Explanation of the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): (He used to say, "The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim...")
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The Shaykh : And the one who comes to him.
He said, and it was narrated from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say:Sahih Muslim 2564a And he means the Messenger (peace be upon him) Sunan Abi Dawud 3646Sahih (Al-Albani) This is a hadith that is perhaps rare for you to hear, so pay attention to it. And he used to say, "The Muslim has six rights over the Muslim." Ahmad narrated it with a good chain of transmission.
The last part of the hadith is like the one before it, and as we said, we have previously spoken about it. But his statement at its beginning, is a reality that our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) established in the Noble Qur'an, and His Messenger (peace be upon him) affirms this special brotherhood, a special brotherhood between the Muslim and the Muslim.
As for general brotherhood, this is a factual reality, meaning brotherhood in humanity. However, we must be alert and remember well that this general human brotherhood does not entail important matters. Rather, what entails such important matters is brotherhood in Islam. And we must preserve the value and sanctity of this brotherhood, if that expression is correct.
I want to say that as long as this brotherhood, Islamic brotherhood, is a special brotherhood with specific rulings in Islam, we should not dilute its value and sanctity and lose it in the usage of general human brotherhood. So we do not say, for example, of others that they are our brothers, as some shaykhs and other writers do. We continue to preserve this special brotherhood in which no one shares with us except one who is on our religion and our Islam. So when he (peace be upon him) says, he establishes this reality and arranges behind it such social etiquettes that you heard about in the first hadith, and in the last one, and in what preceded. So he says Sahih Muslim 2162b, and so infer the rest of the rulings mentioned here, such as accompanying the funeral procession and similar etiquettes, which are mentioned here and elsewhere. If a Muslim were to collect them, they would fill a book.
Therefore, there are books compiled by scholars of hadith called books of etiquette or manners. The book of the single etiquette (al-Adab al-Mufrad) by Imam al-Bukhari is sufficient for you in that regard, as it collects the etiquettes that Muslims must, or at least it is recommended for them, to live and interact based upon.
He said, and it was narrated from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say:
A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor
المسلم أخو المسلم لا يظلمه ولا يخذلهNarrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: I used to write everything which I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I intended (by it) to memorise it. The Quraysh prohibited me saying: Do you write everything that you hear from him while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is a human being: he speaks in anger and pleasure? So I stopped writing, and mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He signalled with his finger to him mouth and said: Write, by Him in Whose hand my soul lies, only right comes out from it.
والذي نفسي بيده ما تواد اثنانBy Myself in Whose Hand is your soul, two people do not love each other and then separation occurs between them except due to a sin committed by one of them.
والذي نفسي بيده ما تواد اثنان فيفرق بينهما إلا بذنب يحدثه أحدهماHe congratulates him when he sneezes, visits him when he is sick, advises him when he is absent or present, greets him when he meets him, responds to him when he calls him, and follows him when he dies.
يشمته إذا عطس ويعوده إذا مرض وينصحه إذا غاب أو شهد ويسلم عليه إذا لقيه ويجيبه إذا دعاه ويتبعه إذا ماتThe last part of the hadith is like the one before it, and as we said, we have previously spoken about it. But his statement at its beginning,
The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim
المسلم أخو المسلمAs for general brotherhood, this is a factual reality, meaning brotherhood in humanity. However, we must be alert and remember well that this general human brotherhood does not entail important matters. Rather, what entails such important matters is brotherhood in Islam. And we must preserve the value and sanctity of this brotherhood, if that expression is correct.
I want to say that as long as this brotherhood, Islamic brotherhood, is a special brotherhood with specific rulings in Islam, we should not dilute its value and sanctity and lose it in the usage of general human brotherhood. So we do not say, for example, of others that they are our brothers, as some shaykhs and other writers do. We continue to preserve this special brotherhood in which no one shares with us except one who is on our religion and our Islam. So when he (peace be upon him) says
The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim
المسلم أخو المسلمWhen you meet him, offer him greetings
إذا لقيته فسلم عليهTherefore, there are books compiled by scholars of hadith called books of etiquette or manners. The book of the single etiquette (al-Adab al-Mufrad) by Imam al-Bukhari is sufficient for you in that regard, as it collects the etiquettes that Muslims must, or at least it is recommended for them, to live and interact based upon.