Day: June 15, 2023

THE EVENT OF BROTHERHOOD-MUWAQAAT

After migrating to madina the Mohajareen (the Migrants) and the Ansars (The Local Helpers) became so friendly with one another as if there was no difference of the tribe or the place of origin between them. It appeared that all of them belonged to one large family. They treated their properties as common, their honor and respect as common, and shared their happiness and sorrows together. This was a true example of unity and integrity. To make these bonds stronger, the Prophet (s.a.) repeated the establishment of brotherhood between individuals of the two groups as he had done with the persons at Makka. This created closer bonds between individuals and they forgot the differenc of origin and the tribal affiliations..

In the view of experts, brotherhood can be strong only between individuals of the same nature. If the natures are different, and the individuals come together for whatever reason, the togetherness will be temporary. The Prophet (s.a.) kept this factor in mind when he established brotherhood between individuals from the two groups. He closely studied the natures of the individuals before declaring them brothers. When he saw that any two persons had a lot in common, he named them brothers. Therefore in Makka, Abu Bakr and Omar were named brothers, Othman and Abd ar Rehman ibne Auf, Talha and Zubair ibne Awam were made brothers. Their brotherhood is evident from the events of the Khilafat, Shura and the battle of Jamal! Similarly in Madina keeping in mind the natures of the individuals Hazrat Abu Bakr was created the brother of Kharija ibne Zaid, Hazrat Omar of Otban ibne Malik, Hazrat Othman of Aus ibne Thabit, Abu Ubaida of Saad ibne Ma-aaz, Abd ar Rehman ibne Auf of Saad ibne Rubiah, Zubair of Salama ibne Salama, Talha of Kaab ibne Malik, Ammar ibne Yassir of Qais ibne Thabit, Salman Farsi the brotherof Abul Darda. Thus whoever appeared of a similar nature to that of another person, they were declared brothers. It was also borne in the mind that the two persons were of the same level of capability and intelligence. On this occasion the Prophet (s.a.) named about forty five or fifty Mihajirs and an equal number of Ansars as brothers.and tied them in the bonds of brotherhood. But he didn’t find any one who could be declared a brother to Ali (a.s.). Perhaps it wasn’t possible too, because at the Feast of Ashira, It was already declared that Ali (a.s.) was the brother of the Prophet (s.a.). But to renew the bond, in Madina too, the Prophet (s.a.) declared Ali (a.s.) his brother! Therefore Ibne Abdal Bar writes:

“Once the prophet (s.a.) established brotherhood between the Mohajirs, and at another time between the Mohajirs and the Ansars. On both these occasions he told Ali (a.s.) he was his brother in this world and in the Hereafter!”

Ref: Isteaab, Vol 2, Page 273

This brotherhood doesn’t mean the common Islamic brotherhood that, according to the Verse, “Innamal momenoon aquwat – the Muslims are all brothers”, all the believers are brothers to each other. But this brotherhood is of a higher level and and a reflection of nearness and attachment between the two persons. If this was the common bond of friendship, then Ali (a.s) already enjoyed it because of being a Muslim and of the same descent as the Prophet (s.a.).Then what was the need of public declaration of their brotherhood? Then there was no reason that when he was not included in the roster of brotherhood at the beginning for him to complain about it! When the Prophet (s.a.) created the companions as brothers and didn’t mention Ali (a.s.) at that time, he approached the Prophet (s.a.) with tears in his eyes and said, “O Prophet (s.a.)! You have named the Mohajirs and Ansars as brothers, but you didn’t think me deserving of this honor!” The Prophet (s.a.) embraced Ali (a.s.) and said:

“Oali (a.s.)! You are my brother

In this world and

In the Hereafter.”

Ref: Tirmizi, Vol 2, Page 143

This brotherhood not only brightened the ancestral brotherhood between the two, but also proved the superiority of Ali (a.s.) over the mohajirs and Ansars. It also highlighted the similarity between the superior character and nature of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) as that of the Prophet (s.a.). When Ali (a.s.) has been declared by the Prophet (s.a.) as his brother, it proved that he was the only person amongst the Muslims deserving of that position! This choice is not because of the ancestral affinity but it is on the basis of identical qualities of the two persons. Hazrat Ali therefore considered this brotherhood with the Prophet (s.a.) as a great privilege and when he was holding the reins of government, he once went up the pulpit and said:

“I am Allah’s creature and

The brother of

His Prophet (s.a.)”

Ref: Tareeq Abul Fida, Vol 1, Page 127