Weekly Sermons

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Question: The weakening of social relationships among people is increasingly evident, and we seem to be gradually drifting apart from one another. What should be the attitude of an ideal believer in this regard?
Answer: The Qur’an and the Sunnah emphasize so powerfully that believers are brothers and sisters and must support one another that little else needs to be said. A believer who is sincerely devoted to divine revelation cannot remain indifferent to the material or spiritual hardships of fellow believers—let alone watch silently as they fall and perish. The Prophet ﷺ expressed this reality clearly when he warned, “Whoever does not feel the pain of Muslims’ troubles is not one of them.”<a href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1">[1]</a>
A true believer concerns themselves more with their brothers’ and sisters’ problems than with their own. They share others’ sorrows, anxieties, and grief, and feel their pain as their own. They never neglect to ask about others’ well-being, extend a helping hand to those in need, visit the sick, console the broken-hearted, and constantly strive to strengthen their fellow believers’ spiritual resolve. The Prophet ﷺ likened believers to “the bricks of a solid structure, firmly joined together and supporting one another.”<a href="#_edn2" name="_ednref2">[2]</a>
<h2>A Unified Structure</h2>
In an age when divisions have torn us apart, we are in greater need than ever of people who can serve as the mortar that binds society together—those who can reunite its scattered pieces and help rebuild a solid social fabric. The Prophet ﷺ described believers as a “well-fortified structure” (bünyan-ı marsus), pointing to an ideal we must strive to realize. Those who fail to empathize with others or disregard the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood can never achieve this goal. Therefore, every believer should strive to become a brick in this building and fulfill the responsibilities that keep the spirit of brotherhood alive.
<h2>The Attitude of an Ideal Believer</h2>
A believer cannot live only for themselves or think solely of their own life. In addition to safeguarding their own direction, they are also responsible for helping others remain on the right path. This circle of responsibility extends from the core principles of faith to the finer details of religion. At times, it may mean bringing relief to hearts with a warm smile, gladdening others with a small gift, sharing their sorrows, or removing obstacles from their path. At other times, it may mean dispelling a brother’s or sister’s doubts about faith, finding remedies for weakness of belief, or helping those attached to worldly things elevate their hearts toward the heavens. These, too, are among the vital duties that give purpose to a believer’s life.
This is the attitude of an ideal believer: they always strive to be beneficial to those around them. Yet it must be acknowledged that showing such selflessness toward others is not an easy task. Especially in today’s world—where selfishness and individualism prevail—fulfilling the requirements of spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood has become more difficult than ever. To achieve this, one must first possess a strong faith. Next, we must cultivate empathy to understand others’ states and emotions, and become more sensitive to our brothers’ and sisters’ problems. By looking at their faces, we should be able to perceive their worries and feel the pain they do not express. Even when they remain silent, we should act with the attentiveness and intuition of a psychiatrist—almost as though performing a gentle psychoanalysis—to uncover their troubles and provide the necessary remedy. This is not within everyone’s capacity; yet those who can accomplish it are the true heroes—honored both in the sight of people and in the sight of God.
<h2>Expanding the Circle of Compassion</h2>
A true believer cannot live a life confined to their own ego or be absorbed solely in their own existence. They transcend themselves and share in the emotions of others, feeling in their heart the pain and sorrow that others experience. Their compassion is not limited to those who walk the same path or turn toward the same direction in prayer. In proportion to the depth of their faith and the expansiveness of their heart, they open their bosom to all humanity. They embrace people of different thoughts and beliefs and strive, as much as possible, to ease their hardships.
As Bediuzzaman put it, they look upon all creation as a “cradle of brotherhood,” and thus see everyone as a sibling who has grown up in the same cradle, nurtured by the same lullabies. For this reason, they cannot remain indifferent to the suffering or problems of others. Especially when the matter concerns faith—when it is about guiding others toward the path of eternal happiness and helping them reach God—a believer could never take such a responsibility lightly.
<h2>The Compassion Horizon of a Believer</h2>
We should not leave anyone around us deprived of our care and support. We must reach out to people according to the closeness of their relationship with us. Naturally, our greatest help should go first to those nearest to us. After that, we should place others according to their degree of closeness and extend kindness to them as much as our means allow.
Indeed, the Qur’an commands worship of God and forbids associating any partners with Him. Immediately afterward, it enjoins kindness to parents, followed by relatives. Then it lists, in order, those who are likewise deserving of goodness: orphans, the poor, near neighbors, distant neighbors, close friends, travelers in need, and those under one’s care—including those who have been enslaved or deprived of freedom.<a href="#_edn3" name="_ednref3">[3]</a> In this, the Qur’an upholds one of the most profound moral principles of human dignity: the call to protect, support, and ultimately free every person from bondage and oppression.
It is striking that children are not mentioned in this verse, even though they are among those most in need of care. This is because parents, by their very nature, embrace their children with love and affection, hold them close, and attend to every aspect of their lives—sacrificing their own comfort and sleep if necessary. Hence, no separate encouragement is needed for this.
In contrast, since children may not show the same degree of devotion toward their parents or relatives, God Almighty has made it a duty for us to protect their rights and show them kindness.
The relationships among believers can also be understood from this perspective. There are people who have grown up in the same environment and share the same culture as you. They are familiar faces, people you know well. You may share the same ideals, pursue the same goals, and walk the same path. Naturally, you feel a deep affection and warmth toward them and find it easy to help and support them when needed.
However, it may not be as easy to feel the same depth of affection for those you do not know, or for people who hold different worldviews. Even so, our duty is to exercise our will, to expand our hearts toward them as well, and to offer them whatever goodness lies within our power.
We can never remain indifferent to issues that concern the overall condition of Muslims or the destiny of Islam itself. Wherever a negative development occurs in the world regarding Islam or the Muslim community, our hearts should tighten, our faces pale, and our concern rise immediately as we seek ways to respond constructively. We strive to share in the conditions and emotions of fellow believers.
Yet expanding our circle of concern and responsibility—reaching out to all who share our common humanity regardless of whether they turn toward the same qibla—is a mark of noble character and elevated spirit.
The saying commonly heard among people, “Only those who are struck by the fire feel its heat,” may reflect a popular attitude, yet it stems from a self-centered outlook—one that a believer can never accept. Even a person whose heart is slightly open to humanity does not burn only for the fire that falls upon their own home; they are also pained by the flames that fall upon their neighbors, friends, and loved ones.
As for the perfected souls who possess a prophetic nature and embrace all humanity, wherever the fire falls, it burns within them too. For this reason, such noble-hearted souls rush to help whenever disasters such as floods, earthquakes, fires, or wars occur anywhere in the world. Within the limits of their means, they struggle tirelessly to ease the suffering and alleviate the pain of others. And even when they cannot act physically, their hearts, prayers, and deepest feelings are always with those who suffer.
<h2>Our Own Values Are Sufficient to Solve Our Problems</h2>
In certain periods of history, various movements and philosophies such as feminism, humanism, and liberalism have emerged to defend rights that were violated. At times, some among us, out of a kind of inferiority complex, turn to these same concepts. Sometimes, even we attempt to express similar ideas in a tone that might prevent external criticism or ease the concerns of our followers and sympathizers.
Yet within our own original sources, far deeper and more comprehensive solutions to such issues have long been provided. Therefore, there is truly no need for these foreign perspectives or theoretical fantasies.
First, the kinds of oppression, tyranny, and violations of rights witnessed in other societies have not occurred in our own world to the same extent. Yes, there may have been certain wrong practices at specific times, but overall, an atmosphere of peace and justice has predominated in society.
Second, Islam has placed every human being—male or female—in their rightful position and granted them all the rights they deserve. To go beyond this balance would, in fact, amount to injustice against the human being.
Third, these ideologies arose historically as reactions to oppression and injustice. Yet in reactionary movements, balance is often lost.
Therefore, there is no need to fall into a sense of inferiority or adopt a defensive tone. What we must do is hold firmly to our own values—by living out the divine injunctions concerning parental respect, maintaining kinship ties, upholding brotherhood and sisterhood, extending a helping hand to those in need, and practicing generosity and charity.
For the worth that Islam attributes to the human being, the importance it assigns to mutual assistance, and the rights it grants to all people—men and women alike—surpass those found in these ideologies by far.
In our intellectual and spiritual tradition, there is nothing that should make us feel ashamed. From this perspective, I do not give much attention to such imported ideas. I generally regard them as intellectual fantasies and advise keeping a respectful distance from them.
That said, I do respect those who, with good intentions, engage these concepts and philosophies in order to communicate certain truths to people who value them.
In today’s world—where people feel lost in large cities, social bonds have weakened, and loneliness has increased—we must not leave anyone alone with their fate or condemn them to isolation. By nature, the human being is fragile and limited in strength, yet burdened with many troubles. Therefore, it is impossible for anyone to stand firm without the help and support of others.
If we fail to fulfill our responsibility in this regard, we will be held accountable before God. Beginning with those nearest to us, we must inquire after everyone’s well-being, share in their troubles, and ensure that no one is left feeling abandoned or alone. We should observe those around us carefully and act with insight—trying to discern from people’s eyes, faces, expressions, and demeanor whether they are struggling or in distress. When they are in need, we should stand by their side, offer our support, and help them find relief from their troubles.
Within the limits of our means, we are obliged to watch over everyone, keeping both our hands and hearts open. This is not an easy task; yet for a believer, true courage lies precisely in overcoming this difficulty. Glad tidings, then, to those who surmount these steep paths in the most beautiful way.
<a href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1">[1]</a> Tabarānī, al-Muʿjam al-Awsat, 1/151, 7/270; Ḥākim, al-Mustadrak, 4/356.
<a href="#_ednref2" name="_edn2">[2]</a> Bukhārī, Ṣalāt 88; Muslim, Birr 65.
<a href="#_ednref3" name="_edn3">[3]</a> &nbsp;Surah al-Nisāʾ, 4:36.
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The Ethics of Brotherhood and the Altruism of the Believer