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr.’”
Again, from this narration we see that after a dispute arose, which both parties felt they were in the right, Abu Bakr said something negative. He didn’t curse or abuse, but due to his fear of Allah, he felt that what he had said was not good and Allah will be displeased with him. So, for the sake of winning Allah’s pleasure, he demanded that Rabia should say the same to him.
But Rabia, also feared Allah’s displeasure and didn’t want to repeat those words. So, it shows that both were striving to win the pleasure of Allah and seek forgiveness for minor weaknesses. This is why the Holy Prophet told him to say, “May Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr.”
This is what we should also be doing, striving to win the pleasure of Allah. We should try to quickly resolve any differences that happen, however minor they seem and always keep Allah in mind, that we are doing it for His sake, and we do not want Allah’s displeasure.
The Holy Qur’an informs us in Chapter 3, verses 134-5:
“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous. Those who spend in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men. Verily, Allah loves the good doers.”
As this verse tells us, if we want to win Paradise, then we should strive to win the pleasure of Allah, no matter what the condition is, whether it is good or bad, we should repress our anger, hold back for the sake of Allah and then always be ready to forgive others, for the sake of Allah. In this way you will be able to have ‘love for all and hatred for none.’ As the Holy Prophet has informed us:
“A person is not a true believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself” (Bukhari)
As we do not want to be hurt or abused, so likewise we should not hurt or abuse others. We are all weak and make mistakes, so likewise, we should bear in mind others also have weaknesses, so we should always be ready to forgive and overlook their weaknesses, just as you hope they will forgive and overlook your weaknesses.
At the end of the day, it is Allah who we should be trying to please, and Allah wants us all to be one brotherhood. He will be the judge, not us.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said:
“By Him in Whose hands is my life, you will not enter Paradise unless you believe, and you will not truly believe unless you love one another. Shall l tell you something whereby you will love one another? Multiply the greetings of peace among yourselves.”
From this lovely saying of the Holy Prophet, we see how to begin, by offering a greeting of peace. There is no better way to meet someone, even if you are angry. When you offer peace, then that will cool your anger, develop a warm friendship and strengthen friendship. When you love someone purely for Allah’s sake.
Of course, it doesn’t mean that we should condone their sins and shortcomings. Sometimes you have to show your anger to make the people realise that they have done wrong, that they have caused upset and that they are heading in the wrong direction, but instead of showing them contempt and hatred, we should be aware of our own shortcomings and have sympathy and compassion and be ready to show forgiveness and understanding for the sake of Allah.
If there should be any contempt, then that should be directed towards us, and we should try to overcome our own shortcomings and weaknesses. If we have this sort of outlook, then we can make peace between ourselves and be as believers, brothers to one another.