|
|
|
|
|
SIX RIGHTS
OF A MUSLIM UPON A MUSLIM
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "No one of you
shall become a
true believer until he desires for his brother what he desires
for himself.=
"
(Bukhari) Surely the best way for us to please our brother is
to place him
high in our estimation and do for him what we would like for
ourselves. The=
Prophet gave us comprehensive direction on how to sustain
brotherhood. He
said: "There are six rights of a Muslim upon a Muslim:..."
Ø "...When you meet him, greet him;..." With a warm smile,
a friendly
face and As-Salaam Alaykum is the best way to meet a brother.
We must avoid=
picking and choosing whom we confer this basic right upon. All
Muslims
regardless of their social status and position in society
should be afforde=
d
this "gateway" into our personal space. The Salaam is the best
of
icebreakers as it immediately brings down the barriers that we
unconsciousl=
y
erect around ourselves to shield us from "alien invasion".
Ø "...when he invites you, respond to him;..." When a
Muslim brother
invites you to a celebration, you are obliged to go, even if he
didn't
attend the Eid celebration you had last year. Accepting an
invitation for a=
wedding celebration or the naming of a child is about sharing
in the joys o=
f
a brother as well as joining with other Muslims in a social
gathering.
Ø "...when he seeks counsel, give him advice;..." When a
brother comes
to you with a problem, seeking advice, give him what he
requires even if it=
means that you are undermining yourself in the process.
Remember, you desir=
e
the best for him, don't you? Be sincere in your advice. Never
take what has=
been told to you in confidence to another person except to
demonstrate a
point; even then, his identity must not be disclosed or alluded
to.
Ø "...when he sneezes and praises Allah, say to him: `May
Allah have
mercy on you (Yarhamuk-Allah)'..." . When a Muslim sneezes,
yawns, lets one=
go, or even when he trips and he remembers to praise Allah, we
must respond=
to him with a prayer for Allah to have mercy on him. If we find
a brother
either negligent or ignorant of the need to praise Allah in all
things, the=
n
we must set him right as far as his responsibility to himself
and to others=
.
The lesson is: praise Allah in all condition and appreciate the
one who doe=
s
this!
Ø "...when he is sick, visit him... When you go and visit a
sick brother=
,
take a small gift along with you that will help lift his
spirits. If you ar=
e
unable to afford a gift, then ensure that you go armed with
words of
encouragement and hope from the Qur'an and Sunnah. Don't be put
off by the
fact that the brother is much more learned than you - you are
there to lift=
his spirits, not to compete against him. Pray for him and let
him pray for
you too.
Ø "...and when he dies, follow his funeral..." Attending
the last rites=
of a brother is of utmost importance. Speaking well of him and
seeking
forgiveness for him will ease his condition in the grave with
regards to
questioning, bliss and punishment. Upon following him to the
grave, one
should now not turn his back on (abandon) him. Not abandoning
him after his=
death is to take care of his families, remembering him in du'aa
regularly,
and doing sadaqah (charity) on his behalf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|