Respecting The Muslim

[Ismail Dalbani]

Bismillah Ar-RaHman Ar-RaHeem wa AlHamdu lillahi rabil ^alameen waSalatu wassalamu ^ala Sayyidina MuHammadin ashrafil Mursaleen wa Habeebi rabil ^alameen.

Allah created the human being in the best of forms. He made them benefit from what is in the sky and Earth. He endowed upon them a mind, tongue, lips, eyes and ears so that they could use these organs in the accepted way, i.e., to obey Allah.

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

The Muslim has several rights. The Religion has urged us to respect the Muslim and to not 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 another unrightfully, then one commits a sin of the body, and so forth.

Some of the sins that one must avoid are:

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 a Muslim with the purpose of making fun of him in a way that hurts him is sinful. 

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.

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

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 brothers or sisters and be kind to and help him or her.

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said what 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-Bukhariyyand Muslim.)