On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be on him) said:

“The right of the Muslim on the Muslim are six.” It was said, “What are they, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “When you meet him, salute him; when he invites you, respond to him; when he seeks counsel, give him advice; when he sneezes and praises Allah, say to him: Allah has mercy on you; when he is sick, visit him; and when he dies, follow his funeral.” (Muslim)

According to the above Prophetic Hadith, Muslims have these rights on their Muslim brothers and sisters:

1. To Greet Them in the Islamic Manner

The greeting of peace is a cause of love, which results in producing faith, which results in the person entering Paradise.

  • The Greeting: “As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.”
  • The Proof: Allah says: {But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other — a greeting from Allah, blessed and good} (An-Nur 24:61).

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “You will not enter Paradise until you have faith, and you will not have faith until you love each other. Shall I direct you to something which if you fulfill you will love one another? Spread peace among yourselves” (Muslim).

The greeting of peace is one of the virtuous characteristics of Islam. For verily each of the people who meet each other supplicates for the other for safety from evils, and mercy, and blessing that brings about every good. And what follows this is a cheerful face and appropriate words of greeting, which result in unity and love, and a removal of feelings of estrangement and cold disassociation. It is part of rights of brotherhood for Muslims to put on a smiling face when they meets their brothers or sisters in faith. Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

The Power of a Smile

The greeting brings about safety from evils and blessings. It should be accompanied by a cheerful face. The Messenger (PBUH) said:

  • “Do not belittle any good deed, even to meet your brothers with a smiling face.” (Muslim)
  • “Your smile in the face of your brothers is an act of charity.”

Note: Giving the greeting is a right, and returning it with a similar or better greeting is obligatory.

2. To Accept Their Invitation

When a brother or sister invites you to a social event or food, fulfill the request of those who have honored you. Accept the invitation unless you have a valid excuse. This cements the social relations between members of the Muslim community.

3. To Advise Them (Nasiha)

When your Muslim brothers and sisters seek your advice, you must sincerely advise them. Tamim Ad-Dari reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Religion is founded on sincere advice. We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah and His Book, and His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” (Muslim)”

The Ethics of Advice:

  • Secrecy: Advise in private, not in public, so as not to embarrass the person.
  • Gentleness: Use a kind and gentle manner.
  • Proofs: Explain any wrongdoing with proofs from the Shari`ah.

4. To Seek Allah’s Mercy When They Sneeze

Sneezing is a favor from Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) recommended praising Allah for this favor.

  • Action: The sneezer says: “Praise be to Allah” (Alhamdulillah).
  • Response: The brother/sister says: “May Allah have mercy upon you” (Yarhamuk-Allah).
  • Reply: The sneezer replies: “May Allah guide you and set right your affairs” (Yahdikum-ullah wa yuslihu balakum).

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whenever one of you sneezes, let him say, ‘Praise be to Allah.’ And then, let his brother say, ‘May Allah have mercy upon you.’ And then he should reply to him saying, ‘May Allah guide you and set right your affairs.'” (Al-Bukhari)

However, those who do not praise Allah do not deserve that others pray for mercy upon them, and in this case, they (the sneezers) cannot blame anyone except themselves. For they are the ones who caused themselves to lose the two blessings: the blessing of praising Allah, and the blessing of their brother or sister’s supplication for them that is a result of the praising.

Abu Musa reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “If one of you sneezes and praises Allah, then say to him… But if he does not praise Allah, then do not invoke Allah’s mercy for him” (Muslim).

5. To Visit Them When They Are Sick

Visiting the sick is a highly encouraged act of worship. A Hadith Qudsi indicating that Allah would say to His slaves on the Day of Judgment,

“My slave, I was sick and yet you did not visit Me?” The slave would exclaim, “How can I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds?” Allah would answer, “Did you not know that My slave so-and-so fell ill; don’t You know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?” (Muslim).

  • Reward: Seventy thousand angels pray for those who visit the sick from dawn till dusk or dusk till morning (At-Tirmidhi).
  • Supplication: Follow the Sunnah of `A’ishah (RA), who reported the Prophet (PBUH) would touch the sick and pray: “O Allah! The Lord of mankind! Remove this disease and cure! You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You…”

6. To Follow Their Funerals

This fulfills a right for Allah, the deceased, and the living relatives.

  • Great Rewards: Abu Hurairah reported that following the funeral prayer earns one qirat, and attending until burial earns two qirats (equal to two huge mountains).
  • Communal Duty: Offering the funeral prayer is a Fard Kifayah (communal duty) on men. If some perform it, the duty is discharged for the community; if neglected by all, it is a sin for all.
  • Family Care: Muslims must keep good ties with the deceased’s family and take care of their needs.

By Wa’il Shihab