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Allah has enough pleasure and bounty for all of them. If they are all working for the same purpose, it is like, to use a modern-day metaphor, they are all on the same team. They should each want the team to win and not worry so much about individual statistics. The better the team does, the happier everyone should be. Therefore, if the plight of Muslims and Islam is improved anywhere, all Muslim workers should be happy about that whether or not it was they themselves or their organization or group that brought about that good result. However, such only occurs when they clean their hearts of any other intentions and work not for their own group or party but solely for the sake of Allah. Then, whatever pleases Allah, they are happy with, even if it came at the hands of some other Muslim workers. And whatever displeases Allah, they are unhappy with, even if it came at the hands of their own group or party. • One of the ways by which hatred toward another brother may be removed from one's heart is by concentrating on the good deeds and kind acts that the brother has performed. When one thinks about those things, the minor 1 Al-Qaasimi, Mauidhat, p. 322; A. al-Qaasim, p. 6. Hadith #35: "Do not be envious of one another . . . " agitating acts that he did will soon be forgotten. The feelings of rancor and animosity in the heart will soon be replaced, Allah willing, by feelings of friendship and brotherhood. • If a scholar is qualified to make ijtihaad and, in doing so, comes to a conclusion which is different from another scholar's, then, as long as his conclusion has some basis and is not obviously against the Quran and sunnah, he should not be hated due to his honest conclusion. If he is hated due to his conclusion, then that hatred cannot be considered hatred for the sake of Allah. The scholar has the right to make his own ijtihaad. One cannot force his ijtihaad upon others. He cannot be hated because he has not committed any sin. Allah willing, he will be rewarded for his efforts even if he were wrong. However, his opinion may be opposed in a polite and respectful manner. • Sometimes one brother is asked about another brother, for the purpose of marriage, business or for some other aspect. The brother who is being questioned knows that the prospective brother is not qualified or is not a good candidate. However, he feels that if he says anything bad about the brother, he will be backbiting and doing something against the brotherhood of Islam. He fails to realize that by not stating the truth about the brother, someone is bound to get hurt. Hence, he must state the truth if he feels that the brother is not qualified. The Prophet (peace be upon him) set an example in this matter. Fatimah bint Qais was proposed to by Abu Jahm and Muawiya. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told her about one that he beat women and about the other that he is poor and has no wealth. Hence, the Prophet (peace be upon him) even suggested a third person for her to marry. This is part of the sincere advice toward one another and it does not violate the principles of brotherhood in Islam.1 • Auctions are allowed in Islam and do not violate the principles mentioned in this hadith. This hadith is specifically referring to cases where there is an agreement between the buyer and the seller, and then a third party interferes with that agreement. However, in the case of auctions, there is no agreement and the seller has not accepted anyone's offer. Al-Bukhari has a chapter in his Sahih demonstrating that auction-type sales are permissible in Islam.2 • Throughout the Muslim world today, one might find the beautiful principles taught in this hadith violated virtually on a daily basis. There may be some Muslims who cheat each other in business. Some Muslims even lie to each other. Other Muslims might even be prejudice against each other and look down upon one another. Sometimes Muslims do not show any respect to each other; indeed, it is as if some of them sometimes do not have any self-respect. Perhaps, Allah knows best, this hadith points to two 1 Cf., ibn Taimiya, al-Hajr, p. 29. 2 Cf., Khan, trans., Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 3, p. 1 98. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi very important aspects that may remove this phenomenon. The first aspect is that every Muslim must realize that he is a slave and servant of Allah. This is the most honorable position a human can achieve. Indeed, this is the very purpose for which he was created. As Allah has said, ::;i ,,,. '2>,J .,, ,.,,, J .... . ਃ ':}\ ·':}( ঵শI \ JLj._ qr 0) . - i...r ) .:..r: ) ,,.. ,,.. @ ; ,..