Islamic Brotherhood (al-Ukhuwwah)

The concept of Islamic brotherhood (al-Ukhuwwah al-Islamiyyah) is one of the most transformative social principles in Islam. It establishes that all Muslims, regardless of race, language, nationality, or social class, are brothers and sisters in faith. The Quran declares: "The believers are but brothers" (Quran 49:10). This is not a metaphor but a binding reality with legal, social, and spiritual implications. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not oppress him, he does not hand him over, and he does not look down upon him" (Sahih Muslim).

The Medina Model

The most powerful historical example of Islamic brotherhood was the mu'akhat (fraternization) established by the Prophet between the Muhajirun (emigrants from Mecca) and the Ansar (helpers of Medina) after the Hijrah. Each Ansari was paired with a Muhajir, sharing their homes, wealth, and even property. The Ansar's generosity was so remarkable that Allah praised them in the Quran: "And those who were settled in the home and in faith before them love those who emigrated to them and find not in their breasts any need for what they were given, and prefer them over themselves even though they are in privation" (Quran 59:9). Some Ansar even offered to divorce one of their wives so their Muhajir brother could marry.

Rights of Brotherhood

The Prophet detailed six rights every Muslim has over another: "When you meet him, give him salams. When he invites you, accept. When he seeks your counsel, advise him. When he sneezes and praises Allah, say 'yarhamukAllah' (may Allah have mercy on you). When he is sick, visit him. When he dies, follow his funeral" (Sahih Muslim). Beyond these, the broader obligations include: loving for your brother what you love for yourself, defending his honor in his absence, forgiving his mistakes, concealing his faults, making dua for him, and assisting him in times of need. The Prophet said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Breaking Down Barriers

Islamic brotherhood explicitly rejects all forms of racism, tribalism, and classism. The Prophet declared in his Farewell Sermon: "O people, your Lord is one and your father (Adam) is one. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a non-Arab over an Arab, or a red person over a black person, or a black person over a red person, except by piety" (Musnad Ahmad). The example of Bilal, an Abyssinian former slave who became the first muadhin, standing alongside Abu Bakr from the noblest Arab lineage, exemplifies how Islam dismantled pre-existing social hierarchies. Malcolm X famously described his experience at Hajj as a revelation of true racial equality.

The Ummah Concept

Brotherhood extends beyond the local community to the entire ummah. The Prophet compared the Muslim ummah to a single body: "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy are just like one body. When one limb suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim). This means that the suffering of Muslims anywhere is the concern of Muslims everywhere. The practical implications include: charitable giving across borders, advocacy for justice, welcoming refugees, and maintaining a sense of collective identity that transcends nationalism. The brotherhood of Islam remains one of its most attractive features, drawing people of every background into a community united not by blood but by faith.