Sunnah Towards Others

Humanity lives today in a “global village,” where no people or nation can live in isolation from and indifferent to what goes on elsewhere. Our world is so interdependent and so interrelated that peaceful dialogue has become an imperative. In spite of the general erosion of commitment to “religion,” however interpreted or misinterpreted, religion still plays a pivotal role in shaping people’s attitudes and influencing their behaviour.

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا لَقِيَهُ وَيُجِيبُهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيُشَمِّتُهُ إِذَا عَطَسَ وَيَعُودُهُ إِذَا مَرِضَ وَيَتْبَعُ جَنَازَتَهُ إِذَا مَاتَ وَيُحِبُّ لَهُ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي أَيُّوبَ وَالْبَرَاءِ وَأَبِي مَسْعُودٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ وَقَدْ تَكَلَّمَ بَعْضُهُمْ فِي الْحَارِثِ الأَعْوَرِ

Narrated 'Ali:

that the Messenger of Allah said: "There are six courtesies due from a Muslim to another Muslim: To give Salam to him when he meets him, to accept his invitation when he invites him, to reply to him when he sneezes, to visit him when he is ill, to follow his funeral when he dies, and to love for him what he loves for himself."

1.      Having good social interaction.

Many people find it hard to open their hearts and share their feelings and problems. However, social interaction where people can talk out their problems and feel accepted and understood. When others speak kindly to you, encourages you, gives you an unexpected and genuine compliment, or tells you that he or she cares about you made you feel appreciated.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ ابْنَا أَبِي شَيْبَةَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رَحِمَهَا اللَّهُ قَالَتْ كَانَ كَلاَمُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَلاَمًا فَصْلاً يَفْهَمُهُ كُلُّ مَنْ سَمِعَهُ ‏.

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) spoke in a distinct manner so that anyone who listened to him could understand it.

2.      Respecting others religion, opinion and culture.

Allah (SWT) says:

            ﴿لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ * إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَى إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ﴾

 (الممتحنة: 8-9)

“Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (Al-Mumtaĥanah: 8-9)

3.      Be kind

Relatives have specific rights entitling them to special attention, visits and support. A wealthier Muslim is obliged to assist his or her relatives, with priority given to the nearest in kin, and then in order of nearness in relationship. A Muslim supports his brothers and relatives in times of need and shares their concerns. Islam encourages a Muslim to be kind to his relatives even when they are unkind to him, and asks him to continue his relations even when they cut them off.

حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْقَوَارِيرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا زَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.

Ibn Umar reported Allah's Messenger as saying:

Gabriel impressed upon me (the kind treatment) towards the neighbour (so much) that I thought as if he would soon confer upon him the (right) of inheritance.