Mutual duties and rights of Muslims
In view of Islam, all Muslims of the world form a single community, which should have its own heritage and distinctive quality. The great Islamic society is a single living human body. Although each organ and limb of man is having a particular responsibility, there also exists among them a kind of connection and cooperation in such a way that it bestows a special unity and is having its own special effects.
The great Islamic society is also one and Muslim individuals are in fact organs and limbs of this society. Every member of the Muslim community should assure that his well being and Islamic success is related to the well being and success of Muslim community. Therefore, independence and greatness of Islamic Ummah is not possible without support and fulfillment of mutual responsibilities of Muslim individuals.
That is why the holy law maker of Islam (Almighty God) framed mutual duties and rights for all Muslims, which are hinted in Quran and Islamic traditions. Below we present some examples from traditions:
1. Organizing the affairs of Muslims
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) has narrated from the Prophet of Islam (s): One who begins his day without having concern for the affairs of Muslims, is not a Muslim. And one who hears the plea of an individual, who says: O Muslims, and he does not harken to his call, is not a Muslim.[93]
2. Brotherhood
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) said: A Muslim is brother of another Muslim. He is his guardian and guide. He is not dishonest with him and does not oppress him. He does not lie to him and does not backbite him.[94]
3. Mutual rights of believers
Mualla bin Khunais says: I asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a): What right does a Muslim has on another?
He replied: Five rights are obligatory on him and if he omits some of them, he would go out of the pale of Wilayat and obedience of God and God has no share in him.[95]
4. Love and Kindness
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) said: It is obligatory on Muslims to be cooperative, kind, supportive and affectionate among themselves. Since Allah has ordered it and said: They should be kind among themselves and aggrieved at the troubles of their brothers like the Helpers (Ansar) were during the time of the Messenger of Allah (s).[96]
5. Pleasing the believer
The Messenger of Allah (s) said: One, who makes a believer happy, has in fact pleased me and one who pleases me, has pleased Almighty Allah.[97]
6. Fulfilling the needs of believer
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) said: No one fulfills the needs of a Muslim, except that Almighty Allah tells him: Your reward is upon Me and in this regard, I am not content with anything less than Paradise for you.[98]
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) has narrated from Allah, the Mighty and Sublime that He said:
People are a family. The best of them is one who most kind to others and most concerned in solving their problems.[99]
7. Giving Advice
The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Muslims should advise their brothers like they are concerned for their own well being.[100]
In the same way, he said:
One who tries to fulfill a need of his Muslim brother, but he does not dispense good advice to him or is not concerned for his well being, has in fact betrayed the trust of Almighty Allah and His Messenger.[101]
On the basis of this the lawmaker of the holy religion of Islam has paid special care for mutual relationships between Muslims and unity of the Islamic Ummah. He has advised those actions, which strengthen unity and has prohibited from factors which cause discord.
[93] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 164
[94] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 166
[95] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 169
[96] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 175
[97] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 188
[98] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 194
[99] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 199
[100] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 208
[101] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 362