1. BROTHERHOOD
MEANING:
Dictionary meaning:
A group of men with a common interest and aims.
Arabic/Islamic meaning:
The feeling that men should treat one another like brothers Or Equal treatment without
distinction of religion.
As a term:
Brother is a fine sentiment, which binds the people into a strong unity. If there is an
intellectual and ideological affinity among members of a brotherhood they become strong like a
solid rock.
"A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he leave him at
the mercy of others." [Sahih Muslim].
THE SCOPE OF BROTHERHOOD:
The spirit of brotherhood is expressed in three important circles.
Circle of kinship:
Kins folks in this circle have been given top priority in the matter doing service and
rendering help. In this connection Islam allows no distinction between a Muslim and a non-
Muslim relative. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said that there is a two fold reward in doing service
to relatives: one reward for kinship and another for doing service.
The people included in this circle are:
• Father and mother
• Parental and maternal relations
• Siblings; and
• Even foster relations
Further, these blood relations have been declared shareholders in the inherited estate.
Human or universal brotherhood:
The concept of human or universal brotherhood is based on tenant:
“All men are the family of Allah.”[a tradition of Holy Prophet(S.A.W.)]
In this sense Islam welds the whole mankind into one brotherhood and brings all
members of the human race to an equal footing in the matter of fulfilling economic needs. Islam
declares that all human beings are entitled to equal treatment without distinction of creed or
religion.
The circle of brotherhood in faith:
The spirit of brotherhood manifests itself with full vigor, enthusiasm and sincerity in this
circle. In fact the spirit of brotherhood has been declared the test of faith. The Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) said:
“None of you can be a believer unless he wishes for his brother the same that he wishes for
himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

2. IMPORTANCE OF BROTHERHOOD TO LIFE:
The Prophet (S.A.W.), said:
"You cannot enter paradise unless you become a total believer and you won't become a total
believer unless you love each other."
The importance of brotherhood in Islam can be understood from this Hadith. Even a casual
reader of Qur'an would note that it almost always addresses the Believers and not the Believer.
All acts of worship that are declared pillars of Islam have a collective form. The five daily
prayers are best performed in congregation, that being twenty-seven times more valuable than
the individual prayer. The special Friday prayer cannot be offered individually at all. Zakat is
obviously aimed at making the rich of the community take care of the needs of its poor. Fasting,
an essentially individual act has been given a collective form through unity in time. Hajj enforces
unity in both time and place, bringing the believers together in the plains of Arafat in their
remembrance of Allah.
BROTHERHOOD IN PAST:
This Brotherhood was established in the most unlikely place: Arabia, where before Islam
internecine war was a way of life. On both social and political levels, this was one of the greatest
achievements of Islam. On both levels, it remains one of Islam's greatest goals. We can imagine
the sensitivity of the Shariah about it by reflecting on its teachings regarding the relations
between believers.
. It is forbidden, for example, for two Muslims to start a whispering conversation in the
presence of the third. This might offend the one left out and weaken the Brotherhood. It is not
permissible for a Muslim to sever relations with his brother for more than three days.
"It is sufficient evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother. The life, wealth,
and honor of a Muslim are inviolable by another Muslim." [Sahih Muslim].
The books of hadith are full of such teachings. This Brotherhood was a force for good, a
purveyor of peace and justice for everyone. It provided stability in a quarrelsome world. To the
downtrodden and oppressed everywhere, it provided freedom. When it was powerful, it even
saved the Jews and Christians in Palestine and Spain from each other.
BROTHERHOOD AT PRESENT:
The unfortunate developments in this century have impaired Brotherhood. The first was
the destruction of Khilafah and the emergence of independent nation-states in the Muslim world.
This made it possible for "national interests" to be declared that are at cross-purposes to the
interests of the Brotherhood. Not only that, it destroyed the means for both defining and
defending the Brotherhood interests. Moreover, we don’t bother about fellow men.
A Muslim is not really a believer if he eats his full while ignoring the plight of a hungry
neighbor.

3. ECONOMIC APPLICATION:
Islam admits natural inequality among men as regards their talent and capacity to work.
As a result, differences in earning livelihood are inevitable. Unequal distribution of resources can
give rise to several economic and social evils.
Islam doesn’t remedy this situation by adopting artificial equality as prescribed by
communism, but by the power of the spirit of brotherhood.
Allah says: “The believers are brothers of one another.”
In the presence of this concept of brotherhood it is impossible for the strong to crush the weak in
the economic struggle or for cut throat competition 2nd ruthless class conflicts to raise their head.
GUIDELINES FOR ECONOMIC BEHAVIOUR:
• Extravagant and ostentatious spending should be avoided because such behavior hurts
the feelings of the weak and backward members of the society.
• Full co-operation should be extended to the economically weak members of the
society in the provision of necessities of life and there, wants should as far as possible
be given preference over your own.
• No member of the society should be left helpless and deprived.
• Individual and collective efforts should be made for the economic uplift of such
people.
• Relief should be provided to the sick, the unemployed, the disabled and calamity
stricken people. Neighbor suffering from these misfortunes should be specially
looked after.
• Help and guidance should be provided to the people engaged in the struggle to earn a
living. Co-operation should be extended to students to receive career-oriented
education and training so that they may earn there livelihood in a respectable manner.
• Causing hurt to others in the struggle for earning a livelihood should be avoided. All
modes and process of work or business, which are hurtful, troublesome or hazardous
to others, should be eliminated because they are contrary to the spirit of brotherhood.
• Fraud, deception and malpractices in exchange of goods should be avoided and
transactions should be carried through a mutual agreement.
• Compensation to factors of production should be paid justly and willingly. All terms
of the agreement with factors of production should be scrupulously compiled with.
• Measures taken at state level for the amelioration of a situation should reflect the
spirit of brotherhood and equality. Islamic state is not constituted by ruler and ruled
but by the fraternal bond between the commander and the comrades.

4. • All economic workers should establish their mutual relations on the basis of the bond
of brotherhood. Consumers and producers, landlords and tenants, capitalists and
999labors, customer and dealer should do business with aechother in a spirit of
brotherhood.
CONCLUSION:
God loves those who love their fellow men. So, brotherhood is one of the
important pillars of Islam. It is a building block for a healthy society. It helps to permute
love and peace among the people. A person can’t be a true Muslim if he/she doesn’t care
about their fellow men. The element of brotherhood helps in economic planning as well.
The Islamic Brotherhood is not based on economic interests, race, or color. It is based on
something infinitely superior: Rejection of falsehood and acceptance of the Truth as
revealed by the One True God. Not only is this Brotherhood based on faith, it is also a
part of that faith.