The Muslims’ Mirror
عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « الْمُؤْمِنُ مِرْآةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ أَخُو الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكُفُّ عَلَيْهِ ضَيْعَتَهُ وَيَحُوطُهُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ
Abu Hurayrah ( Radi Allahu anhu) narrated the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) said: ” The believer is the mirror of his fellow believer, and the believer is the brother of his fellow believer. He protects him against ruin and looks after him.”
Collected by Abu Dawud (4918) and Bukhari in Adab (239) Graded as being Hasan by Al-Iraqi and Al-Albani
Lasting reminders and details from this topic:
Abu Dawud mentioned this hadeeth in his Sunnan under the chapter: Regarding sincere advice and protection. This means that the person advises his brother and serves as his adviser. This is something required for brotherhood.
“The believer is the mirror of his fellow believer…” What is known from these words is the Muslim is his brother’s mirror. In other words, he advises him. Verily, when a person stands in front of a mirror he is able to see faults and defects and things that he wants to remove and fix. This is because he is able to see himself in the mirror. It’s well-known that a person can’t see what’s apparent on his body until he stands in front of a mirror. However, other people can see it clearly all the time. Hence, the brother Muslim informs him about the faults and shortcomings that’s apparent and advises his brother. In this case he serves as a helper for him to return him back to a good state. Moreover, when a person is his brother’s mirror he serves as an aide for him to obey Allah and His Messenger and warns him against disobeying Allah and His Messenger.
The Muslim should strive at his utmost best to gain the mannerism Allah’s Messenger described, ” The believer is the mirror of his fellow believer…” These words are similar to a person who becomes aware of something when he stands in front of a mirror. Accordingly, when another person sees something on his brother, it is fitting that he removes it from him. This person doesn’t know there is something wrong, so it’s a must that his brother informs him. Whenever he sees an imbalance in an issue related to his brother’s religion or worship, he informs him about it. (Shaykh Abdul Muhsin’s explanation for Sunnan Abu Dawud)
” … He protects him against ruin…” He protects his fellow Muslim from things that can harm him.
“… and looks after him.” He protects him against those who backbite him and cause him harm and injury. (Ibn Khazin in Nuzhatul Akbar refer to Mirqatus Su’ud ila Sunnan Abi Dawud by As-Suyuti 911h )
Translated and compiled by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar 1434©
Republished 11/19/2015
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