Brotherhood:
'Akhuwat' is the word of Arabic language and it is derived from 'Akh, and ‘akh, means brighter and the term 'akhuwat' is taken from this word. Akhuwat means 'brotherhood'.
i. The state of society before Islam:
Before arrival of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the war and fighting in the society were at their peak. The people were thirsty of each other's blood. Hazrat Muhammad gave the lessons of brotherhood and love and changed the environment of the society completely within short time. He turned the enemies into friends, strangers into acquaintance and brothers to the people who were thirsty of one another's blood. This all happened due to his high and the best morality and the teachings given to them.
ii. Brotherhood in the light of quran:
The society of Arabia became the center of peace due to the blessed character of the Holy Prophet. This favor of Allah has been highlighted in the Holy Quran with these words.
Allah says:
Translation: And remember the favor of Allah upon you when you were enemies and he brought your heart together and you. became, by His favor, brothers.
Indeed it was the great blessing of Allah. This favor was granted merely by His blessing on it couldn't be granted by spending the greatest wealth of this world as well.
As Allah says:
والف بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَوْ انْفَقْتَ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا نَمَا الغَتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَكِن.
الله الف بَيْنَهُمْ إِنه عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمُ
(سورۃ الانفال-63)
Translation: “And brought, together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together, but Allah brought them 'together. Indeed, he is exalted in might and wise".
iii. Brotherhood in the light of Ahadees:
Prophet taught all believes to have mutual brotherhood and empathy and this has been greatly advised in ahadees "O slaves of Allah, you all are brothers."
Translation: "No one can be (true) believer among you unless he likes for his brother, what he likes for himself".
المُسلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ -
Translation: "A Muslim is he, from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are protected".
كُل المُسلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ، دَمُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعِرْضُهُ
Translation: "On a Muslim, blood, wealth and honor of other Muslims are haram".
الْمُؤْمِن أَخُوُا الْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْجَسَدِ الْوَاحِدِ إِنِ اشْتَكَى شَيْئًا مِّنْهُ وَجَدَ الَمَ ذَلِكِ فِي سَائِرِ جَسَدِهِ
Translation: "A believer is the brother of another believer like a body that if one (body) part hurts, he feels the pain in his whole body (due to that part)".
iv. Muakhat-e-Madinah:
When the Holy Prophet Muhammad migrated from Makkah to Madina, then he established the relation of 'Muakhat' between Mahajireen of Makkah and Ansar of Madina. He made every 'mahajir' the religious brother of an ansari. He established such a strong bond of brotherhood and affection that its instance could not be found in history. This was the level of sacrifice of Ansars that they allotted half of their houses, gardens and fields willingly and happily to their religious brothers. On the other hand, the condition of mahajirs self lessness was that they said "show us the path to the bazaar, we would do business or labour work and fill our stomach".
Allah says in the Holy Quran: "
إنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ (الجرات (10) :
Translation: Indeed, the believers are but brothers. This is the best practical interpretation of 'Bond of Madinah".
"Akhwat isko kehtay hain chubany kanta jo kabul main
tu Hindustan ka har pairo jawan baitaab ho jaey".
