At the time of advent of Islam enter Arabia presented a scene of battle-filed and was burning in the fire of mischief and distance.

People of that peninsula had always been at loggerheads with one another and their hearts were filled with acute rancour. However, Islam declared their mutual love to be a part of basic articles of its program.

The holy Prophet recited the following verse before them : “The believers are a band of brothers. Make peace among your brothers and fear Allah, so that you may be shown mercy.”

(Ref. Surah al-Hujurat, verse 10)

Then he embarked upon this task with a high ambition and practically established brotherly relations between two groups of Muslims. From that day onwards one came across the phrase brethren-in-faith along with the phrase Kinsmen. As a matter of fact former become more in vogue.

Reconciliation between two brothers

In order to route out rancour and enmity Islam ordains : “Establish peace and tranquillity between your brethren-in-faith.”

(Ref: Ibid)

At the time of his death Imam Ali (P) advised his children as under : “My children ! I advise you to practice piety, keep your affairs organized and always make peace between yourselves, because I have heard your grandfather, the holy Prophet saying that Allah regards making peace between two persons to be superior to offering prayers and fasting for one year.”

Ref : Nahj al-Balaghah, pp.968

For this very reason the great leaders of the faith attached much importance to this subject, so much so that if there was some financial dispute between two persons the same should be settled through that money.

Abi Hanifa Amir al-Hajj says:

“Once I was disputing with a person in connection with an inheritance. Mufzal ibn Umar passed by us. He observed us for a moments and then invited us to his residence. He settled the affair between us. Then he said : Remember ! this money is not mine. On the other hand Imam al-Sadiq (P) gave the same to me and ordered that as and when two Shi’as are disputing over some property the matter should be settled by means of this money.”

(Ref :al-Usul al-Kafi, pp.414)

Rights of believers over one another

Islam has imposed mutual responsibilities upon Muslims and called them the ‘right of brethren-in-faith’.

Imam Ali (P) quotes from the Holy Prophet as saying:

“Every Muslim has thirty rights over another Muslim which he should either perform or the other should spare him from performance thereof : ‘a Muslim should look over the errors of his brother-in-faith and should have pity on him when he is in trouble, should conceal his secrets, should not talk about his mistakes, should accept his apology, should defend him when others preserve mutual friendship, should pay his dues, should visit him when he is sick and should escort his funeral in the event of his death, should accept his invitation and his presents, should recompense him for his gifts, and thank him for his favours, should render him proper assistance, should protect his honour and meet his needs and make him achieve his purpose. If he sneezes he should invoke benediction for him. He should guide his lost things to him, reply to his salutations, treat his statements to be correct, consider his prize to be good, confirm his oath, be friendly with his friends and assist him whether he be the oppressor or the oppressed one. However, in cased he is the oppressor the assistance to be rendered to him is that he should be stopped from doing evil and in case he is the oppressed one, the requisite assistance is to help him in receiving his due. He should not leave him alone to face hardships and should consider that thing good for him which he considers to be good for himself and should not desire that thing for him which he does not desire for himself.”

(Ref : Behar al-Anwar, Vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp 65)

Imam al Sadiq (P) also quotes the holy Prophet as saying:

“A believer has seven rights over another believer which the latter must discharge : He should respect him openly and be friendly with him in heart. He should make him partake in his wealth, visit him when he is sick and escort his death. And even after his death he should not say anything except good about him.”

(Ref : Ibid, pp 61)

Imam al Baqir (P) has said :

“Some of the rights of a believer upon his brother are that : he should satiate him when he is hungry, conceal, his secrets, make his difficulties easy for him (assist him in his difficulties), pay his debts and protect his children after his death.”

(Ref :al-Usul al-Kafi,pp.393)

And Imam al Sadiq (P) also says :

“A believer is the brother of other believer and is like an eye and a guide for him. He does not commit breach of trust with him, does not oppress him, does not deceive him and fulfills the promise made with him.”

(Ref :Ibid pp,392)