BROTHERHOODMEANING:

Dictionary meaning: A group of men with a common interest and aims. Arabic/Islamic meaning: The feeling that men should treat one another like brothers Or Equal treatment without distinction of religion. As a term: Brother is a fine sentiment, which binds the people into a strong unity. If there is an intellectual and ideological affinity among members of a brotherhood they become strong like a solid rock. "A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he leave him at the mercy of others." [Sahih Muslim].

THE SCOPE OF BROTHERHOOD: The spirit of brotherhood is expressed in three important circles. Circle of kinship: Kins folks in this circle have been given top priority in the matter doing service and rendering help. In this connection Islam allows no distinction between a Muslim and a non-Muslim relative. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said that there is a two fold reward in doing service to relatives: one reward for kinship and another for doing service. The people included in this circle are:

Father and mother Parental and maternal relations Siblings; and Even foster relations

Further, these blood relations have been declared shareholders in the inherited estate.

Human or universal brotherhood: The concept of human or universal brotherhood is based on tenant:“All men are the family of Allah.”[a tradition of Holy Prophet(S.A.W.)] In this sense Islam welds the whole mankind into one brotherhood and brings all members of the human race to an equal footing in the matter of fulfilling economic needs. Islam declares that all human beings are entitled to equal treatment without distinction of creed or religion.

The circle of brotherhood in faith: The spirit of brotherhood manifests itself with full vigor, enthusiasm and sincerity in this circle. In fact the spirit of brotherhood has been declared the test of faith. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “None of you can be a believer unless he wishes for his brother the same that he wishes for himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

IMPORTANCE OF BROTHERHOOD TO LIFE:The Prophet (S.A.W.), said: "You cannot enter paradise unless you become a total believer and you won't become a total believer unless you love each other."The importance of brotherhood in Islam can be understood from this Hadith. Even a casual reader of Qur'an would note that it almost always addresses the Believers and not the Believer. All acts of worship that are declared pillars of Islam have a collective form. The five daily prayers are best performed in congregation, that being twenty-seven times more valuable than the individual prayer. The special Friday prayer cannot be offered individually at all. Zakat is obviously aimed at making the rich of the community take care of the needs of its poor. Fasting, an essentially individual act has been given a collective form through unity in time. Hajj enforces unity in both time and place, bringing the believers together in the plains of Arafat in their remembrance of Allah.

BROTHERHOOD IN PAST:

This Brotherhood was established in the most unlikely place: Arabia, where before Islam internecine war was a way of life. On both social and political levels, this was one of the greatest achievements of Islam. On both levels, it remains one of Islam's greatest goals. We can imagine the sensitivity of the Shariah about it by reflecting on its teachings regarding the relations between believers.

It is forbidden, for example, for two Muslims to start a whispering conversation in the presence of the third. This might offend the one left out and weaken the Brotherhood. It is not permissible for a Muslim to sever relations with his brother for more than three days.

"It is sufficient evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother. The life, wealth, and honor of a Muslim are inviolable by another Muslim." [Sahih Muslim].

The books of hadith are full of such teachings. This Brotherhood was a force for good, a purveyor of peace and justice for everyone. It provided stability in a quarrelsome world. To the downtrodden and oppressed everywhere, it provided freedom. When it was powerful, it even saved the Jews and Christians in Palestine and Spain from each other.

BROTHERHOOD AT PRESENT:

The unfortunate developments in this century have impaired Brotherhood. The first was the destruction of Khilafah and the emergence of independent nation-states in the Muslim world. This made it possible for "national interests" to be declared that are at cross-purposes to the interests of the Brotherhood. Not only that, it destroyed the means for both defining and defending the Brotherhood interests. Moreover, we don’t bother about fellow men. A Muslim is not really a believer if he eats his full while ignoring the plight of a hungry neighbor.

ECONOMIC APPLICATION:

Islam admits natural inequality among men as regards their talent and capacity to work. As a result, differences in earning livelihood are inevitable. Unequal distribution of resources can give rise to several economic and social evils.

Islam doesn’t remedy this situation by adopting artificial equality as prescribed by communism, but by the power of the spirit of brotherhood.

Allah says: “The believers are brothers of one another.”

In the presence of this concept of brotherhood it is impossible for the strong to crush the weak in the economic struggle or for cut throat competition 2nd ruthless class conflicts to raise their head.

GUIDELINES FOR ECONOMIC BEHAVIOUR:

Extravagant and ostentatious spending should be avoided because such behavior hurts the feelings of the weak and backward members of the society.

Full co-operation should be extended to the economically weak members of the society in the provision of necessities of life and there, wants should as far as possible be given preference over your own.

No member of the society should be left helpless and deprived.

Individual and collective efforts should be made for the economic uplift of such people.

Relief should be provided to the sick, the unemployed, the disabled and calamity stricken people. Neighbor suffering from these misfortunes should be specially looked after.

Help and guidance should be provided to the people engaged in the struggle to earn a living. Co-operation should be extended to students to receive career-oriented education and training so that they may earn there livelihood in a respectable manner.

Causing hurt to others in the struggle for earning a livelihood should be avoided. All modes and process of work or business, which are hurtful, troublesome or hazardous to others, should be eliminated because they are contrary to the spirit of brotherhood.

Fraud, deception and malpractices in exchange of goods should be avoided and transactions should be carried through a mutual agreement.

Compensation to factors of production should be paid justly and willingly. All terms of the agreement with factors of production should be scrupulously compiled with.

Measures taken at state level for the amelioration of a situation should reflect the spirit of brotherhood and equality. Islamic state is not constituted by ruler and ruled but by the fraternal bond between the commander and the comrades.

All economic workers should establish their mutual relations on the basis of the bond of brotherhood. Consumers and producers, landlords and tenants, capitalists and 999labors, customer and dealer should do business with aechother in a spirit of brotherhood.

CONCLUSION:

God loves those who love their fellow men. So, brotherhood is one of the important pillars of Islam. It is a building block for a healthy society. It helps to permute love and peace among the people. A person can’t be a true Muslim if he/she doesn’t care about their fellow men. The element of brotherhood helps in economic planning as well. The Islamic Brotherhood is not based on economic interests, race, or color. It is based on something infinitely superior: Rejection of falsehood and acceptance of the Truth as revealed by the One True God. Not only is this Brotherhood based on faith, it is also a part of that faith.