The Rights of One Muslim over Another

The following passage is translated from a well known book[1] by Imām Muḥammad Ibn Mufliḥ, whom is known to be an erudite Scholar in the Ḥanbalī School of his era. This book is dedicated solely to the ettiquettes of our Religion (Dīn) known as Ādāb. The following is a short passage on the importance of the duty of a Muslim to their fellow Muslims in Dīn and the importance of advising fellow brothers to the righteous path. It points out the things we tend to miss in this day an age [especially with the rampant usage of social media i.e. Facebook, Twitter etc]. Ultimately it will also serve as a reminder for us all.

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The Rights of one Muslim over Another

Imām Muḥammad Ibn Mufliḥ al-Maqdisī al-Ḥanbalī رحمه الله [d. 763 AH]

From the duties of a Muslim to another Muslim is to cover his sins [done privately, if he comes to know of them], to forgive his faults, to advise him passionately, to help him mend his ways, to accept his excuses, not pay attention to [anyone] backbiting [him], to hold on to his advices, to preserve his character, to take care of his [mutual] agreement, to answer his call, to accept his gifts, to keep that bond [of brotherhood], to be thankful for his help, to be kind in his asistance, to go out in his need, to [help] cure his problems, to make du‘ā' [by seeking his guidance] at his sneezing, to speak out against his misguidance, [to be] his friend, to not antagonise him, to help him against his oppressors, to stop him from oppressing others, to not run him, to not let him down, to love for him what you love for yourself, to dislike for him what you dislike for yourself, this was [all] mentioned in al-Ri‘āyah.

Ḥanbal said: I heard Abū ‘Abdillāh [Aḥmad Ibn Ḥanbal] say: 'It is not mandatory upon the Muslims to give advice [pertaining to Dīn] to a dhimmī[2]; rather he should advise the Muslims'. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Advice [should be given] to every Muslim'.[3] The meaning of this - and Allāh knows best - is that it [giving naṣīḥah] is a communal obligation (farḍh ‘ala 'l-kifāyah)[4]. al-Marūdhī said: I heard Abū ‘Abdullāh [Aḥmad Ibn Ḥanbal] say: A man said to Mis‘ar: 'Do you like to give advice (naṣīḥah)? He [Mis‘ar] replied: Whomsoever advises, then yes. As for gloating [about it] then no'. ‘Abdullāh Ibn ‘Abd 'l-Barr mentioned in Bahjat 'l-Majālis from Mis‘ar that he said: 'May Allāh have mercy upon him who gives guidance to me of my faults in private between me and him [the advisor], for the advice [given] in public is scolding'.

Aḥmad and Muslim narrated from Tamīm al-Dārī marfū‘an[5] [to the Prophet ﷺ]: 'Verily (َّاِن) Religion is sincerity (naṣīḥah), we replied: For whom O Messenger of Allāh? For Allāh, for His Book, for His Messenger, for the leaders of the Muslims and the general Muslims'.[6] Imām Muslim did not narrate it with the first word 'Verily', and Abū Dāwūd[7] narrated it mentioning 'إن الدين النصيحة' was repeated three times.

Al-Nasā'ī[8] narrated it with 'Innamā' وإنما الدين' 'النصيحة and he mentioned it [the full ḥadīth]. Its apparent [meaning] is that the foundation of the Religion and Islām is upon this statement.

Some [of the Scholars] have said it and a group of them mentioned it is one of the four narrations that is gathered to form the basis of Islām.

Al-Khaṭṭābī said: 'The meaning of the ḥadīth is [that] the foundation of [our] religion and its pillar is good advice / well wishing, like his ﷺ saying: Ḥajj is ‘Arafah'. [meaning it is one of its pillars].[9]

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[1] al-Ādāb 'l-Shar‘iyyah wa 'l-Manḥ 'l-Mariyyah (1/290), Imām Muḥammad Ibn Mufliḥ al-Maqdisī al-Ḥanbalī [d. 763 AH]

[2] Dhimmī: Non Muslims living under Muslim rulership, under their protection.

[3] Jarīr Ibn ‘Abdillāh ؓ said that he took bay‘ah to Rasūlullāh ﷺ and was given the condition to give [good] advice to the Muslims. Ṣaḥīḥ 'l-Bukhārī (#2526)

[4] Communal obligagtion: It is an Islamic term in reference to an act being obligated on a handful of people in a community, if not fulfilled it would be imperative for others [in that community] to fill in their gap. If not, the whole community will be sinful. Refer to Baḥr 'l-Muḥīṭ li 'l-Zarkashī (1/321).

[5] Marfū‘: Words or actions attrbiuted directly to the Prophet ﷺ.

[6] Musnad Aḥmad (#16602), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (#85)

[7] Sunan Abī Dāwūd (#4295)

[8] Sunan 'l-Sughrā li 'l-Nasā'ī (#4150)

[9] Sharḥ 'l-Nawawī ‘ala Muslim, Imām al-Nawawī (1/230), also mentioned in Mirqāt 'l-Mafātīḥ, Mullā ‘Alī al-Qārī (7/3112).