The Meaning of the Hadith: We Prophets Are Half-Brothers

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner asks: What is the meaning of the hadith, "We prophets are half-brothers"?

Answer:
Half-brothers are those who have one father but different mothers; these are the brothers on the father's side. The religion of the prophets is likewise: in terms of creed, it is one thing, which is Islam—submission to Allah and surrender to Allah. As for the laws, they may differ. Allah prescribes for each time and each people what suits them, and then abrogates that with another law, until Islam came through Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the law became settled until the Hour occurs; it is not abrogated and not changed.
Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) prescribes for each people what suits them. This Ummah is one Ummah from his sending (peace and blessings be upon him) until the Hour occurs. It is one Ummah with one law, not abrogated and not opened up. The laws may differ, but the creed is one for everyone, one for everyone. For this reason, he said, "Half-brothers: our law is one. Half-brothers: our religion is one and our laws are different." As He the Exalted said: Yes. He the Exalted says: For every term there is a record. Every time has a record that befits it. But as we said and repeat, after the sending of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the Ummah became one from the time of his sending until the Hour occurs. Yes.