Living the Right Way

Peace and Reconciliation

Not only does Islam forbid all kinds of aggression and injury between individuals (as we have observed until now), but also it teaches that individuals in the society are brothers to each other and they must observe peace and reconciliation among themselves. They must help and assist each other in securing the good things of life whether material or spiritual. According to Islam people are like the members of one family: the old men and women are like our parents, the youth are like our brothers and sisters, and the young ones are like our children. Furthermore, in goodness, kindness, compassion and mutual help they must be like members of one body, such that when one of its members is hurting, the other members are concerned.

Believers must be friends, helpers and guides to each other. They must be concerned about each other’s situation, be beneficent, benevolent and servants to each other. They must work hard to fulfill each other’s needs and like for their brothers what they like for themselves, and dislike for them what they dislike for themselves.

Allah the Most High said: “The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you.”

He also said: “There is no good in most of their secret councils except (in his) who enjoins charity or goodness or reconciliation between people; and whoever does this, seeking Allah’s pleasure, We will give him a mighty reward.”

He also said: “And help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression; and be careful (of your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in requiting (evil).”

He also said: “And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, obey Allah and His Apostle; (as for) these, Allah will show mercy to them; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.”

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S) said: “Anyone who goes to make peace between two persons, the angels of Allah send blessings upon him until he returns and he will be given the reward of the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadr).”

He (S) also said: “Anyone who enters the morning not concerned about the affairs of the Muslims, he is not a Muslim. And anyone who hears one who says: ‘O Muslims!’ and he does not respond to him, he is not a Muslim.”

He (S) also said: “People are the dependents of Allah; so the most beloved by Allah is he who benefits the dependents of Allah most.”

He (S) also said: “People are all the dependents of Allah; so the most beloved by Allah is he who benefits them most.”

He (S) also said: “The best of people is he from whom people benefit”

He (S) also said: “Surely the greatest of people in status to Allah on the Day of Resurrection is the one who travels most on the earth in the path of benevolence to the people,”

He (S) also said: “Each one of you should be benevolent to his brother as he is to himself.”

He (S) also said: “The believers are brothers, some of them fulfill the needs of others and by virtue of fulfilling each other’s needs, Allah will fulfill their needs on the Day of Resurrection.”

He (S) also said: “Accompanying a Muslim brother for the satisfaction of his needs is more beloved to Allah than two months retreat (i’tikaf) in the Masjid al-Haram.”

He (S) also said: “Believers in doing good to each other and in being merciful and compassionate to each other are like one body. When one part is in pain the other parts echo its distress in sleeplessness and fever.”

Imam ‘Ali Zayn al-’Abidin (a.s.) said: “And the rights of your brother in religion is to intend peace and mercy for him... and that the aged must be like your parents, the youth like your brothers and sisters, and the young ones must be like your children.”

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “A believer is a brother to his believing fellow, an eye and a guide for him. He never betrays wrongs or tricks him, nor does he make to him a promise which he breaks.”

He (a.s.) also said: “A Muslim is a brother to another: he is his eye, his mirror and his guide; he does not betray, cheat, or oppress him; neither does he tell him a lie or backbite him.”

He (a.s.) also said: “The Messenger of Allah was asked: ‘Who is the most beloved of Allah’.’’ He said: “The most beneficial of people to the people.”

He (a.s.) also said: “Continue being benevolent for the sake of Allah towards His people; for you will never find any action more meritorious than it.”

He (a.s.) also said: “It is incumbent upon a believer to be benevolent to other believers, whether in their presence or their absence.”

He (a.s.) also said: “Believers are servants one to another.” He was asked how they could be servants to each other. He replied: “Some of them are beneficial to others.”

He (a.s.) also said: “Accompanying a Muslim in order to satisfy the latter’s needs is better than seventy circumambulations of the Ka’bah.”

He (a.s.) also said: “Surely satisfying the needs of a believing man is more beloved to Allah than twenty pilgrimages (hajj) in each of which one pays a large amount of money.”

He (a.s.) also said: “Allah the Almighty says: people are My dependent; and the most beloved of people to Me is the one who is most merciful of them to them and the one who is the most diligent in fulfilling their needs.”

He (a.s.) also said: “Anyone who is diligent in fulfilling the needs of his Muslim brother and he does his best in accomplishing it and Allah makes him successful in satisfying it, such a person. Allah will record for him the reward of one pilgrimage (hajj). One minor pilgrimage (‘umrah), two months retreat (i’tikaf) in the Masjid al-Haram and two months of fasting. Bui if he tries until Allah does not let him he successful in satisfying if, Allah will record for him one pilgrimage and one minor pilgrimage.”

Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) said: “Surely Allah has some servants in the earth who try to satisfy the needs of people. They are those who are safe on the Day of Resurrection; and he who cause happiness for a believer. Allah will make his heart happy on the Day of Resurrection.”

Imam Hasan al-’Askari (a.s.) said: “There are two merits above which nothing is higher: belief in Allah and the benefiting of brothers.”