What did al-Nawawi say about brotherhood?
Al-Nawawi collected hadith on loving for the sake of Allah, visiting the sick, fulfilling rights between Muslims, and the forty reports on manners that shape a believing community.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
On brotherhood, the cited passages — chiefly from al-Ghazali's Friendship and Brotherhood — teach that "mutual love for the sake of Allah and brotherhood in His religion" is among the highest bonds. Protecting that bond is a duty: "repelling defamation is obligatory in the bond of brotherhood." The example of Sufyan is given, who "resolutely returned the gift, valuing his spiritual brotherhood" over the favor. Ibn Battuta adds living testimony of these ties — the friendship he formed in Damascus, and the hospitality of a charitable brotherhood of young men who took travelers into their retreat.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Thus, protecting brotherhood by repelling defamation is obligatory in the bond of brotherhood."
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"It could also be neighborhood, companionship of travel or study, or friendship or brotherhood."
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"If there is a strong bond of friendship or brotherhood, scholars have differing opinions"
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"To proceed, mutual love for the sake of Allah and brotherhood in his religion are among"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"it. Despite the man's insistence, Sufyan resolutely returned the gift, valuing his spiritual brotherhood"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"is the friend of the Most Merciful, indicating that divine friendship filled his heart completely."
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
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"When I arrived in Damascus, a friendship developed between me and Nur al-Din al-Sakawi, the Maliki"
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"Upon entering the city, we sought the retreat of one of the Fityanaki, a charitable brotherhood."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"as detailed in the chapter on Brotherhood in God from the Book of the Etiquette of Companionship,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The fourth category is gifting to induce affection and friendship, not for any specific purpose"
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