“قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم , “لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ

The Prophet (may Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) said, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (narrated by both al Bukhari and Muslim).

Imam an Nawawi said about this hadeeth:

His (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) statement – “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”, that it is best that it is understood from this hadeeth the generality of brotherhood. This is so it includes the disbeliever and the person of tawheed. So he loves for his disbelieving brother that which he loves for himself in terms of his entering into the fold of Islam. As well, he loves for his Muslim brother to stay upon Islam as a way of life. This is why we find that calling the non-Muslims to Islam is something that is highly recommended.

It is understood from the negation of belief for the one that does not love for his  brother what he loves for himself, a  negation of complete belief (which shows that there is some belief there, it is not a negation of belief all together). That which is meant by the term ‘love’ in the hadeeth is talking about wanting good or benefit. As well, it is important to mention that the type of love mentioned here is the Islamic or religious type of love not the natural love. This is seen in some people, when it is their nature to dislike seeing good for someone or that there should be something that makes the other person look to be better than them. It is upon the people to  go against this type of nature. and to supplicate for his brother and hope for him that which he hopes for himself. The individual that does not love for his brother that which he loves for himself is someone who envies other people. Envy is of three different types:

• The first type – That the person wants some good to be taken away from someone else, and that they should gain it.

• The second type – That which wants the good to leave that other person, even if they do not get it themselves. For instance, if the person had something like it, or didn’t like it. This type is more evil than the first one we mentioned.

• The third type –  That the person does not want the good to be taken from the other person, but dislikes the fact that they are raised up in either that which they have been given or status. This person is pleased that they should be equal, but does not want that other person to have something extra that will make the other person seem as though they have more or are in a better position. This also is impermissible. He is not happy with that which Allah has given him and set aside for him. Allah the most high says;

{أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ}

{Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks …} (Az-Zukhruf 43:32)

So whoever is not pleased with that which Allah has decreed for them, then he is disputing that which Allah has set aside for him and His wisdom in doing so. It is upon mankind to try to find a cure for their souls, and to train it to be happy with that which Allah has decreed. They also should go against it by supplicating for the one that it is against, by requesting that which is direct opposition to what the soul desires.

[Translated by Abu Abdillah Abdul Lateef]