Brotherhood

((إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ) )

سورة الحجرات الآية 10

“The Mu’minoon are but a single Brotherhood.”

The Holy Quran (49:10)

Before I started the new module in my Executive MBA course I was going to the farthest of the three close mosques to our house. I wanted to be a stranger so I can worship freely without worrying others might disturb me. This mosque was filled with poor Pakistanis. I wanted to break my pride into pieces and to see how I can manage praying alongside the poor in an old mosque. I always believed that to become truly great I have to stand with people, not above them. I wanted to be with those Pakistani people who just came to pray.

Days passed, some of those Pakistani were smiling to the new stranger in the mosque, while some others were sitting quietly watching me pray or read Quran and while others were sitting next to me talking, asking questions like what's my name and where I am living. Sometimes people would prepare a space for me, handing me Quran. I thought the reason for this great treatment was the fact that I was the only Emirati in the mosque. Sometimes I found myself surrounded by men talking about Islam in general, I thought they were surrounding me maybe because they wanted money. However my assumptions were wrong! They were doing the same for each other’s as well. When you see them you can’t tell the difference, you see them as one family, as real brothers. I said to myself if all Muslims live in peace just like them; living in peace in our wicked world is no dream.

The college started, I couldn’t go to that mosque and I was praying Al-Fajer prayer in the closest mosque to my house for I was lazy to walk to a far mosque. While the others prayers, I was praying in the Work’s mosque or the college’s. After the module ended, I decided to go to that mosque again. It’s been almost month, the moment I entered the mosque the cleaner of the mosque was surprised and he didn’t even know Arabic but he was able to say: “Entah Waain?” with a big happy smile. I never expected that the cleaner would talk to me; in fact he told me his father was praying for me! He told his father about me, about the stranger who prayed in the mosque.  

After I entered, I was welcomed by the Pakistani, each one hugging me asking me where I’ve been. Someone thought that I left the area I am living in so he felt sad that he would not see me again. Some said they felt a dear brother was missing; some others were searching for me asking each other where I disappeared. One was holding my hand so I sit, a second prepared a space for me, a third brought Quran holder and a fifth gave me Quran. Each one of them has something to give not to take, a beautiful word, great serving, unconditional love. The "Mo'athen" the one who called for prayer told me to call for prayer; he wanted to hear my voice he claimed he missed it and so I called for prayer. Then the Imam entered and he was amazed to see me as well. They were so happy to the extent the Imam forwarded me so I can pray as the Imam. When I was praying I realized my cheeks were wet because of my tears… I always thought I was a lone wolf, a stranger to them, but after this incident I realized I am not alone, maybe a Lone Emirati, but never a Lone Muslim.

  

I was moved by the warm greetings of those Pakistani people because I saw in them forming the True-Muslim-Brotherhood bond. This brotherhood of Muslims is very deep and that guarantees the well being of the whole nation.

They were people you can count on anytime and when you need support they will lend a shoulder to cry on or support you in a time of need.  I saw in them true brotherhood, which is to love for your brother as much as you love for yourself, and hate for your brother what you hate for yourself. At first I was surprised how is the bond so great with them but after some encounters, I realized those men realized they born to encounter suffering and sorrow, joy and happiness, and therefore, bound to sympathize with each other. They realized they are crossing the sea on one big boat, the moment they find a hole they try to close it. They grasped the idea that each Muslim is a mirror for his brother.

((الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ((

سورة التوبة الآية 71

“The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin the ma`roof (all of Islam), and forbid the munkar (all that is evil; kufr): they observe regular prayers, pay Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.”

The Holy Quran (9:71)

I went to the same mosque  hour earlier to AlFajr Athan, the lights were switched off and it was totally dark. I was scared but decided to pray in this darkness alone because in such quiet place filled with darkness I feel am closer to god. While I was praying I was hearing sounds, these sounds at first scared me so I finished my prayer quickly to switch the lights on. When I switched the lights on, I was amazed that many and I mean MANY Pakistani people praying! I then realized the sound I was hearing was the sounds of their cries. When I saw this I realized from where they get power to love for each others as for themselves, it has nothing to do with race or any other type of invalid reason to unite but is rather a bond based on faith.

No bond is greater than the brotherhood of Islam, it originates from faith and love with chain of compassion a mystical bond of brotherhood is formed that makes all Muslim brothers. This bond is strong because it’s based on the Islamic belief, and faith in what Prophet Mohammed (Peace be Upon Him) Said:

"The Believers, in their mutual love, mercy and compassion, are like one body: if one organ complained, the rest of the body develops a fever."

We always talk about Islamic Brotherhood but we barely practice it, but with those men I couldn’t find a better example for brotherhood in our iniquitous age.  I wonder if we Emaratis, in our mosque, saw a lone Pakistani stranger, are we going to treat him like those Pakistani treated me!? Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) Said:

"None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself."

(Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 12)