Forty Gems of Beauty — Page 52
52 that the true standard of the brotherhood of the Faithful consists in choosing for his brother what a Muslim would choose for himself. Through this short observation, the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has uprooted all estrangement and feeling of conflict from among the Muslims, combining them into one organic whole. It is unfortunate that most of the people of our day are engrossed in self-interest and in accumulating every benefit for themselves to the exclusion of others. It is about these people that the Holy Quran observes: Woe unto those who, when they receive the measure from others, they get it in full, but when they weigh it out to others, they give out less. Do they think they will never be raised and brought before their Lord? 12 Islam cuts at the root of egoism and makes it obligatory on true Muslims to like for their brothers what they would like for themselves. It does not, however, mean that the special rights of relations that the Shariah has laid down should be ignored. As, for instance, a father is bound to maintain his young children, the husband to maintain his wife, and children to support their aged and dependent parents. Likewise, the Shariah has apportioned shares for heirs on the death of a person: widow, children, parents and others inherit definite portions of the legacy as their respective shares. Similarly, it has been enjoined with great emphasis to look after the well-being of other relations, neighbours and friends. These rights as laid down are of course there. Leaving them aside, in our day-to-day relationships and dealings, Islam expects every Muslim and enjoins 12 The Holy Quran, Ch: 83 (Al-Mu t affifīn), V: 2-5