Unity and Brotherhood among Muslims

“O mankind! We created you from a male and a female, and made ​​you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other. The noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous. Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49: 14)

The concept of Jama’ah (Group/Congregation/One single fraternity) in Islam is exclusive. Religion is the law and the law is religion. Known as Shariah, the law of Allah the Exalted is the motivating force in the community. As such, we can say that social success for Muslims is drawn in a very simple formula: Shariah – Community – Mutual Strength. However, nothing can be achieved in the division of personal, ideological and partisan values. The unit is the cornerstone of success for Allah the Exalted explicitly commands and strongly warns in His Book:

“And be not like those who are divided and began to argue, after the clear proofs had come to them, and these will have a grievous chastisement.” (3: 106)

It is not enough to simply pronounce the Shahada to become a Muslim completely. It also requires conviction and resolution by applying the decrees that God has provided for His servants. It is then that the Muslim community shall realize the importance of brotherhood and unity in Islam. This unique form of union that Islam prescribes is the backbone of any society. The very basis of citizenship is universal brotherhood in piety. Brotherhood in Islam translates to “community”, “nation” or “people”, and includes people of different temperaments, different qualities, different races, languages ​​and histories, but who are nevertheless united at the heart of servitude to Allah the Exalted. We received a single instruction, and we were ordered to live within a single religion, and so our goal should be distinct and unique, propagating or serving the oneness of Allah the Exalted, the Almighty. The ideal Muslim community is one that is happy, far from doubts, anger, jealousy, and not affected by hypocrisy, pride and hatred.

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. So he should neither oppress him nor hand him over to an oppressor. And whoever meets the needs of his brother, Allah will meet his needs.” (Bukhari). 

In another Hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Do not hate each other and do not be jealous of each other and do not desert each other, O worshipers of Allah! Be brothers! It is not permissible for a Muslim to abandon his brother for more than three days.” (Bukhari)

The Quran and Sunnah emphasized the eminence of brotherhood. It is the key to the door of social success. Therefore, as Muslims, we have the responsibility to build our society according to the principles of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) who defined for his community an ideal way of life and a perfect model of community maintenance. We must live in accordance with the Sunnah which orders us to be kind to our brothers and sisters, to be tolerant, humble and supportive to achieve peace and success. It is the key to the door of achievement.

Brotherhood is the emblem indicating our superiority over other communities. If we are all facing in the same direction in life, our mutual support will be added to our winning probability. Unity is strength, builds confidence and prosperity. Therefore, Muslims around the world should not be driven by carelessness and indifference to his brother, far from it! Mutual support and cooperation should be the moral principle by which Muslims relate to each other. It is then that the binding of hearts shall come out stronger and protected.

As Muslims, we all verily have to believe and obey the commands of our Lord. There is also something called a news (which is different from a command, especially a diving command). The order or command that Allah the Exalted has given us all is to unite: 

“And hold fast all together to the rope of Allah and be not divided; and remember the favour of Allah on you when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together. And you became by His Grace, brothers. And you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from that. Thus Allah makes clear to you His signs that you may be guided.” (3: 104).

As for the news, Allah the Exalted said: 

“This community of yours is one single community, and I am your Lord. 

So fear Me. But they are divided into sects, each sect rejoicing in its belief.” (23: 53-54).

Certainly, there is a big difference between these two terms. In the first verse, Allah the Exalted ordered the Muslim community to unite and forbade them from dividing. And in the next one, He said that the Muslim community should be one; but unfortunately they broke up into sects and Allah the Exalted has qualified them as misguided. So from there, the Muslim must know that it is his duty to unite and not to divide because division is penitence, which awakens the wrath of Allah the Exalted. But it is unfortunate that Muslims today rejoice when they are divided into sects while justifying their actions: “Is it not that Allah the Exalted has said that there will be the division in the community?” These people with these words ignore a fact.

Allah the Exalted has never commanded to do division. When we see how the Muslim community is divided in Mauritius and in the world, it really is a sad – especially among the Ulema, the Islamic scholars, sages... Very often we even ask the question: do they understand the divine order? Those guides, who should have in principle been role models in society while executing this order, are themselves divided. Therefore, is there a solution for this? Most definitely, yes. We must all hang to the (divine) order and not the news (as I just mentioned in Chapter 3 & 23 respectively).

So we all have to unite if we are truly obedient to Allah the Exalted. Uniting the Muslim Community is not easy, but not an impossible task. Though many have failed in the past to realize that goal, nothing prevents you now from renewing and multiplying efforts with the arrival of the Khalifatullah Muhyi’uddeen of this era, that is, this humble person who is present before you all today. 

Allah the Exalted has given us a golden opportunity to unite under the banner of “Laa-Ilaaha-Illallah”, as one body. If you obey Allah and His Caliph (the Khalifatullah) in this era, such project that is impossible or seems impossible to realize will become possible, Insha-Allah, with the divine instruction. It is time for Muslims to realise that division is the main cause of our weakness; that indeed you are the responsible for this division when you have closed the door of prophethood after the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) and closed the door of divine revelation. With your mouths and hands you have attempted to extinguish the light of Allah and therefore you fell in a disturbing darkness, and here is the result! Nothing good will be achieved without union.

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) certainly told the truth: “The group (Jama’ah) is a mercy and division is a penitence.” (Musnad Ahmad) and he also said: “The hand of Allah is with the group (Jama’ah).” (Tirmidhi). These two Hadiths confirm what Allah the Exalted says in His Blessed Book, the Holy Quran:

“And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community. Yet they continue to disagree (among them) except those upon whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy. This is why He created them ...” (11: 119-120).

Those whom Allah the Exalted opened the chest to understanding clearly understand that you should never hide or live in a cult, or in any (separated) group and that their duty on earth is to be united with those who like union, to be among those whom Allah the Exalted has mercy. We, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam carefully follow this approach because we want good for our society/community and we want to live in peace, joy and harmony. May Allah help us to achieve this injunction, Insha-Allah. Ameen.

- Extracts from the Friday Sermon of August 15, 2014 delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius.