Why is it that we appear so conflicted within ourselves and seen as divided by outsiders? It is good manners and encouraged to correct the wrong of your beloved fellow Muslim, even if you already know – don’t be defensive. Lashing out and feeling vindicated by others coming to your support and telling your ‘corrector’ to mind his / her business and that Allah is the only judge, isn’t helpful to you in the eyes of Allah.
The method of correcting someone is privately (especially online – so message them). This is unless they are publicly calling to wrongdoing and it requires clarification of the shariah. Otherwise, let’s maintain a stance – that of people united by faith with the shared identity of Muslim women. This is our sisterhood, we teach, shield, and protect eachother.
Teach one-another
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ كَاسِبٍ الْمَدَنِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ طَلْحَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ الْبَصْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ “ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَ الْمَرْءُ الْمُسْلِمُ عِلْمًا ثُمَّ يُعَلِّمَهُ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ ” .
The Prophet said: “The best of charity is when a Muslim man gains knowledge, then he teaches it to his Muslim brother.” Sunan Ibn Majah 243
حَدَّثَنَا أَصْبَغُ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي خَالِدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: الْمُؤْمِنُ مَرْآةُ أَخِيهِ، إِذَا رَأَى فِيهَا عَيْبًا أَصْلَحَهُ.
Abu Hurayra said, “A believer is the mirror of his brother. When he sees a fault in it, he should correct it.” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 238
Don’t look down on your sister
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “بحسب امرئ من
الشر أن يحقر المسلم”. ((رواه مسلم، وقد سبق قريبًا بطوله)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “It is enough evil for a Muslim to look down upon his (Muslim) brother.” Riyad as-Salihin 1574
Support one-another
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لاَ تَبَاغَضُوا، وَلاَ تَحَاسَدُوا، وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا، وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا، وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ”.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Do not hate one another, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert each other, and O, Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers. Lo! It is not permissible for any Muslim to desert (not talk to) his brother (Muslim) for more than three days.” Sahih al-Bukhari 6065
Don’t expose anyone
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ كَاسِبٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْجُمَحِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَكَمُ بْنُ أَبَانَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ سَتَرَ عَوْرَةَ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ سَتَرَ اللَّهُ عَوْرَتَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ كَشَفَ عَوْرَةَ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ كَشَفَ اللَّهُ عَوْرَتَهُ حَتَّى يَفْضَحَهُ بِهَا فِي بَيْتِهِ ” .
“Whoever conceals the (hidden) fault of his Muslim brother, Allah (SWT) will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever exposes the fault of his Muslim brother, Allah will expose his faults, until (so that) He shames him, due to it, in his (own) house.” Sunan Ibn Majah 2546
Don’t oppress Your Sister
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَالِمًا، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ، لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يُسْلِمُهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ كَانَ اللَّهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ، وَمَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرُبَاتِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ”.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection . ” Sahih al-Bukhari 2442
Mind your speech
۞ قَوْلٌۭ مَّعْرُوفٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن صَدَقَةٍۢ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًۭى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌۭ
“Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.” (Al-Baqara 2:263)
I end this post with this prayer: May you all attain patience, peace & calmness in your hearts and may Allah save and protect us all from anxiety, restlessness and depression. Ameen.
