5.7 Society and Brotherhood

Living Together for Allah

Islam does not look at a human being as an isolated individual. It sees each person as part of families, communities, and the worldwide ummah. Society and brotherhood are therefore central to how a Muslim lives and worships. A believer’s faith shows in how he or she treats others, builds community, and carries responsibility for people around them.

“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
(Qur’an 49:10)

“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

These two texts show that brotherhood is not something extra in Islam. It is tied to faith itself and to Allah’s mercy.

Brotherhood as a Gift from Allah

In Islam, brotherhood is first of all a spiritual bond that comes from shared faith in Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the Last Day. It is not only a natural feeling or a social agreement. It is a gift and favor from Allah.

“And remember the favor of Allah upon you, when you were enemies, and He brought your hearts together, so you became, by His favor, brothers…”
(Qur’an 3:103)

The early Arabs of Madinah had long histories of tribal wars. When they accepted Islam, Allah changed their hearts and made them brothers in faith. This shows that real Islamic brotherhood can overcome tribe, color, language, and national borders. It is based on something higher and more lasting, which is Tawhid and obedience to Allah.

Because this brotherhood is a favor from Allah, a Muslim must appreciate it, protect it, and not treat it as a small thing. To break this bond without a valid reason is to reject a blessing from the Creator.

The Ummah as One Body

The Prophet ﷺ described the Muslim community as one body. This image helps us understand how serious the connection between believers is.

“The example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion is that of a body: when one limb suffers, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

If one part of the body is in pain, the rest cannot relax. In the same way, a believer does not feel comfortable and unconcerned while another believer is suffering. This applies inside the local community and across the world.

The Qur’an also speaks of believers as a single ummah, meaning one community united on faith.

“Indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.”
(Qur’an 21:92)

Unity in Islam is not only a feeling but a responsibility. Muslims are commanded to remain together upon truth and obedience to Allah, and to avoid anything that tears the ummah apart.

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided…”
(Qur’an 3:103)

The “rope of Allah” is understood by scholars as His revelation and His guidance. Unity is therefore not just numbers or slogans. Real brotherhood stands on following the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Brotherhood Beyond Race, Class, and Nationality

One of the strongest features of Islamic brotherhood is that it crosses all worldly differences. No person becomes closer to Allah because of skin color, wealth, or nationality. Only piety and obedience matter.

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
(Qur’an 49:13)

During the Farewell Sermon, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“O people, your Lord is one and your father is one. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white person over a black person, nor of a black person over a white person, except by Taqwa (consciousness of Allah).”
(Ahmad)

This teaching removes racism, tribalism, and class arrogance from Islamic society. The poor and rich stand side by side in prayer. A servant can be closer to Allah than a king. Brotherhood in Islam is not based on interest or status but on faith and righteousness.

Rights Between Believers

Islam teaches that each believer has certain rights over his or her fellow Muslims. These rights protect brotherhood and make it stronger. They turn feelings into practical duties.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim. He does not wrong him, he does not abandon him, and he does not despise him.”
(Muslim)

He also said:

“The rights of a Muslim upon another Muslim are six.” It was said, “What are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “If you meet him, greet him with salam. If he invites you, respond. If he asks for your advice, give him sincere advice. If he sneezes and praises Allah, say to him: Yarhamuk Allah. If he becomes ill, visit him. If he dies, follow (his funeral).”
(Muslim)

These rights create a minimum standard of care and connection. Even when Muslims do not know each other well, they share these responsibilities.

A believer must also protect his brother’s honor. Speaking badly about another Muslim behind his back, which is called gheebah, destroys trust and love. The Prophet ﷺ taught:

“The blood, wealth, and honor of a Muslim are sacred to another Muslim.”
(Muslim)

Protecting a believer’s reputation is part of respecting the bond of faith.

Mutual Help and Support

One of the clearest fruits of brotherhood in Islam is helping and supporting others in good. The Qur’an links cooperation to piety and forbids cooperation in sin.

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah, indeed Allah is severe in penalty.”
(Qur’an 5:2)

This verse shows two important rules. Muslims must help each other in every matter that is good and pleasing to Allah. At the same time, they must not help in anything that displeases Allah, even if it is asked by friends or family.

The Prophet ﷺ promised that whoever helps other believers will receive help from Allah.

“Whoever relieves a believer of one of the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him of a hardship on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easy for one in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal (his faults) in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah continues to help the servant as long as the servant continues to help his brother.”
(Muslim)

Here we see that helping others is not only kindness. It is a path to Allah’s special help and mercy. In an Islamic society, people are not only looking after themselves. They carry one another’s burdens and look for chances to ease someone’s suffering.

Justice Among Ourselves

Islamic brotherhood is not blind loyalty. A Muslim cannot support his friend or family in injustice. Justice must be given even against oneself or one’s own group.

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So do not follow personal desire, lest you not be just…”
(Qur’an 4:135)

The Prophet ﷺ corrected the pre-Islamic idea that you must help your “brother” even when he is wrong. He said:

“Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or the one oppressed.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I help him when he is oppressed, but how do I help him when he is an oppressor?” He said, “By preventing him from oppression. That is your help for him.”
(Bukhari)

So the Islamic concept of brotherhood includes advising, correcting, and restraining one another from wrongdoing. Real love does not leave someone to harm himself through sin or injustice.

Avoiding Conflict and Division

Since brotherhood is so important, Islam places many rules to prevent conflicts, hatred, and breakage of relationships. The Qur’an warns against mocking, suspicion, and backbiting among believers.

“O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule another people, perhaps they may be better than them. Nor let women ridicule other women, perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by offensive nicknames…”
(Qur’an 49:11)

“O you who have believed, avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicion is sin. And do not spy on one another, nor backbite each other…”
(Qur’an 49:12)

The Prophet ﷺ strongly warned against cutting off ties with a fellow Muslim without a valid reason.

“It is not lawful for a Muslim to shun his brother for more than three days, each of them turning away from the other when they meet. The better of them is the one who begins with the greeting of salam.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

By making greetings, forgiveness, and reconciliation important acts of worship, Islam keeps the society from breaking down into small angry groups. Simple words like “as-salāmu ʿalaykum” and “I am sorry” become acts that please Allah and heal relationships.

Mercy for the Weak and Vulnerable

A healthy Islamic society cares about those who are weak, poor, or without support. Mercy is one of the strongest signs of faith. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will be merciful to you.”
(Tirmidhi)

The Qur’an continually mentions the rights of orphans, the poor, travelers, and others who need help. One mark of true servitude to Allah is serving people who cannot repay you.

“…And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], ‘We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or thanks.’”
(Qur’an 76:8–9)

The Prophet ﷺ joined personal worship with caring for others. He said:

“The most beloved of people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people. The most beloved of deeds to Allah is happiness that you bring to a Muslim, or you relieve him of a hardship, or you pay off his debt for him, or you remove from him hunger…”
(Tabarani)

This shows that working for the good of people is a direct path to Allah’s love. An Islamic society does not leave the weak behind. It honors them and sees them as a door to Allah’s pleasure.

Brotherhood Beyond Disagreement

In any community, people will differ in opinion, habits, and even in levels of religious practice. Islam does not ignore these differences, but it teaches that the basic bond of faith remains unless a person openly leaves Islam.

The companions of the Prophet ﷺ sometimes disagreed on certain issues, but they kept mutual respect and love. Scholars after them showed how to disagree while staying brothers.

The Qur’an warns against turning disagreements into hatred and division.

“And do not be like those who became divided and differed after clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment.”
(Qur’an 3:105)

The Prophet ﷺ informed us that Allah will question a person about cutting off ties and refusing to reconcile.

“The deeds are presented (to Allah) every Monday and Thursday, and every servant who does not associate anything with Allah is forgiven, except a man between whom and his brother is hatred. It is said, ‘Leave these two until they reconcile.’”
(Muslim)

Here we see that broken relationships can even delay the acceptance of good deeds. This shows how serious unity is in the sight of Allah.

Society Built on Worship

In Islam, building society and brotherhood is not separate from worship. They are part of worship itself. When Muslims pray together, give Zakah, and make Hajj, these acts shape how they live with one another.

The daily congregational prayers gather people from different backgrounds in one line. The Friday prayer brings the community together to listen to advice and remember Allah. Charity purifies wealth and moves resources from the rich to those in need. All of this shapes a society where people feel that they belong to one another for the sake of Allah.

“And establish prayer and give Zakah and bow with those who bow (in worship).”
(Qur’an 2:43)

“The parable of the believers who recite the Qur’an is like that of a citron, its taste is good and its fragrance is good…”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

By worshipping together, believers share light, strength, and peace. This shared worship feeds the spirit of brotherhood daily.

The Balance of Rights and Duties

A Muslim living in society has rights over others, but also duties toward them. The Qur’an often speaks of “the believers, men and women” as protectors (awliya) of one another.

“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give Zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger…”
(Qur’an 9:71)

This verse shows that brotherhood is active. Believers do not only avoid harming one another. They also help each other to obey Allah, remind one another of the hereafter, and support each other in living Islam.

At the same time, Muslims also live among non Muslims. Islam teaches kindness, fairness, and good conduct toward all people. However, the special brotherhood of faith has its own depth and rights because it is tied directly to belief in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

A Community That Reflects Faith

An Islamic society is meant to reflect the belief that Allah is One and that life’s purpose is to worship Him. When people truly live as brothers and sisters for Allah’s sake, this faith becomes visible. Mercy for the weak, justice among all, unity upon truth, and mutual care all show that Islam is not only a set of ideas but a way of life.

The Prophet ﷺ summarized the value of being with others in a famous report:

“A believer who mixes with people and is patient with their harm is better than the believer who does not mix with people and is not patient with their harm.”
(Tirmidhi)

This shows that Islam calls the believer to be part of society, to carry difficulties with patience, and to work for the good of all, seeking only the face of Allah.