Muslim Solidarity
In today’s globalized world, distances are little more than numbers. With technology evolving at breakneck speeds, people living in the remotest corners of the world have become like our next-door neighbors in terms of communication. We are all starkly aware of their troubles. The concept of neighborhood is changing and expanding to turn into worldwide neighborhood and this situation brings us additional responsibilities.
When we think about ibadah, the first ones that come to our mind are the fard acts that Allah ordered us to perform such as praying salah, fasting, or making the pilgrimage to Makkah. However, for a Muslim, worship should have a deeper meaning that encompasses the whole of life. All the good deeds undertaken in social life for the sake of Allah come with their rewards and are a means of pleasing Him.
The servant cannot know exactly what will lead them to gain the rida of Allah. Therefore it is useless for them to weigh their deeds and appraise them as minor or major accomplishments. All kinds of good deeds are part of the concept of ibadah and bring the servant closer to Allah.
As the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) declared: “Removing something harmful from the road is sadaqah” (Tirmidhi, 1879). However, good deeds are not limited to favors done for others. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) informed believers in another hadith that everything spent by a man on his family is also charity.
The believer who receives this good news seeks the rida of Allah, that is, the way of pleasing Him, in all their actions, and is determined to earn ajr, which signifies the rewards that they will be granted in the afterlife for every act of benevolence, kindness, obedience, and worship. Their goal is not to dig their heels in and futilely try to cling to this fleeting world, but to work towards securing a peaceful place in the hereafter, the eternal abode where all will eventually settle in. They are more concerned with increasing their wealth in the afterlife.
For this reason, they do not miss any opportunity to do good that comes their way and take advantage of it. If they see that their brother is going through a rough patch, they immediately rush to his aid and strive to relieve him of his troubles. They mobilize for their brothers and sisters who are experiencing difficulties whether due to disasters or other forms of hardship, wherever they are in the world.
The Tabligh Aspect of Helping
One should never forget that the relationship we build with people and the attitudes we display have a reflection on the tabligh of Islam. Therefore, while seeking the rida of Allah in everything we do, we must also present the beauty of Islam to others as Islam has been taught for centuries in all its unmatched moral and social perfection.
Through benevolent Muslims who embody altruism, people have a better chance to observe and understand the kind of social morality and solidarity prescribed by Islam. Muslim unity and solidarity is such an inspirational sight to behold with a heartwarming simplicity that gently caresses the human soul that it wondrously awakens love for Allah’s religion in believers’ hearts and even in those who have yet to profess their belief but keep an open mind to the truth. For this reason, the work of believers who live in the parts of the World where non-Muslims are gathered in large numbers or who travel to different regions to provide aid will be valuable in these terms.
Certainly, Muslims do not establish relations only with non-Muslims to convey their message. Their relations with other Muslims also carry the characteristic of tabligh in terms of representing an example for their brothers. Muslims should lead by example concerning the Islamic brotherhood with their sensitive approach to and awareness of what their presence and actions stand for in the eyes of society. Their brothers and sisters in Islam are like brothers and sisters from their own parents. They consider any disaster that befalls them as if it happened to themselves. They grieve for their pains, make haste to be there for them when they need help, and cannot help but feel heartbroken to see them in distress. With all their strength and dedication, they stand by their side and promptly move to action to heal their wounds.
Thus, distances between hearts are reduced to a few kind words, a warm handshake, a heartfelt exchange of salam, or even a genuine smile, and the bonds of brotherhood are strengthened through Muslims trying to help their fellow believers living in the farthest corners of the world. The results of a helping hand to victims within a country’s borders can be observed much faster, leading to the formation of a family atmosphere. All the nation joins together; their hearts beat as one heart and they move as one body.
Disasters Remind Us of Brotherhood
Animosities may have taken place in the past, however, if one’s brother is experiencing difficulties, a Muslim should forget the bitterness that came between them and render their aid to relieve the suffering of their believer brothers and sisters. Actually, it is an obligation born of the brotherhood all Muslims share to do so.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever abandons a Muslim in a place where his sanctity is violated and his honor is reduced, Allah will abandon him in the place where he loves to be supported by Allah. And whoever supports a Muslim in a place where his sanctity is violated and his honor is reduced, Allah will support him in the place that he loves to get His support.”(Abu Dawud)
Going to the rescue of a brother despite past hostilities has ultimately beneficial outcomes. Assisting and accompanying those we used to be at odds with in the past when they have fallen on hard times, even though there may have been friction between us, rebuilds and strengthens the ties between Muslims. Maybe they can’t express their regret for offending or mistreating them in person, but the sincere feeling of remorse overwhelms their heart. Their brother understands the regret they are carrying like a burden from their demeanor and does not expect an apology so as not to embarrass them. In this way, the slate is wiped clean and their hearts come together again in brotherhood. If the person who is at fault is the one who goes to the aid, this a more pleasant situation as they realize their mistake and seek forgiveness by not abandoning their brother in their time of need. On the other hand, the person who sees their believer brother helping them will have already forgotten everything. It is time to turn over a new leaf and get a new lease on their brotherly relations.
When viewed from this angle, disasters can sometimes lead to remarkable outcomes by opening the door for many good deeds thanks to the maturity of Muslims. A rather curious takeaway from our misfortunes is that even a harrowing experience can serve to reinforce the feeling of brotherhood we may otherwise neglect or take for granted.
The Defining Attributes of a Good Muslim
Islam explains to us that a servant is not a perfect believer if their stomach is full while their neighbor goes hungry and until they like for their brother what they like for themselves. It also teaches us that believers must be like entwined fingers; they should take care of each other as if they are a single being: the whole body feeling the suffering of one of its limbs.
In today’s globalized world, distances are little more than numbers. With technology evolving at breakneck speeds, people living in the remotest corners of the world have become like our next-door neighbors in terms of communication. We are all starkly aware of their troubles. The concept of neighborhood is changing and expanding to turn into worldwide neighborhood and this situation places additional responsibilities on our shoulders. Accordingly, at present, when distances have lost their importance, what takes precedence over what differences or disagreements we may have is our need to remove the distances between our hearts.
We always need to keep our brotherhood bonds strong under all circumstances and not forget that our brothers whom we are helping today are the ones who will be by our side when we face a disaster tomorrow.
When the muhajirun emigrated from Makkah to Medina, there were people of different races and classes among them; however, for the Ansar (people of Medina welcoming the Muslims), it was sufficient for the muhajirun to be Muslims.
Our religion expects us to display this embracing attitude while helping our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Taha Yıldız
