In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The golden rule, or the ethics of reciprocity, is an Islamic moral principle that calls upon Muslims to treat
others the way they would like to be treated. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, the
golden rule is defined as follows:

Any form of the dictum: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In some form this is
found in almost all religions and ethical systems.

Source: Blackburn, Simon. “Golden Rule.”

This principle was stated several times by our Prophet, so Muslims should use it as a point of agreement
when sharing Islam with people of other religions. In fact, An-Nawawi states that this principle is the
root of all good character and manners.

The primary expression of this teaching is stated in the following authoritative tradition:

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ِ ‫اَل يُؤْ مِ نُ أ ا اح ُد ُك ْم احتَّى يُحِ بَّ ِِلاخِ ي ِه أ ا ْو قاا ال ِل اج‬

‫ار ِه اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬

None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ al-Bukhāri ̄ 13, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Many scholars interpreted “brother” in this and other traditions to mean universal brotherhood that
includes all of humanity.
An-Nawawi comments on this tradition, saying:

‫اِلولى أن يحمل ذلك على عموم اِلخوة حتى يشمل الكافر والمسلم فيحب ِلخيه الكافر ما يحب لنفسه من دخوله في اإلسالم كما يحب‬
‫ِلخيه المسلم دوامه على اإلسالم ولهذا كان الدعاء بالهداية للكافر مستحبا والمراد بالمحبة إرادة الخير والمنفعة ثم المراد المحبة الدينية َل‬
‫المحبة البشرية‬

This is interpreted as brotherhood in general, such that it includes the disbeliever and the Muslim. So
he should love for his brother, the disbeliever, what he loves for himself which is his entering Islam, just
as he should love for his brother Muslim that he remains in Islam. For this reason, it is recommended to
supplicate for the disbeliever to be guided. The meaning of love here is an intention for good and
benefit, and this meaning is religious love, not human love.

Source: Sharḥ al-Arba’i ̄n 13

And Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami writes:

‫والذي يظهر أن تعبيره باِلخ جري على الغالب ِلنه ينبغي لكل مسلم أن يحب للكفار اإلسالم وما يتفرع عليه من الكماَلت … قوله‬
‫يحب لنفسه أي من الخير فيكون معه كالنفس الواحدة‬

What is apparent is that the use of the word brother is based upon its widest meaning, such that it is
befitting for every Muslim to love for the unbeliever to have Islam and the virtues that derive from it…
His saying to love for himself means of what is good, so that he will be together with them as if they
were one person.

Source: al-Fatḥ al-Mubi ̄n 1/305

And Hamza Muhammad Qasim writes:

‫اِلولى أن يحمل قوله حتى يحب ِلخيه على عموم اِلخوة حتى يشمل الكافر و المسلم فيحب ِلخيه الكافر ما يحب لنفسه من الدخول‬
‫في اإلسالم ولذلك ندب الدعاء له بالهداية وقد كان النبي صلى هللا عليه وسلم يدعو لكفار قريش بالخير و يحبه لهم و يقول اللهم اهد قومي‬
‫فإنهم َل يعلمون ومما يؤكد أن المراد محبة الخير للناس جميعا ً َل فرق بين مسلم وكافر قوله صلى هللا عليه وسلم أفضل اإليمان أن تحب‬
‫للناس ما تحب لنفسك و تكره لهم ما تكره لنفسك‬

The Prophet’s saying to love for his brother what he loves for himself is interpreted as universal
brotherhood, such that it includes the disbeliever and the Muslim, and he should love for his brother the
disbeliever what he loves for himself which is his entering Islam. For this reason it is recommended to
supplicate for their guidance. The Prophet invited the unbelievers of the Quraish to goodness and he
loved good for them. He would say: O Allah, guide my people for they do not know. This confirms that
the meaning is to love good for all people. There is no difference between a Muslim and a disbeliever in
his saying that the best faith is to love for people what you love for yourself and to hate for people what
you hate for yourself.

Source: Manār al-Qāri ̄ 1/91

In another narration, the Prophet said:

ِ ‫اَل يُؤْ مِ نُ أ ا اح ُد ُك ْم احتَّى يُحِ بَّ ِِلاخِ ي ِه أ ا ْو قاا ال ِل اج‬

‫ار ِه اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬

None of you has faith until he loves for his brother or his neighbor what he loves for himself.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Muslim 45, Grade: Sahih

And in another narration, the Prophet said:

‫ع ْب ٌد احتَّى يُحِ بَّ ِِلاخِ ي ِه اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه مِ ْن ْال اخي ِْر‬
‫اوالَّذِي نا ْفسِي بِيا ِد ِه اَل يُؤْ مِ نُ ا‬

By Him in whose Hand is my soul, a servant does not believe until he loves for his brother what he
loves for himself of goodness.
 Source: Sunan al-Nasā’i ̄ 5017, Grade: Sahih

And in another narration, the Prophet said:

ِ‫ان احتَّى يُحِ بَّ ْال ام ْر اء اَل يُحِ ُّبه ُ ِإ ََّل ِ َّلِل‬ ِ ْ ‫اَل اي ِج ُد أ ا اح ٌد اح اال اوة ا‬
ِ ‫اإلي ام‬

None of you will find the sweetness of faith until he loves a person only for the sake of Allah.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ al-Bukhāri ̄ 5694, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

And in another narration, the Prophet said:

‫ع َّز او اج َّل‬ ِ َّ ِ ‫اس اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه او احتَّى يُحِ بَّ ْال ام ْر اء اَل يُحِ بُّهُ إِ ََّل‬
‫لِل ا‬ ِ َّ‫اَل يُؤْ مِ نُ أ ا اح ُد ُك ْم احتَّى يُحِ بَّ لِلن‬

None of you has faith until he loves for the people what he loves for himself, and until he loves a
person only for the sake of Allah the Exalted.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 13463, Grade: Sahih

And in another narration, the Prophet said:

‫اس اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه مِ نا ْال اخي ِْر‬

ِ َّ‫ان احتَّى يُحِ بَّ لِلن‬ ‫َل يا ْبلُ ُغ ا‬
ِ ‫ع ْب ٌد اح ِقيقاةا‬
ِ ‫اإلي ام‬

The servant does not reach the reality of faith until he loves for the people what he loves for himself
of goodness.
 Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Ibn Ḥ ibbān 238, Grade: Sahih

The reference to “people” in this and other versions of this tradition indicate that this principle applies
to all of humanity.

Al-Munawi writes:

‫ولفظ الناس يشمل الكفار فينبغي لكل مسلم أن يحب للكافر اإلسالم وما يتفرع عليه من الكماَلت‬

The use of the word people includes the unbeliever, so it is befitting for every Muslim to love for the
unbeliever to have Islam and the virtues that derive from it.

Source: Fayḍ al-Qadi ̄r 1/228

There are many traditions on the authority of several companions in which the Prophet taught us to
treat people the way we would love to be treated, to hate for evil things to happen to others, and to
spread peace on earth.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ِ َّ‫الِل او ْاليا ْو ِم ْاْلخِ ِر اوياأْتِي ِإلاى الن‬

‫اس اما يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُؤْ ت اى ِإلا ْي ِه‬ ِ َّ ِ‫ار اويا ْد ُخ ال ْال اجنَّةا فا ْلتُد ِْر ْكهُ امنِيَّتُهُ اوه اُو يُؤْ مِ ُن ب‬ ‫ام ْن أ ا احبَّ أ ا ْن يُزا حْزا اح ا‬
ِ َّ‫ع ْن الن‬

Whoever would love to be delivered from the Hellfire and entered into Paradise, then let him die with
faith in Allah and the Last Day, and let him treat the people the way he would love to be treated.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Muslim 1844, Grade: Sahih

An-Nawawi comments on this tradition, saying:

‫اس إِ ََّل اما‬ِ َّ‫سانا يا ْلزا ُم أ ا ََّل يا ْفعا ال ام اع الن‬ ِ ْ ‫ِيع حِ اك ِم ِه او اه ِذ ِه قاا ِع ادة ٌ ُم ِه َّمةٌ فايا ْنباغِي ا َِل ْعتِناا ُء بِ اها اوأ ا َّن‬
‫اإل ْن ا‬ َّ ‫علا ْي ِه او ا‬
ِ ‫سل ام اوباد‬ َّ ‫صلَّى‬
‫َّللاُ ا‬ ‫اهذاا مِ ْن اج اوامِ ِع اك ِل ِم ِه ا‬
ُ ‫يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن اي ْف اعلُوهُ ام اعه‬

This is among the comprehensive sayings of the Prophet, his marvelous wisdom, and an important
rule. It deserves to be given close attention, that the human being must not deal with people except in a
way he would love to be treated by them.

Source: Sharḥ Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Muslim 1844

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ُ ‫ش ْيءٍ إِذاا فاعا ْلت ُ ُموهُ ت ا احابا ْبت ُ ْم أ ا ْف‬

‫شوا الس اَّال ام با ْينا ُك ْم‬ ‫اَل ت ا ْد ُخلُونا ْال اجنَّةا احتَّى تُؤْ مِ نُوا او اَل تُؤْ مِ نُوا احتَّى ت ا احابُّوا أ ا او اَل أ ا ُدلُّ ُك ْم ا‬
‫علاى ا‬

You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I
show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace between yourselves.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Muslim 54, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said:

‫ِي ْال احا ِلقاة ُ َل أاقُو ُل‬

‫ضةا فاإِنَّ اها ه ا‬‫َّالم ت ا احابُّوا او ِإيَّا ُك ْم او ْالبُ ْغ ا‬
‫اوالَّذِي نا ْفسِي ِب اي ِد ِه َل ت ا ْد ُخلُوا ْال اجنَّةا احتَّى ت ُ ْس ِل ُموا اوَل ت ُ ْس ِل ُموا احتَّى ت ا احابُّوا اوأ ا ْفشُوا الس ا‬
‫ش ْع ار اولاك ِْن تاحْ ِل ُق ال ِدِّينا‬َّ ‫لا ُك ْم تاحْ ِل ُق ال‬

By the one in whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you submit, and you will not
submit until you love one another. Greet each other with peace and you will love one another. Beware
of hatred, for it is the razor. I do not say it shaves hair, but rather it shaves away the religion.
 Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad 260, Grade: Hasan

And in another narration, the Prophet said:

‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا ت ا ُك ْن ُمؤْ مِ نًا اوأاحْ س ِْن ِج او ا‬
‫ار ام ْن اج ااو اركا تاكُ ْن ُم ْس ِل ًما‬ ِ َّ‫اوأاحِ بَّ لِلن‬

Love for the people what you love for yourself and you will be a believer. Behave well with your
neighbors and you will be a Muslim.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4217, Source: Sahih

And in another narration, the Prophet said:

ِ َّ‫اركا ت ا ُك ْن ُمؤْ مِ نًا اوأاحِ بَّ لِلن‬

‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا ت ا ُك ْن ُم ْس ِل ًما‬ ِ ‫اوأاحْ س ِْن ِإلاى اج‬

Be kind to your neighbor and you will be a believer. Love for the people what you love for yourself and
you will be a Muslim.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi ̄ 2305, Grade: Hasan

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‫ع ُّز قاا ال الَّذِي إِ ِِذاا قا اد ار ا‬

‫غف اار‬ ‫ي ِعباادِكا أ ا ا‬
ُّ ‫اس اك اما يا ْح ُك ُم ِلنا ْف ِس ِه قاا ال فاأ ا‬
ِ َّ‫ي ِعباادِكا أاحْ ُك ُم قاا ال الَّذِي ياحْ ُك ُم لِلن‬
ُّ ‫سى اربَّه ُ وقاا ال فاأ ا‬
‫سأ ا ال ُمو ا‬
‫ا‬
 Moses said: Who is the best in judgment of your servants? Allah said: Those who judge people as they
would love to be judged themselves. Moses said: Who are the most honored of your servants? Allah
said: Those who forgive when they have power over others.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Ibn Ḥ ibbān 6352, Grade: Hasan

Az-Zubair ibn Awwam reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‫شعا ار او الك ِْن تاحْ ِل ُق ال ِدِّينا اوالَّذِي نا ْفسِي بِيا ِد ِه اَل ت ا ْد ُخلُوا ْال اجنَّةا احتَّى‬ َّ ‫ِي ْال احا ِلقاةُ اَل أاقُو ُل تاحْ ل ُِق ال‬ ‫دابَّ إِلا ْي ُك ْم ادا ُء ْاِل ُ ام ِم قا ْبلا ُك ْم ْال اح ا‬
‫س ُد او ْالبا ْغ ا‬
‫ضا ُء ه ا‬
‫شوا الس اَّال ام با ْينا ُك ْم‬ُ ‫تُؤْ مِ نُوا او اَل تُؤْ مِ نُوا احتَّى ت ا احابُّوا أافا اال أُنابِِّئ ُ ُك ْم بِ اما يُثابِِّتُ ذاا ُك ْم لا ُك ْم أ ا ْف‬

There have come to you the diseases of the nations before you: envy and hatred, and hatred is the
razor. It shaves the religion and it does not shave hair. By the one in whose hand is the soul of
Muhammad, you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something which, if you did,
you would love each other? Spread peace between yourselves.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 1415, Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Al-Muntafiq reported: He said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me what will save me from
Allah’s punishment and enter me into Paradise.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon
him, said:

‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫ضانا اوا ْنظُ ْر اما تُحِ بُّ لِلن‬ ‫ص ْم ار ام ا‬ ُ ‫ظنُّه ُ قاا ال او‬ ‫الزكااة ا ْال ام ْف ُرو ا‬
ُ ‫ضةا او ُح َّج اوا ْعتامِ ْر اوأ ا‬ َّ ‫صالة ا ْال ام ْكتُوباةا اوأ ا ِ ِّد‬
َّ ‫ش ْيئًا اوأاق ِِم ال‬
‫َّللاا اوَل ت ُ ْش ِر ْك بِ ِه ا‬
َّ ‫ا ْعبُ ِد‬
ْ ْ
ُ ‫أ ا ْن ياأتُوهُ ِإلايْكا فاا ْف اع ْله ُ ِب ِه ْم او اما ت ا ْك ارهُ أ ا ْن ياأتُوهُ ِإلايْكا فاذا ْر ُه ْم مِ ْنه‬

Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Establish the prescribed prayers, give the
obligatory charity, fast the month of Ramadan. However you love for the people to treat you, then treat
them that way. However you hate for the people to treat you, then do not treat them that way.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabi ̄r 15833, Grade: Sahih

Yazeed ibn Asad reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ِ َّ‫ياا يا ِزي ُد أاحِ بَّ لِلن‬

‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا‬

O Yazeed, love for people what you love for yourself.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 16220, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said:

‫أاتُحِ بُّ ْال اجنَّةا‬

Do you love Paradise?

Yazeed said yes. The Prophet said:

‫فاأاحِ بَّ ِِلاخِ يكا اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا‬

Then love for your brother what you love for yourself.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 16219, Grade: Hasan

Abu Al-Mughirah reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me about a deed that will bring me near
Paradise and distance me from the Hellfire.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him,
said:
 ‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُؤْ ت اى ِإلايْكا اوت ا ْك ارهُ لا ُه ْم اما ت ا ْك ارهُ أ ا ْن يُؤْ ت اى ِإلايْكا‬
ِ َّ‫ضانا اوتُحِ بُّ لِلن‬ ُ ‫الزكااة ا اوت ا ُح ُّج ْال ابيْتا اوت ا‬
‫صو ُم ار ام ا‬ َّ ‫ص االة ا اوتُؤْ تِي‬
َّ ‫تُقِي ُم ال‬

Establish the prayer, give the charity, perform pilgrimage to the House, fast the month of Ramadan,
and love for people what you would love for yourself, and hate for people what you would hate for
yourself.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 15453, Grade: Hasan

Ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ِ َّ‫الِلِ او ْاليا ْو ِم اْلخِ ِر فا ْلياأْتِ ِه امنِيَّتُهُ اوه اُو ياأْتِي إِلاى الن‬
‫اس اما يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُؤْ ت اى إِلا ْي ِه‬ َّ ِ‫فا ام ْن اكانا يُؤْ مِ نُ ب‬

Whoever has faith in Allah and the Last Day, then let him meet his end while he treats people the way
he would love to be treated.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabi ̄r 10370, Grade: Hasan

Mu’adh ibn Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

َّ ‫ساناكا فِي ِذ ْك ِر‬

ِ‫َّللا‬ ‫َّللاِ اوتُعْمِ ال ِل ا‬ ‫ان أ ا ْن تُحِ بَّ ِ َّلِلِ اوت ُ ْبغ ا‬
َّ ‫ِض فِي‬ ِ ‫اإلي ام‬ ‫أ ا ْف ا‬
ِ ْ ‫ض ُل‬

The best faith is to love for the sake of Allah, to hate for the sake of Allah, and to work your tongue in
the remembrance of Allah.

Mu’adh said, “How is it, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said:

 ْ ‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا اوت ا ْك ارها لا ُه ْم اما ت ا ْك ارهُ ِلنا ْفسِكا اوأ ا ْن تاقُو ال اخي ًْرا أ ا ْو ت ا‬
‫ص ُمتا‬ ِ َّ‫اوأ ا ْن تُحِ بَّ لِلن‬

That you love for the people what you love for yourself, and you hate for the people what you hate
for yourself, and that you speak goodness or remain silent.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 21627, Grade: Sahih li ghayri

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‫ع َّز او اج َّل يا ْو ام ْال ِقياا ام ِة‬ َّ ‫أاتاد ُْرونا ام ْن السَّابِقُونا إِلاى ظِ ِِّل‬
‫َّللاِ ا‬

Do you know who are the foremost to the shade of Allah the Exalted on the Day of Resurrection?

They said, “Allah and his Messenger knows best.” The Prophet said:

‫اس اك ُح ْكمِ ِه ْم ِِل ا ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم‬ ُ ‫الَّذِينا إِذاا أ ُ ْعطُوا ْال اح َّق قابِلُوهُ اوإِذاا‬
ِ َّ‫سئِلُوهُ باذالُوهُ او اح اك ُموا لِلن‬

They are those who accept the truth when they receive it, who offer the truth when they are asked
for it, and who judge people the way they judge themselves.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 23858, Grade: Hasan

An-Nu’man ibn Basheer reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ُ ‫ع ْينُهُ ا ْشتاكاى ُكلُّهُ اوإِ ْن ا ْشتاكاى ارأْسُهُ ا ْشتاكاى ُكلُّه‬

‫ْال ُم ْس ِل ُمونا ك اار ُج ٍل اواحِ ٍد إِ ْن ا ْشتاكاى ا‬
 The Muslims are like a single man. If the eye is afflicted, then the whole body is afflicted. If the head is
afflicted, then the whole body is afflicted.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Muslim 2586, Grade: Sahih

Al-Halimi commented on this tradition, saying:

‫ع ْينا ْي ِه أ ا ْو ِرجْ لا ْي ِه أ ا ْو أُذُنا ْي ِه إَِل اما يُحِ بُّ لِأل ُ ْخ ارى‬

‫او اكذالِكا يا ْنباغِي أ ا ْن يا ُكونُوا او اك اما َل يُحِ بُّ أ ا اح ٌد ِإلحْ ادى يا اد ْي ِه إَِل اما يُحِ بُّ لِأل ُ ْخ ارى اوَل ِإلحْ ادى ا‬
‫فا اكذالِكا يا ْنباغِي لاهُ أ ا ْن َل يُحِ بَّ ِلاخِ ي ِه ْال ُم ْسل ِِم إَِل اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬

It is befitting for them to be like that. As one hand would not love but what the other loves, and one
eye or one leg or one ear would not love but what the other loves. Likewise, he should not love for his
Muslim brother except what he loves for himself.

Source: Shu’b al-Imān 10379

Ali ibn Abi Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‫ض اوياتْبا ُع ِجناازا تاهُ ِإذاا اماتا‬

‫س اوياعُو ُدهُ ِإذاا ام ِر ا‬ ‫ع ا‬
‫ط ا‬ ‫علا ْي ِه ِإذاا لا ِقياه ُ اوي ُِجيبُه ُ ِإذاا اد ا‬
‫عاهُ اويُش ِ ِّامت ُه ُ ِإذاا ا‬ ‫علاى ْال ُم ْسل ِِم ِستَّةٌ بِ ْال ام ْع ُروفِ يُ ا‬
‫س ِِّل ُم ا‬ ‫ل ِْل ُم ْسل ِِم ا‬
ْ ‫ا‬
‫اويُحِ بُّ له ُ اما يُحِ بُّ ِلناف ِس ِه‬

A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim regarding good conduct: to greet him with peace when
he meets him, to respond to his invitation, to respond to his sneeze, to visit him when he is sick, to
follow his funeral prayer when he dies, and to love for him what he loves for himself.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi ̄ 2736, Grade: Hasan

Abu Umamah reported: A young man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he
said, “O Messenger of Allah, give me permission to commit adultery.” The Prophet said:
 ‫أاتُحِ بُّه ُ ِِل ُ ِّمِكا‬

Would you like that for your mother?

The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their mothers.” The
Prophet said:

‫أافاتُحِ بُّهُ َِل ْبناتِكا‬

Would you like that for your daughter?

The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their daughters.”
The Prophet said:

‫أافاتُحِ بُّهُ ِِل ُ ْختِكا‬

Would you like that for your sister?

The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their sisters.” The
Prophet said:

‫أافاتُحِ بُّهُ ِلعا َّمتِكا‬

Would you like that for your aunts?

The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their aunts.” The
Prophet placed his hand on him and he said:

ِّ ِ ‫ط ِِّه ْر قا ْلباهُ او اح‬

ُ ‫ص ْن فا ْر اجه‬ ‫اللَّ ُه َّم ا ْغف ِْر ذا ْنباه ُ او ا‬

O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.

Source: Musnad Aḥ mad 21708, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said to him:

‫َّللاُ اوأاحِ بَّ ِلاخِ يكا اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا‬
َّ ‫فاا ْك ار ْه اما ك ِار اه‬

Then hate what Allah has hated, and love for your brother what you love for yourself.

Source: Sunan al-Kubrā 17025, Grade: Sahih

Abu Dharr reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me as a leader?” The Messenger
of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‫ضعِيفًا اوإِنِِّي أُحِ بُّ لاكا اما أُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِي اَل تاأ ا َّم ار َّن ا‬
‫علاى اثْناي ِْن او اَل ت ا اولَّيا َّن اما ال يات ٍِيم‬ ‫ياا أاباا ذا ٍ ِّر إِنِِّي أ ا اراكا ا‬

O Abu Dharr, I see you are weak and I love for you what I love for myself. Do not command even two
people and do not manage the property of an orphan.

Source: Ṣaḥ i ̄ḥ Muslim 1825, Grade: Sahih

All of these traditions and others led to the development among the righteous predecessors (as-salaf as-
salih) of the principle that Muslims should hate sin but love the sinner.

Anas ibn Malik reported: I went out with a man to the market and some merchandise was being sold, so
I bartered with him. The seller said, “Thirty coins.” The man thought to himself and said, “I will take it for
forty coins.” The seller said, “What makes you say this when I would give it to you for less?” The man
thought to himself again and he said, “I will take it for fifty coins.” The seller said, “What makes you say
this when I would give it to you for less?” The man said:

‫ع ْب ٌد احتَّى يُحِ بَّ ِِلاخِ ي ِه اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه اوأاناا أ ا ارى أانَّهُ ا‬
‫صا ِل ٌح بِ اخ ْمسِينا‬ ‫سلَّ ام ياقُو ُل اَل يُؤْ مِ نُ ا‬
‫علا ْي ِه او ا‬ َّ ‫صلَّى‬
‫َّللاُ ا‬ ِ َّ ‫سو ال‬
‫َّللا ا‬ ‫إِنِِّي ا‬
ُ ‫سمِ ْعتُ ار‬

I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say that a servant does not have
faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself, and I thought you would do better with fifty
coins.

Source: Musnad al-Bazzār 7548, Grade: Sahih

Ammar ibn Nusair reported: Jesus the son of Mary, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ِ َّ‫اس اوأاحِ بَّ لِلن‬

‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا ت ا ُك ْن ُمؤْ مِ نًا اوَل تُؤْ ِذ اج ا‬
‫اركا ت ا ُك ْن‬ ِ َّ‫َّللاُ لاكا ت ا ُك ْن أ ا ْغناى الن‬ ‫ض ِب اما قا ا‬
َّ ‫س ام‬ ‫ار ا‬ ُ َّ‫ياابْنا آ اد ام ُك ْن اودِيعًا يُحِ بَّكا الن‬
ْ ‫اس او‬
ْ ْ ْ
‫ُم ْس ِل ًما اوَل تُكث ِِر الضَّحِ كا فاإِنَّه ُ يُمِ يتُ القال ا‬
‫ب‬

O son of Adam, be disinterested in what people own and they will love you, be content with what
Allah has allotted for you and you will be the wealthiest of people, love for people what you love for
yourself and you will be a believer, do not harm your neighbor and you will be a Muslim, and do not
laugh too much as it will deaden the heart.

Source: Tāri ̄kh Dimashq 51199

Ibn Asakir reported: Sa’eed ibn Amir said to Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him:
 ‫َّللا اوأاحِ بَّ ل ِْل ُم ْسلِمِ ينا اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا اوأ ا ْه ِل اب ْيتِكا اوا ْك ار ْه لا ُه ْم اما ت ا ْك ارهُ ِلنا ْفسِكا‬ ‫اس اوَل ت ا ْخ ا‬
‫ش النَّ ا‬
ِ َّ ‫اس فِي‬ ِ َّ‫َّللاا فِي الن‬
َّ ‫ش‬ ْ ‫ير ْال ُمؤْ مِ نِينا‬
‫اخ ا‬ ‫ايا أامِ ا‬
‫اوأ ا ْه ِل با ْيتِكا‬

O commander of the faithful! Fear Allah regarding people, yet do not fear people regarding Allah.
Love for the Muslims what you love for yourself and your household, and hate for them what you hate
for yourself and your household.

Source: Tāri ̄kh Dimashq 20103

Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

‫ل اِم ت ا ْمنا ُع أاخااكا اما اي ْنفاعُهُ اوه اُو الكا ناا ِف ٌع‬

Why would you prevent your brother from what benefits him, while you yourself benefit from it?

Source: Sunan al-Kubrā 10985, Grade: Sahih

Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

‫اس مِ ْن نا ْف ِس ِه فا ْليُحِ بَّ لا ُه ْم اما يُحِ بَّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬

‫ف النَّ ا‬ ِ ‫ام ْن أ ا ارا اد أ ا ْن يا ْن‬
‫ص ا‬

Whoever intends from himself to be fair to people, then let him love for them as he loves for himself.

Source: Tāri ̄kh Dimashq 44955

Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

 ‫اس اما يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُؤْ ت اى ِإلا ْي ِه‬ ِ ْ ‫ فا ْل ايأ‬, ‫اس مِ ْن نا ْف ِس ِه‬
ِ َّ‫ت ِإلاى الن‬ ‫ف النَّ ا‬ ِ ‫ام ْن أ ا احبَّ أ ا ْن يُ ْن‬
‫ص ا‬

Whoever would love for himself to be just with people, then let him treat people the way he would
love to be treated.

Source: Shu’b al-Imān 10375

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

‫اس ُكلَّ ُه ْم يا ْعلا ُمونا مِ ْن اها اما أ ا ْع ال ُم‬

‫َّللاِ فاأ ا او ُّد أ ا َّن النَّ ا‬
َّ ‫ب‬ ‫إِنِِّي اِل ا ُم ُّر ا‬
ْ ‫علاى ْاْليا ِة‬
ِ ‫مِن ِكت اا‬

Verily, I will pass over a verse from the Book of Allah and I would love for all of the people to know it
as I know it.

Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥ ikam 13

Mu’adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

‫اض فِي‬ ‫ش ارفِ او اما قا َّل مِنا ال ُّد ْن ايا أ ا احبَّ ِإ ال ْي ِه مِ َّما اكث ُ ار او اي ُكونُ ام ْن أ ا احبَّ اوأ ا ْبغ ا‬
َّ ‫ض ُع أ ا احبَّ ِإلا ْي ِه مِ نا ال‬
ُ ‫ان احتَّى ايكُونا الت َّ اوا‬ ‫اَل اي ْبلُ ُغ ا‬
ِ ْ ‫ع ْب ٌد ذُ ارى‬
ِ ‫اإلي ام‬
‫اس اك اما ياحْ ُك ُم ِلنا ْف ِس ِه اوأ ا ْه ِل با ْيتِ ِه‬
ِ َّ‫س اوا ًء ياحْ ُك ُم لِلن‬
‫ق ا‬ ِ ِّ ‫ْال اح‬

A servant will not reach the heights of faith until humility is more beloved to him than nobility, until
less in the world is more beloved to him than more, until it is the same whether he is loved or hated for
the truth, and until he judges people the way he would love to be judged for himself and his household.

Source: al-Zuhd li-Ibn Ḥ ammād 191

Abdullah Al-Hashimi reported: I came to Tawus, may Allah have mercy on him, and he said to me,
“Would you like me to summarize in this sitting all of the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the
Quran?” I said yes. Tawus said:

ِ َّ‫ش ُّد مِ ْن خ ْاوفِكا ِإيَّاهُ اوأاحِ بَّ لِلن‬

‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا‬ ‫ار ُجهْ ار اجا ًء ه اُو أ ا ا‬ ‫ش ْي ٌء أ ا ْخ او ا‬
ْ ‫ف مِ ْنهُ او‬ ‫َّللاا ت ا اعالاى امخاافاةً َل اي ُكونُ ِع ْنداكا ا‬
َّ ِ‫خاف‬

Fear Allah the Exalted more than anything else, hope in Allah more intensely than you fear him, and
love for people what you love for yourself.

Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 4693

Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

‫ب بِ ِه‬ ْ ُ ‫اس بِ اما تُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن ت‬

‫ص اح ا‬ ‫ب النَّ ا‬ ْ ‫سأ ا ال اربَّهُ ِج اماعًا مِ نا ْال اخي ِْر فاقاا ال ا‬
ِ ‫ص اح‬ ‫سلَّ ام ا‬
‫علا ْي ِه او ا‬ َّ ‫صلَّى‬
‫َّللاُ ا‬ ‫أ ا َّن ُمو ا‬
‫سى ا‬

Moses, peace and blessings be upon him, asked his Lord about what encompasses all goodness. Allah
said: Be a companion to people in the way you would love to be accompanied yourself.

Source: Shu’b al-Imān 10374

Fadalah ibn Ubaid reported: David, peace be upon him, asked his Lord the Exalted about the most
beloved people to him. Allah said:

‫اس اك اما ايحْ ُك ُم ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬

ِ َّ‫اس اوياحْ ُك ُم لِلن‬
‫ان اي ْر اح ُم النَّ ا‬
ٍ ‫ط‬‫س ْل ا‬
ُ ‫ذُو‬

Among them is a ruler who is merciful with people and he judges for people as he would judge
himself.
 Source: al-Zuhd wal-Raqā’iq 471

Ibn Al-Mubarak reported: Maymun ibn Mihran wrote to Yunus ibn Ubaid, saying, “I would love for you
to write to me about what you do that I might do it.” Yunus wrote back to him, saying:

ِ َّ‫ِإنِِّي اج اهدْتُ ِبنا ْفسِي أ ا ْن تُحِ بَّ لِلن‬

‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ لا اها اوت ا ْك ارهُ لا ُه ْم اما ت ا ْك ارهُ لا اها‬

Verily, I strive for my soul to love for people what it loves for itself, and to hate for people what it
hates for itself.

Al-Halimi, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

‫ش ِ ِّر اما يا ْك ارهُ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه أ ا ْو يا ْك ارهُ لاه ُ مِ نا ا ْل اخي ِْر اما يات ا امنَّاهُ اويُحِ بُّه ُ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬
َّ ‫اوَل يا ْنباغِي ِل ُم ْسل ٍِم أ ا ْن يات ا امنَّى بِقا ْلبِ ِه ِلاخِ ي ِه مِنا ال‬

It is not befitting for a Muslim to wish evil in his heart for his brother that he would hate for himself,
or to hate good that he wishes and loves for himself.

Source: Shu’b al-Imān 10379

Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

‫علايْكا اوأ ا ْوفِ اك اما تُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن ي اُوفَّى لاكا فاإ ِ َّن بِ ْالعا ْد ِل ا‬
ِ َّ‫ص اال اح الن‬
‫اس‬ ‫ا ْعد ِْل ياا ابْنا آ اد ام اك اما تُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُ ْع اد ال ا‬

O son of Adam, be just as you would love justice for yourself and fulfill the measure as you would love
for it to be fulfilled for yourself. Verily, with justice is the well-being of people.

Source: Tafsi ̄r al-Ṭabari ̄ 55:8

‫‪Hudhaifa ibn Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:‬‬

‫اس اما تُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْفسِكا او اه ِذ ِه ْال اكس اْرة ُ ت ا اح َّر‬
‫ع املُكا ِ َّلِلِ اوتُحِ بُّ لِلنَّ ِ‬ ‫س اماءِ اخي ٌْر ِإَل اكانا لاكا فِي ِه ن ِ‬
‫اصيبٌ يا ُكونُ ا‬ ‫صا ٍل ِإ ْن ُك َّن فِيكا لا ْم يا ْن ِز ْل مِ نا ال َّ‬ ‫ثا ُ‬
‫الث خِ ا‬
‫فِي اها اما قا اد ْرتا‬

‫‪If you have three qualities, then no good will descend from the heavens but that you will have a share‬‬
‫‪of it: that your deeds be for the sake of Allah, that you love for people what you love for yourself, and‬‬
‫‪that you are careful with food as much as you can.‬‬

‫‪Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 12570‬‬

‫‪Ash-Shafi’ee, may Allah have mercy on him, said:‬‬

‫ئ او اما فِي قا ْلبِي مِ ْن ع ِْل ٍم ِإَل او ِددْتُ أانَّهُ ِع ْن اد كُ ِِّل أ ا اح ٍد اوَل يُ ْن ا‬

‫سبُ ِإ ال َّ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ظ ْرتُ أ ا احدًا فاأاحْ بابْتُ أ ا ْن ي ُْخطِ ا‬
‫اما ناا ا‬

‫‪I never debated anyone while desiring them to be wrong. There is no knowledge in my heart except‬‬
‫‪that I would love for everyone to have it and attribute none of it to me.‬‬

‫‪Source: Ā dāb al-Shāfi’i ̄ 78‬‬

‫‪Ibn ‘Asākir reported: Abu Al-Hasan Al-Bushanji, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about chivalry‬‬
‫‪and he said:‬‬

‫َّللاِ تاعاالاى يُحِ بُّونا ام ْن هاا اج ار إِلا ْي ِه ْم اوَل يا ِجدُونا فِي‬ ‫سلَّ ام ‪ ،‬فاأ ا َّما قا ْو ُل َّ‬
‫علا ْي ِه او ا‬ ‫صلَّى َّ‬
‫َّللاُ ا‬ ‫يِ ا‬ ‫ع ِن النَّبِ ِّ‬
‫َّللاِ او اخبا ٍر ا‬
‫ب َّ‬ ‫ْالفاتْ اوة ُ ِع ْنداكا فِي آيا ٍة ْ‬
‫مِن ِكت اا ِ‬
‫سلَّ ام َل يُؤْ مِ نُ ْال اع ْب ُد احتَّى يُحِ بَّ ِلاخِ ي ِه‬
‫علا ْي ِه او ا‬ ‫صلَّى َّ‬
‫َّللاُ ا‬ ‫يِ ا‬ ‫صة ٌ او اخبا ُر النَّ ِب ِّ‬‫صا ا‬ ‫ُور ِه ْم احا اجةً مِ َّما أُوتُوا اويُؤْ ث ُِرونا ا‬
‫علاى أ ا ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم اولا ْو اكانا ِب ِه ْم اخ ا‬ ‫صد ِ‬ ‫ُ‬
‫ْ‬
‫اان فالاه ُ الفاتْ اوة ُ‬ ‫ْ‬
‫اان ال احالات ِ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫ْ‬
‫اما يُحِ بُّ ِلناف ِس ِه يا ْعنِي مِ ْن اخي ٍْر اوياك ارها ِلخِ ي ِه اما ياك ارهُ ِلناف ِس ِه فا ام ِن اجْ ت ا ام اع فِي ِه هاات ِ‬
 Chivalry is with you in a verse from the Book of Allah and a report from the Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him. As for the saying of Allah, it is: They love those who emigrated to them and do
not find any want in their hearts for what they were given, for they prefer them over their own selves
even though they were in deprivation.(59:9) As for the report of the Prophet, it is: No servant has faith
until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. It means to love what is good, and to hate for his
brother what he hates for himself. Whoever combines these two traits will be chivalrous.

Source: Tāri ̄kh Dimashq 42964

Al-Ghazāli ̄ reported: Ibn Al-Muqaffa heard that some people complained of the many rats in his house. It
was said to him, “If only you had a cat!” Ibn Al-Muqaffa said:

‫أخشى أن يسمع الفأر صوت الهر فيهرب إلى دور الجيران فأكون قد أحببت لهم ما َل أحب لنفسي‬

I am afraid that the rats would hear the sound of the cat and flee to the houses of my neighbors, for
then I would have loved for them what I do not love for myself.

Source: Iḥ yāʼ Ulū m al-Di ̄n 2/213

Ibrahim ibn Adham reported: Were passing through some cities and I saw two people among the
ascetics on a journey. One of them said to the other, “O brother, what do the people who love Allah
inherit from their beloved?” The other said, “They inherit insight from the light of Allah the Exalted and
compassion for those who disobey Allah.” I said, “How can he have compassion for people who
contradict their beloved?” He looked to me and said:

‫اس‬ ِ ‫ضى لِل َّن‬‫ار َل اي ُكونُ ْال ُمؤْ مِ نُ ُمؤْ مِ نًا احقًّا احتَّى اي ْر ا‬
ِ َّ‫علاى أ ا ْب ادانِ ِه ْم مِ نا الن‬ ‫علا ْي ِه ْم ِل اي ُر َّد ُه ْم ِبا ْل ام اواعِظِ ا‬
‫ع ْن فِ اعا ِل ِه ْم اوأ ا ْشفاقا ا‬ ‫ف ا‬ ‫امقاتا أ ا ْع امالا ُه ْم او ا‬
‫ع ا‬
‫ط ا‬
‫ضى ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬ ‫اما يا ْر ا‬

They abhor their sinful deeds and have compassion for them that by their admonition they might
leave their deeds, and they feel sympathy that their bodies might be burned in Hellfire. The believer is
not truly a believer until he is pleased for people to have what he is pleased for himself.
 Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 11441

Ibn Rajab reported:

‫سنًا‬ ِ ‫علا ْي ِه فات ا امنَّى ِلنافا ِس ِه مِ ثْلا اها فاإ ِ ْن كااناتْ ت ِْلكا ْالف‬
‫اضيلاة ُ دِينِيَّةً اكانا اح ا‬ ‫ضيلاةً فااقا بِ اها ا‬
ِ ‫فا‬

Some of the righteous predecessors said: The people who love Allah look by the light of Allah, and
they are compassionate with those who disobey Allah. They hate their actions but show mercy to them
so that through their admonitions they might leave their actions. They are afraid that the Hellfire will
consume their bodies. The believer will not truly be a believer until he is pleased for people to have
what he is pleased for himself. If he sees in someone else some merit by which they excel him, then he
wishes the like of it for himself. If that merit is related to the religion then it is good.

Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥ ikam 13

And Ibn Rajab writes:

‫فأفضل اِلعمال سالمة الصدر من أنواع الشحناء كلها وأفضلها السالمة من شحناء أهل اِلهواء والبدع التي تقتضي الطعن على سلف‬
‫اِلمة وبغضهم والحقد عليهم واعتقاد تكفيرهم أو تبديعهم وتضليلهم ثم يلي ذلك سالمة القلب من الشحناء لعموم المسلمين وإرادة الخير لهم‬
‫ان‬ ‫ونصيحتهم وأن يحب لهم ما يحب لنفسه وقد وصف هللا تعالى المؤمنين عموما بأنهم يقولون اربَّناا ا ْغف ِْر لاناا او ِ ِإل ْخ اوانِناا الَّذِينا ا‬
ِ ‫سباقُوناا بِ ْاِلِي ام‬
‫ُوف ارحِ ي ٌم‬ ٌ ‫اوَل تاجْ عا ْل فِي قُلُوبِناا غ ِِّالً ِللَّذِينا آ امنُوا اربَّناا إِنَّكا ارؤ‬

The best of deeds is to secure the heart from every type of enmity, and the best of it is to be secure
from the enmity of the people of desires and heretical innovations that demands challenge against the
righteous predecessors of the nation, their hatred and malice towards them, and belief in their charges
of unbelief, heresy, and misguidance against them. Thereafter, following that is to secure the heart from
enmity against the Muslim in general, to intend good for them, to give them sincere counsel, and to love
for them what he loves for himself. Allah the Exalted has described the believers in general, that they
say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not make any animosity in
our hearts towards those who believe. Our Lord, you are kind and merciful. (59:10)
 Source: Laṭā’if al-Ma’ārif 1/139

Ibn Taymiyyah writes:

‫علا ْي ِه اوحْ ادهُ او ِبأ ا ْن يُحِ بَّ ِِلاخِ ي ِه ْال ُمؤْ مِ ِن اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه فا اه ِذ ِه‬ ِ ‫ط امأْنِيناةُ ْالقا ْل‬
‫ب ِب ام اح َّب ِت ِه اوحْ ادهُ اوأ ا ْن اي ُكونا أ ا احبَّ إلا ْي ِه مِ َّما س اِوا ُه اما او ِبالت َّ او ُّك ِل ا‬ ُ ‫اوأ ا َّما‬
ُّ ‫ان الَّتِي ت ْاخت ا‬
‫ص بِ ِه‬ ِْ ‫ق‬
ِ ‫اإلي ام‬ ِ ِ‫مِ ْن احقاائ‬

As for what reassures the heart, it is in love for Allah alone and that he is beloved more than anything
else, and it is in reliance upon Allah alone, and it is in loving for his faithful brother what he loves for
himself. Hence, these are among the realities of faith with which it has been specified.

Source: Majmū ’ al-Fatāwá 7/426

Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:

‫ْس لاهُ او اَل يُ اح ِ ِّملا ُه ْم فا ْوقا ُو ْس ِع ِه ْم‬ ‫اس اكذالِكا اوأ ا ْن اَل يُ ا‬
‫طا ِلبا ُه ْم بِ اما لاي ا‬ ِ َّ‫ق الن‬ ِ ‫َّللاِ اكامِ لاةً ُم اوفَّ ارة ً اوأ ا ادا اء ُحقُو‬ َّ ‫ق‬ِ ‫علا ْي ِه أ ا ادا اء ُحقُو‬
‫ُوجبُ ا‬
ِ ‫اف ي‬
‫ص ا‬ ِ ْ ‫فاإ ِ َّن‬
‫اإل ْن ا‬
‫علا ْي ِه ْم ِب اما ياحْ ُك ُم ِب ِه ِلنا ْف ِس ِه او ا‬
‫علا ْي اها‬ ‫اويُ اعامِ لا ُه ْم ِب اما يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُ اعامِ لُوهُ ِب ِه اويُ ْع ِفيا ُه ْم مِ َّما يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُ ْعفُوهُ مِ ْنه ُ اوياحْ ُك ام لا ُه ْم او ا‬

Indeed, a sense of justice is required to fulfill the rights of Allah with complete respect, as well as fulfill
the rights of people. It is that he does not demand from them what they cannot do, he does not burden
them beyond their capacity, he deals with them as he would love to be dealt with by them, he pardons
them as he would love to be pardoned by them, and he judges for them and over them as he would
judge for himself and over himself.

Source: Zād al-Ma’ād 2/371

And Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:

 ‫ش َّدةِ او ْالغ ِْل ا‬
‫ظ ِة فاإ ِ َّن ذالِكا يُنافِّ ُِر ُه ْم ا‬
‫ع ْنهُ اويُ ْغ ِري ِه ْم بِ ِه‬ ْ ُّ‫ِي ُم اعا املات ُ ُه ْم بِ اما يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُ اعامِ لُوهُ بِ ِه مِ نا الل‬
ِّ ِ ‫طفِ او اَل يُ اعامِ لُ ُه ْم بِ ْالعُ ْنفِ اوال‬ ِ ‫طفاةُ ْالخ ْال‬
‫ق اوه ا‬ ‫ُم اال ا‬
ِ‫َّللا‬ ‫ا‬ ْ ‫ا‬
َّ ‫عل ْي ِه قلباه ُ او احاله ُ ام اع‬‫ا‬ ‫اويُف ِس ُد ا‬ ْ

A mark of tranquility and dignity is kindness with the creation. It is dealing with them in a way he
would love to be treated kindly by them, and not treating them harshly, strictly, or roughly, for that
would alienate them from him, estrange them, and corrupt his heart and his relationship with Allah.

Source: Madārij al-Sāliki ̄n 2/478

And Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:

‫عة ْال ُمسلمين يحب لا ُهم‬ ‫برئ من الغل … فاإِن ا‬

‫صاحبه للزومه ج اما ا‬ ِ ‫ضدِّه فامن نصح اَلئمة واَلمة فقد‬ ‫صي احة اَل تجامع الغل ِإ ْذ ه ا‬
ِ ‫ِي‬ ِ َّ‫فاإِن الن‬
‫ا‬ ‫ا‬
‫اما يحب لناف ِس ِه اويكرهُ ل ُهم اما يكره ل اها ويسوؤه اما يسؤوهم ويسره اما يسرهم‬

Indeed, sincere good will does not include animosity, but is against it. Thus, whoever is sincere to the
leaders and the nation is free from animosity… The one who is sincere to the Muslim community must
love for them what he loves for himself, hate for them what he hates for himself, be displeased by what
displeases them, and be happy by what makes them happy.

Source: Miftāḥ Dār al-Sa’ādah 1/72

Al-Muhāsibi ̄ writes:

َّ ‫او اَل احوط فِي ْالحق او ْالعدْل او اَل ارضى ِع ْند ْالخاا‬
‫صة والعامة اوه اُو ان تحب للنَّاس اما تحب لنافسك اوتكره للنَّاس اما تكرهه ُ لا اها‬

There is nothing better to guard truth and justice, and nothing more pleasing specifically and generally
than that you love for people what you love in your soul and hate for people what you hate in your soul.

Source: Ā dāb al-Nufū s 1/125

Al-Ghazāli ̄ writes:

‫ِي ِإلا ْي ِه ْم ِإ ََّل بِ اما يُحِ بُّ أ ا ْن يُؤْ ت اى ِإلا ْي ِه‬ ْ ِ ‫اومِ ْن اها أ ا ْن يُ ْن‬
‫مِن نا ْف ِس ِه او اَل ياأت ا‬
ْ ‫اس‬‫ف النَّ ا‬
‫ص ا‬

Among the duties of a Muslim are to have a sense of justice within himself for people, and to not treat
them except in a way that he would love to be treated by them.

Source: Iḥ yā’ Ulū m al-Di ̄n 2/198

And Al-Ghazāli ̄ writes:

‫كلما عملت بالناس اجعله كما ترضى لنفسك منهم ِلنه َل يكمل إيمان العبد حتى يحب لسائر الناس ما يحب لنفسه‬

Every time you deal with people, treat them as you would be pleased to be treated by them, for the
faith of a servant is not complete until he loves for all people what he loves for himself.

Source: Ayyuhā al-Walad 1/145

And Al-Ghazāli ̄ writes:

‫ْال اودُود من عباد هللا من ي ُِريد لخلق هللا كل اما يُريدهُ لناف ِس ِه اوأ ا ْعلاى من ذالِك من يؤثرهم على نافسه كمن قاا ال مِ ْن ُهم أ ُ ِريد أان أكون ِجس ًْرا‬
‫ضب والحقد او اما ناله من ْاِلاذاى‬ ‫سان ْالغا ا‬ ‫ي ْالخلق او اَل يتأذون ب اها او اك امال ذالِك أان اَل يمنعه ُ ا‬
ِ ْ ‫عن اإليثار او‬
‫اإلحْ ا‬ ‫على النَّار يعبر ا‬
ِّ ‫عل‬

Loving kindness among the servants of Allah is one who desires for the creation of Allah what he
desires for himself, and the highest part of that is to prefer them over himself. As if one of them said: I
wish I could be a bridge over Hellfire so that the creation would cross over me and not be harmed by it.
The perfection of this is that anger, malice, and what he endures of harm will not prevent him from
altruism and excellent behavior.

Source: al-Maqṣad al-Asná 1/122

Al-Ṭūfi ̄ writes:

‫عز وج َّل بها … وبيان ذلك أنه إذا أحبَّ كل‬َّ ‫فمقصوده ائتالف قلوب الناس وانتظام أحوالهم وهو قاعدة اإلسالم الكبرى التي أوصى هللا‬
‫ا‬
‫سنا إليه وَل يُؤذى وإذا أحسن إليهم ولم يؤذهم‬‫واحد من الناس لباقيهم ما يحب لنفسه أحسن إليهم ولم يؤذهم ِلنه هو يحب لنفسه أن يُح ا‬
‫أحبوه فتسري بذلك المحبة بين الناس وبسريان المحبة بينهم يسرى الخير ويرتفع الشر وبذلك ينتظم أمر المعاش والمعاد وتصلح أحوال‬
‫العباد‬

The objective of this tradition is to unite the hearts of people and rectify their circumstances, and it is
a major principle in Islam that Allah the Exalted has enjoined… In clarification of that, if every person
loved for others what he loves for himself he would treat them in the best manner, he would not harm
them because he loves for himself to be treated well, and he himself would not be harmed. If he treats
them well and does not harm those he loves, then love will emanate from that between people, and
with the emanation of love between them will be the emanation of good and removal of evil, and with
that the rectification of daily life and habits and the improvement of the servants’ circumstances.

Source: al-Ta’yi ̄n fi ̄ Sharḥ al-Arba’i ̄n 1/124-125

Al-Saffari ̄ni ̄ writes:

ُ ‫ظ ُخلَّتاه‬‫اصي احتاه ُ اوياحْ فا ا‬

ِ ‫ِيم ن‬ ‫عثْ ارتاهُ اويا ْقبا ال ام ْعذ اِرتاهُ اويا ُر َّد غِيباتاهُ اويُد ا‬ ‫ع ْو ارتاهُ اويا ْغف اِر زا لَّتاه ُ اويا ْر اح ام ا‬
‫عب اْرتاهُ اويُقِي ال ا‬ ‫علاى ْال ُم ْسل ِِم أ ا ْن يا ْست ُ ار ا‬
‫مِ َّما ل ِْل ُم ْسل ِِم ا‬
‫ستاهُ او اي ُر َّد‬ ‫ط ا‬ْ ‫ع‬
‫ش ِ ِّمتا ا‬ ‫ي احا اجتاهُ او اي ْشفا اع ام ْسأالاتاهُ اويُ ا‬‫ض ا‬ ِ ‫ص ارت اه ُ او اي ْق‬
ْ ُ‫صلاتاهُ او اي ْش ُك ار ِن ْع امتاهُ اويُحْ سِنا ن‬ ِ ‫ئ‬ ‫ع ْوتاهُ او اي ْق اب ال اه ِد َّيتاهُ اويُكاا ِف ا‬ ‫عى ِذ َّمتاهُ اوي ُِج ا‬
‫يب اد ا‬ ‫او اي ْر ا‬
‫غي ِْر ِه او اَل يُ ْس ِل امه ُ او اَل يا ْخذُلاه ُ اويُحِ بَّ لاه ُ اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬‫ظ ْل ِم ا‬
ُ ‫ع ْن‬ ‫علاى ا‬
‫ظا ِل ِم ِه اويا ُكفَّهُ ا‬ ‫ص ارهُ ا‬ ُ ‫ضالَّتاهُ اوي اُوا ِلياهُ او اَل يُ اعا ِدياه ُ اويا ْن‬ ‫ا‬

Among the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim are that he cover his faults, forgive his mistakes,
have mercy for his errors, overlook his missteps, reject his backbiting, always give him sincere advice,
preserve his good traits, guard his covenants, answer his invitations, accept his guidance, repay his gifts,
show gratitude for his favors, assist him in the best manner, fulfill his needs, intercede for his problems,
respond to his sneeze, refuse his misguided advice, protect him and not take him as an enemy, support
him against his oppressors, restrain him from oppressing others, not surrender him, not abandon him,
and to love for him what he loves for himself.

Source: Ghidhā al-Albāb 1/266

Al-Qurtubi ̄ writes:

‫صي احة ُ او ْال ُم ْس ِل ُم أ ا ُخو ْال ُم ْسل ِِم‬ ‫علا ْي ِه اوي ُْر ِش ادهُ إِلاى اما فِي ِه ا‬
ِ َّ‫ط ِري ُق الس اَّال ام ِة اوالنَّ اجاةِ فاإ ِ َّن ال ِّدِينا الن‬ ‫ااف ا‬ ‫ْال ُم ْسل اِم يا ِجبُ ا‬
ُ ‫علا ْي ِه أ ا ْن يُ احذِّ اِر أاخااهُ مِ َّما ياخ‬

The Muslim must warn his brother of what he fears for himself, and guide him to ways of safety and
salvation. Indeed, the religion is sincere good will and the Muslim is the brother of another Muslim.

Source: Tafsi ̄r al-Qurṭubi ̄ 12:68

Abu Abbas Al-Qurtubi ̄ writes:

‫َل يتم إيمانُ أحد اإليمان التام الكامل حتى يضم إلى إسالمه سالمة الناس منه وإرادة الخير لهم والنصح لجميعهم فيما يحاوله معهم‬

The faith on no one will be complete and perfected until his Islam includes safety for people, desire to
do good to them, and good will for all of them in his dealings with them.

Source: Kitāb al-Mufhim 1/224

Ibn Al-Arabi writes:

‫ان أ ا ْن يُحِ بَّ ِِلاخِ ي ِه اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬ ِ ْ ‫سلَّ ام فِي‬
ِ ‫اإلي ام‬ ‫علا ْي ِه او ا‬ َّ ‫صلَّى‬
‫َّللاُ ا‬ ُّ ِ‫ط النَّب‬
‫ي ا‬ ‫اَل يا ُكونُ ْالقا ْلبُ ا‬
‫سلِي ًما إذاا اكانا احقُودًا احسُودًا ُم ْع اجبًا ُمت ا اكبِِّ ًرا اوقا ْد ش اار ا‬
 He cannot have a pure heart if it holds malice, envy, pride, and arrogance. The Prophet made it a
requirement of faith that he love for his brother what he loves for himself.

Source: Aḥ kām al-Qurʼān 26:89

Ibn Abdul Barr writes:

‫ورهُ ِِلاخِ ي ِه ِب اما يُ ا‬

‫س ُّر ِب ِه ِلنا ْف ِس ِه‬ ُ ‫س ُر‬ ِ ‫ع اال ام ِة ْال ُم‬
ُ ‫ومِن‬ ‫مِ ْن ا‬

Among the signs of a true believer is that he is happy for his brother to have what makes himself
happy.

Source: al-Tamhi ̄d 1011

Ibn Hazm writes:

‫َل تكلف صديقك إَل مثل ما تبذل له من نفسك فإن طلبت أكثر فأنت ظالم‬

Do not hold your friend responsible except with what you would have him offer yourself. If you
demand more, then you have done wrong.

Source: Rasā’il Ibn Ḥ azm 1/364

Al-Ṭi ̄bi ̄ writes:

‫فعلي المؤمن أن يحب لصاحبه ما يحب لنفسه ويكره له ما يكره لنفسه‬

 It is a duty upon the believer to love for his companion what he loves for himself and to hate for him
what he hates for himself.

Source: Sharḥ al-Mishkāh 3/968

And Al-Ṭi ̄bi ̄ writes:

‫خيرا ينبغي له أن يحب لغيره ما يحب لنفسه فيأخذ باِلقرب فاِلقرب‬

ً ‫من أصاب‬

Whoever would earn good, then he should love for others what he loves for himself, for he will keep
coming closer and closer.

Source: al-Tanwi ̄r Sharḥ al-Jāmi’ al-Ṣaghi ̄r 6/242

Ibn al-‘Imād writes:

‫اِلولى أن يحمل على عموم اِلخوة حتى يشمل الكافر فيحبِّ ِلخيه الكافر ما يحبُّ لنفسه من دخوله في اإلسالم كما يحبِّ للمسلم دوامه‬
ً ‫ومن ثم كان الدعاء بالهداية مستحبا‬

The Prophet’s saying to love for his brother what he loves for himself is interpreted as universal
brotherhood, such that it includes the unbeliever, so he should love for his brother the unbeliever what
he loves for himself, part of which is his entering Islam and just as he loves for the Muslim to stay in
Islam. Hence, it is preferred to supplicate for their guidance.

Source: Dali ̄l al-Fāliḥ i ̄n 3/26

Al-Qāsimi ̄ writes:
 ‫غي ِْر ِه مِ نا ْال ُمؤْ مِ نِينا اما يُحِ بُّ ِلذا ِ ِّريَّ ِت ِه‬
‫سانُ ِِلاخِ ي ِه اما يُحِ بُّ ِلنا ْف ِس ِه اويُحِ بَّ ِلذُ ِ ِّريَّ ِة ا‬
‫اإل ْن ا‬ ِّ ‫ض ْال ُمفا‬
ِ ْ َّ‫س ِِرينا ِإنَّهُ اي ِجبُ أ ا ْن يُحِ ب‬ ُ ‫قاا ال اب ْع‬

Some of the commentators said that it is an obligation upon humanity to love for his brother what he
loves for himself, and to love for the offspring of others among the believers what he would love for his
own offspring.

Source: Tafsi ̄r al-Qāsimi ̄ 4:9

Al-Sa’di ̄ writes:

‫ومتضمن للعمل لآلخرة واَلستعداد لها ِلن اإليمان الصحيح يقتضي ذلك ويستلزمه واإلحسان إلى الناس وأن يصل إليهم من القول‬
،‫والفعل والمال والمعاملة ما يحب أن يعاملوه به فهذا هو الميزان الصحيح لإلحسان وللنصح فكل أمر أشكل عليك مما تعامل به الناس‬
‫فانظر هل تحب أن يعاملوك بتلك المعاملة أم َل فإن كنت تحب ذلك كنت محبا لهم ما تحب لنفسك وإن كنت َل تحب أن يعاملوك بتلك‬
‫المعاملة فقد ضيعت هذا الواجب العظيم‬

Included in faith is work for the Hereafter and preparation for it, as sound faith requires and obligates
it, and to treat people well, to maintain good relations with them in words, deeds, charity, and dealing
with them in a way he would love to be dealt with by them. Hence, this is the true measure of
excellence and good will. For every matter about which you are unsure how to deal with people, then
ask yourself: Would you love for them to deal with you this way or not? If you love it, then you love for
them what you love for yourself. If you do not love for them to deal with you this way, then you have
failed this important obligation.

Source: Bahjat Qulū b al-Abrār 1/187

Aḥ mad Ḥ uṭaybah writes:

‫فعلى اإلنسان المؤمن أن يحب الناس ويحب الخير لهم ويحب أن ينفعهم فهذه هي عالمة اإلنسان المؤمن‬
 It is the duty of the believing human being to love people, to love good for them, and to love to
benefit them. This is a sign of faith in the human being.

Source: Sharḥ al-Targhi ̄b wal-Tarhi ̄b 8/26

May Allah bless us with the will and ability to fulfill this most important Islamic teaching.