Respecting the Muslim

Allah created the human being in the best of forms. He made him benefit from what is in the sky and Earth. He endowed upon him a mind, tongue, lips, eyes and ears so that one uses these organs in the accepted way to please Allah, i.e., to obey him and perform obedience to Him.

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:

وصوركم فأحسن صوركم وإليه المصير ‏

Wa sawwarakum fa’ahsana suwarakum wa ilayhil-masir.

Ayah 3 of Suratut-Taghabun means: {Allah created you having a good shape. To Him is the return.}

Allah gave the Muslim a merit over others, because he has fulfilled the greatest obligation, which is believing in Allah and stating that Allah is clear of having partners.

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The Muslim has several rights. The Religion has urged us to respect the Muslim and not to demean him.

The Religion also made hurting a Muslim a sin for which one deserves to be punished. If one gossips about another without an excuse one commits a sin of the tongue. If one hits him unrightfully, then one commits a sin of the body, and so forth.

Some of the sins that one must avoid:

Among the sins of the heart: arrogance, enmity, and envy.

Among the sins of the eye: looking down on a Muslim.

Among the sins of the tongue: mocking a Muslim. Likewise, every word, action, or sign that causes harm to a Muslim is a sin. Also, laughing at him with the purpose of making fun of him in a way that hurts him is sinful.

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

بحسب امرئ من الشر أن يحقر أخاه

Bihasbi-mri’im minash-sharri ay yahqira akhah.

Which means: “Belittling one’s fellow Muslim is an act of great evil.” (Narrated by Muslim.)

Among the sins of the hand: Hitting a Muslim without a right. Likewise, scaring him, and pointing a weapon at him.

Among the sins of the foot: to walk towards committing a sin, such as walking to the ruler to inflict harm unjustly on a Muslim.

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Among the sins of the body: to imitate the believer mockingly, even if this was by saying, action, or sign.

Allah, ta^ala, said:

يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا يسخر قوم من قوم

Ya ayyuhal-ladhina amanu la yaskhar qawmum min qawm.

Ayah 11 of Suratul-Hujurat means: {O believers, do not mock one another.}

Mocking a Muslim can be by laughing at him if he makes a mistake while talking, or laughing at his actions or his appearance. The believer should love his Muslim brother and be kind to and help him.

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

مثل المؤمنين في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم كمثل الجسد الواحد إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالحمى والسهر

Mathalul-mu’minina fi tawwaddihim wa tarahumihim wa ta^atufihim mathalul-jasadil-wahid(i), idhashtaka minhu ^udwun tada^a lahu sa’irul-jasadi bis-sahari wal-humma.

Which means: “The Muslims with their mutual love, mercy and care are like the body: when one of its parts is ill, all of the other parts join to share the sleeplessness and fever.” (Narrated by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim.)