The Believer’s Mutual Brotherhood

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The believers are but brothers, sons of one father and mother (in the original creation). If one of them may have an distressed vein, others will remain awake all night because of his pain.’”

“Once I became depressed in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and asked him, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, why is it that sometimes I feel depressed without any apparent cause or incident? Even my family and friends notice it on my face.’ The Imam said, ‘Yes O Jabir, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has created the clay of the believers from the clay of paradise and has made the fragrance of His spirit flow through it; thus, a believer is a brother (in belief) of a believer from his father and mother. When a spirit of those spirits is distressed anywhere with a sadness the other spirits also feel sad; this is from that (clay of paradise).”’

“The believer is a brother (in belief) of a believer, his eyes and his guide. He does not violate his trust, does not do injustice to him, or deceive him, and does not promise him only to ignore it later on.”’

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) say, ‘The believer is the brother (in belief) of the believer. They are like the same body. If one part complains of pain the rest of the body also feels it. Their spirits are from one spirit. The spirit of the believer’s connection with the spirit of Allah is stronger than the connection of the sun’s rays to the sun.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘A Muslim is the brother (in belief) of a Muslim, he is his eyes, his mirror and his guide. He does not violate his trust, does not deceive him, does not do injustice to him, does not call him a liar and does not speak ill behind his back.’”

“Once I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when a man came in and the Imam asked me, ‘Do you love him?’ I said, ‘Yes, I love him.’ The Imam asked me, ‘How would you not love him when he is your brother (in belief), your partner in religion, your supporter against your enemies and someone other than you provides his sustenance?”’

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, ‘The believer is the brother (in belief) of the believer from his father and mother; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has created believers from the clay of paradise and has made the fragrance of paradise flow in their forms; thus, they are brothers from father and mother.’”

“The believer is the brother (in belief) of the believer, his eyes and his guide. He does not violate his trust, does not do injustice to him, does not deceive him and does not promise him only to ignore it later on.’”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The believers are like servants for each other.’ I asked, ‘How can they be each other’s servants?’ The Imam said, ‘They benefit each other. . . . (all of this Hadith is not mentioned)”’

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, ‘Once a few Muslims set on a journey but they lost the way and faced severe thirst. They shrouded themselves holding to the roots of a tree. Suddenly an old man in white clothes appeared and told them to get up saying that they had no problems and gave them water. They drank water to their satisfiction and asked him, ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘I am from Jinn who pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah. I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, “A believer is a brother of a believer, his eyes and his guide. How could you lose your lives in my presence?”’

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not do injustice to him, does not betray him, does not speak ill of one behind his back, does not violate his trust and does not deprive him.’ Rib’i has said, ‘Certain individuals of our people asked me in Madina saying, “I have heard Fudayl saying what just you said.” I then said to him, ‘Yes, it is true.’ He then said, ‘I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, “A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not do injustice to him, does not deceive him, does not betray him, does not speak ill of one behind his back, does not violate his trust and does not deprive him.’”