Words of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) about Brothers
Compiled by: Engineer Afsaneh Cooper
Making Many Brothers
Indeed, the person becomes many with his brother (friend), for he (the friend) helps him during misfortunes and poverty, entertains him during loneliness and estrangement, advise him during perplexity, guides him during the error, remembers him when he is away, and so on. For this reason, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, ordered (Muslims) to make men brothers. He, peace be on him, said: "Make many friends in this world, for they avail (you) in here and the hereafter. In this world, they fulfil (your) needs. In the hereafter, the people of the fire will say: 'So we have no intercessors, nor a true friend.'"(419)
When al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said that the friend would avail his friend in the hereafter, he meant that the religious wise one who guides his friend to good through advising him, so he will save him from the ruin in the hereafter.
Or he may make use of his supplication for his life in the hereafter, as al-Sadiq said in other tradition: "Make many brothers, for every believer has an accepted supplication."
Or because he may make use of his intercession in the hereafter, as al-Sadiq, peace be on him said: "Make many brothers, for every believer has intercession." Also he, peace be on him, said: "Make friends with the believers, for they have intercession with Allah."(420)
Besides, the believing friend is worth a collection of all these qualities in here and the hereafter.
Forgiving Brothers
Not all people are infallible. Most people make mistakes. So, it is impossible for you to find the friend free from defects. Accordingly, whoever wants to make many friends should forgive them their mistakes. From here, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "Where do you find a prefect brother? Which one of men is. Also he said: "Whoever does not make friends but with him who has no defect, his friends are very few perfect?"(421)
Also he said: "Whoever does not make friends but with him who has no defect, his friends are very few."(422)
When the person wants friendship to last he should not look for the defects of his friend, as al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "Looking for (defects) is parting."(423) Also he said: "Do not look for (the defects) of people lest you should be without friend."(424)
The experienced persons should be satisfied with the little act of his brother to continue his friendship with him, as al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "It is not an act of equity to demand the brothers to do equity, and whoever is dissatisfied with his brother unless his brother prefers him to himself, his dissatisfaction will last."(425)
Yes, admonition does not spoil the continuation of friendship. Rather, it may remove the hatred and hidden spites of the hearts. However, admonition should not be very much because it brings about negative results. For this reason, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "He whose admonition is much, his friends are very few." Also he said: "Whoever admonishes his brother for every mistake, his admonition will last."(426)
The Rights of Brothers
Brothers have many rights. It is difficult for us to count them, and we do not want to search what has been mentioned on them in this connection. However, we will mention only one tradition. The tradition is enough for the brother to treat his brother kindly when he puts it into effect. Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said to al- Mu'alla b. Khanis that the brother has seven rights. They are: The first right: You should love to him what you love to yourself and hate to him what you hate to yourself. The second right: You should avoid making him angry, follow his pleasure, and obey his orders. The third right: You should help him with yourself, your money, your tongue, your hand, and your leg. The fourth right: You should be his eye, his guide, and his mirror. The fifth right: You should not be full, while he is hungry. You should not quench your thirst, while he is thirsty. You should not clothe yourself, while he is naked. The sixth right: When you have a servant, and your brother has no servant, so you should sent him your servant to wash his clothes, to fix his food, and to prepare his bed. The seventh right: You carry out his oath, accept his invitation, visit his ill ones, participate in his funeral procession. When you know that he has a need, you should hasten to fulfil it. You should not force him to request it (the need) from you, but you should hasten to (fulfil it) of your own accord. When you do that, you relate your friendship to his friendship, and his friendship to your friendship."(427)
Helping the Brothers
In the previous topic the Rights of Brothers, we have mentioned something about helping the brothers. However, it has been mentioned separately in the traditions of al- Sadiq, peace be on him. He, peace be on him, said: "Help your brothers with what you have earned."(428) also he, peace be on him, said: "Come nearer to Allah through helping your brothers."(429)
As helping the brothers is very difficult, Abu Abd Allah (al- Sadiq), peace be on him, said: "Among the strongest things which Allah has imposed on his creatures are three: (The believer should) treat his believing brother with justice, (namely) he should love to him what he loves to himself, helping the believing brother with money, calling to mind Allah's name during every attitude- it is not to say Subhana Allah wa, al- hamdu lillah, rather during (doing) what Allah has prohibited him from."(430)
I (the author) say: Indeed these are among the difficult things for the person to do, for they oppose his strongest pleasure such as self- love, money- love, pride, and so on.
Treating the Brothers Kindly
Treating the brothers kindly is a branch of rendering help to them Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, urged Muslims very much to treat each other kindly. In his commandments to Jamil b Darraj, he said: "It is an act of pure belief is to treat the brothers kindly and to satisfy their needs. The Merciful (Allah) loves him who treats his brothers kindly ... Jamil, tell your honourable companions about this tradition. He (Jamil) said: "May I be ransom for you, who are my honourable companions?" He said: "Those who treat their brothers kindly during poverty and riches."(431)
In his foregoing commandments to Abid Allah b Jundub, al- Sadiq said: "Indeed, to move the feet to visit the brothers and to treat them kindly is the best way to worship Allah."
As treating the brothers kindly is great with Allah, the Exalted, the Satan does his best to prevent man from doing that, in these commandments, he said: "Bin Jundub, the Satan has snares to catch (people) so, beware of his snares." He (Bin Jundub) said: "Son of the Prophet of Allah, what are his snares?" He (the Prophet) said: "As for his snares, he (the Satan) prevent you from treating your brothers kindly."
Compiled by: Engineer Afsaneh Cooper
Making Many Brothers
Indeed, the person becomes many with his brother (friend), for he (the friend) helps him during misfortunes and poverty, entertains him during loneliness and estrangement, advise him during perplexity, guides him during the error, remembers him when he is away, and so on. For this reason, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, ordered (Muslims) to make men brothers. He, peace be on him, said: "Make many friends in this world, for they avail (you) in here and the hereafter. In this world, they fulfil (your) needs. In the hereafter, the people of the fire will say: 'So we have no intercessors, nor a true friend.'"(419)
When al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said that the friend would avail his friend in the hereafter, he meant that the religious wise one who guides his friend to good through advising him, so he will save him from the ruin in the hereafter.
Or he may make use of his supplication for his life in the hereafter, as al-Sadiq said in other tradition: "Make many brothers, for every believer has an accepted supplication."
Or because he may make use of his intercession in the hereafter, as al-Sadiq, peace be on him said: "Make many brothers, for every believer has intercession." Also he, peace be on him, said: "Make friends with the believers, for they have intercession with Allah."(420)
Besides, the believing friend is worth a collection of all these qualities in here and the hereafter.
Forgiving Brothers
Not all people are infallible. Most people make mistakes. So, it is impossible for you to find the friend free from defects. Accordingly, whoever wants to make many friends should forgive them their mistakes. From here, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "Where do you find a prefect brother? Which one of men is. Also he said: "Whoever does not make friends but with him who has no defect, his friends are very few perfect?"(421)
Also he said: "Whoever does not make friends but with him who has no defect, his friends are very few."(422)
When the person wants friendship to last he should not look for the defects of his friend, as al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "Looking for (defects) is parting."(423) Also he said: "Do not look for (the defects) of people lest you should be without friend."(424)
The experienced persons should be satisfied with the little act of his brother to continue his friendship with him, as al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "It is not an act of equity to demand the brothers to do equity, and whoever is dissatisfied with his brother unless his brother prefers him to himself, his dissatisfaction will last."(425)
Yes, admonition does not spoil the continuation of friendship. Rather, it may remove the hatred and hidden spites of the hearts. However, admonition should not be very much because it brings about negative results. For this reason, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "He whose admonition is much, his friends are very few." Also he said: "Whoever admonishes his brother for every mistake, his admonition will last."(426)
The Rights of Brothers
Brothers have many rights. It is difficult for us to count them, and we do not want to search what has been mentioned on them in this connection. However, we will mention only one tradition. The tradition is enough for the brother to treat his brother kindly when he puts it into effect. Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said to al- Mu'alla b. Khanis that the brother has seven rights. They are: The first right: You should love to him what you love to yourself and hate to him what you hate to yourself. The second right: You should avoid making him angry, follow his pleasure, and obey his orders. The third right: You should help him with yourself, your money, your tongue, your hand, and your leg. The fourth right: You should be his eye, his guide, and his mirror. The fifth right: You should not be full, while he is hungry. You should not quench your thirst, while he is thirsty. You should not clothe yourself, while he is naked. The sixth right: When you have a servant, and your brother has no servant, so you should sent him your servant to wash his clothes, to fix his food, and to prepare his bed. The seventh right: You carry out his oath, accept his invitation, visit his ill ones, participate in his funeral procession. When you know that he has a need, you should hasten to fulfil it. You should not force him to request it (the need) from you, but you should hasten to (fulfil it) of your own accord. When you do that, you relate your friendship to his friendship, and his friendship to your friendship."(427)
Helping the Brothers
In the previous topic the Rights of Brothers, we have mentioned something about helping the brothers. However, it has been mentioned separately in the traditions of al- Sadiq, peace be on him. He, peace be on him, said: "Help your brothers with what you have earned."(428) also he, peace be on him, said: "Come nearer to Allah through helping your brothers."(429)
As helping the brothers is very difficult, Abu Abd Allah (al- Sadiq), peace be on him, said: "Among the strongest things which Allah has imposed on his creatures are three: (The believer should) treat his believing brother with justice, (namely) he should love to him what he loves to himself, helping the believing brother with money, calling to mind Allah's name during every attitude- it is not to say Subhana Allah wa, al- hamdu lillah, rather during (doing) what Allah has prohibited him from."(430)
I (the author) say: Indeed these are among the difficult things for the person to do, for they oppose his strongest pleasure such as self- love, money- love, pride, and so on.
Treating the Brothers Kindly
Treating the brothers kindly is a branch of rendering help to them Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, urged Muslims very much to treat each other kindly. In his commandments to Jamil b Darraj, he said: "It is an act of pure belief is to treat the brothers kindly and to satisfy their needs. The Merciful (Allah) loves him who treats his brothers kindly ... Jamil, tell your honourable companions about this tradition. He (Jamil) said: "May I be ransom for you, who are my honourable companions?" He said: "Those who treat their brothers kindly during poverty and riches."(431)
In his foregoing commandments to Abid Allah b Jundub, al- Sadiq said: "Indeed, to move the feet to visit the brothers and to treat them kindly is the best way to worship Allah."
As treating the brothers kindly is great with Allah, the Exalted, the Satan does his best to prevent man from doing that, in these commandments, he said: "Bin Jundub, the Satan has snares to catch (people) so, beware of his snares." He (Bin Jundub) said: "Son of the Prophet of Allah, what are his snares?" He (the Prophet) said: "As for his snares, he (the Satan) prevent you from treating your brothers kindly."
