Amazing Demonstration of Brotherhood

“The Most Beloved of Deeds to Allah is Making a Muslim happy, or relieving him of hardship, or paying off his debt, or warding off hunger from him.”

Silsilatu-Ahadeethus Saheehah 906

 

When the Prophet (SAW) arrived in Madinah, one of the first things he (SAW) did was to establish the bond of brotherhood between the Ansar and the Muhajirun.

And he (SAW) paired one Muhajir with one Ansar, so Abdul Rahman bin Auf (Muhajir) was paired with Sa'ad bin Ar Rabi (Ansar).

To understand their spirit of selflessness and brotherhood, let’s read the following interesting conversation between the two great companions of our dear Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf (RA) narrated:

"When we came to Medina as Muhajirs, Allah's Messenger (SAW) established a bond of brotherhood between me and Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi` (RA).

Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi` told me:

“I am the richest among the Ansar, so I will give you half of my wealth.”

This was his first great demonstration of brotherhood!

He continued:

“And you may look at my two wives and whichever of the two you may choose I will divorce her, and when she has completed her legally prescribed period (for divorce), you may marry her.”

Now ponder over this one for a moment! Isn’t that an amazing sacrifice?

But again, see the reply of his brother in faith.

`Abdur-Rahman replied:

"May Allah bless your wealth and your wives. Is there any marketplace where trade is practiced?'

He replied him that there was:  "The market of Qainuqa."

`Abdur- Rahman then went straight to that market the following day and brought (home) some dried butter, and then he continued going there frequently.

In a short while later, `Abdur-Rahman came to the Prophet (SAW) with traces of scent on his body. During their time, it was normal to stain one’s cloth with good perfume.

So Allah's Messenger (SAW) asked him whether he had gotten married. To which he replied, ‘yes.’

The Prophet (SAW) said, 'Whom have you married?' He replied, 'A woman from the Ansar.

Then the Prophet (SAW) asked, 'How much did you pay her?'

He replied: “a gold piece equal in weight to a date stone.”

The Prophet (SAW) said, 'Give a Walimah (wedding feast) even if with one sheep.'

 

Did you notice that incredible display of altruism on the part of both of them.

The Ansar wanted to make great sacrifices to please his brother, but the Muhajir was unwilling to burden his brother in any way. Awesome attitude!

Abdur-Rahman bin Auf (RA) decided to strike out on his own and fend for himself in accordance with the words of the Prophet (SAW) that whoever strove to be self-sufficient Allah (SWT) would make him self sufficient.

Alas!, eventually Allah did bless Abdur-Rahman bin Auf (RA) with great wealth.

However, the moral point of this story is that they both embody the meaning of the following hadith of our dear Prophet (SAW) related Imam Bukhari which goes as follows:

“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.”

Indeed, this is the essence of faith!

May Allah SWT purify our hearts so that we will truly love for our brother that which we love for our own ourselves. Aameen