THE RIGHTS OF ISLAM

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Ever Merciful

As-Salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds; and may Allah send blessing and peace upon the one sent as a mercy to the worlds, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his family and Companions, and those who follow them with good conduct to the Day of Judgment.

We are a people whom Allah honored with Islam, and if we seek honor with anything else, of a surety, Allah would put us to humiliation. O Allah! Use us (in service of You and Your religion), and do not replace us (with others), O Lord of the worlds. To go further:

The rights of Islam are numerous, including:

1- The right of Allah Almighty:

The favors of Allah He conferred upon the servants are countless and incalculable, each of which requires gratitude. The rights of Allah Almighty upon the servants are also numerous, including:

1- Tawhid (monotheism), that is to affirm the Oneness of Allah Almighty in His Essence, Names, Attributes and Actions, believing that Allah Alone is the Lord, the Sovereign, the Disposer (of all affairs), the Creator, the Sustainer, in Whose Hand is the dominion, and over all things He is omnipotent (as He says what means): “Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent” [Al-Mulk 67:1]

Transliteration: Tabaraka allathee biyadihi almulku wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

2- Worship: that is to worship Allah Alone, for He is their Lord, Creator and Sustainer, by dedicating all acts of worship to Allah Alone, like invocation, remembrance, seeking aid, seeking relief, mortification, submission, hope, fear, etc. in confirmation of that, He Almighty says (what means): “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him.” [An-Nisaa’ 4:36]

Transliteration: WaoAAbudoo Allaha wala tushrikoo bihi shayan

3- Gratitude: Allah Almighty is the Benefactor, Who confers His favors upon all the creatures, for which they should give thanks to Him with their tongues and organs, and from the bottom of their hearts. That is to praise Allah Almighty and laud Him, and function those favors in obedience of Allah Almighty, and in what is made lawful by Allah (as He says what means): “So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.” [Al-Baqara 2:152]

Transliteration: Faothkuroonee athkurkum waoshkuroo lee wala takfurooni

2- The right of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

Sending the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is a great favor to all mankind. Allah Almighty sent him to bring mankind out of darkness into light, and guide the people to what makes them happy in the world and the hereafter.

The right of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, upon us; is that we should love him, obey him, and ask Allah to confer blessing and peace upon him. To love him, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is to obey him in what he commanded, give trust to him in what he brought and told, and avoid what he forbade and deterred. It is also to worship Allah only in accordance with what he ordained.

3- The rights of the parents:

Islam cares for the family, and places a great emphasis on love and respect in it. The parents form its foundation and basis. So, dutifulness to parents is among the best deeds that is the dearest to Allah Almighty.

Dutifulness to parents is to obey them, show respect for them, behave humbly towards them, do good to them, spend on them, invoke good upon them, maintain kinship ties with their relatives, and honor their friends (as Allah says what means): “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment.” [Al-‘Israa’ 17:23]

Transliteration: Waqada rabbuka alla taAAbudoo illa iyyahu wabialwalidayni ihsanan

The mother’s right is greater, for it is she who conceives, gives birth and breastfeeds him. It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that a man came to The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Your mother." The man said: “Who is next?” he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Your mother." The man said: “Who is next?" he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Your mother." The man asked (for the fourth time): "Who is next?" he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Your father.” [Al-Bukhari]

4- The rights of Muslims upon each other

The faithful believers are brothers, and form a firmly connected ummah, like one structure whose parts stick together to strengthen each other. They have mutual mercy, sympathy and love for each other. In order to maintain that structure and brotherhood, Allah Almighty ordained rights a Muslim has upon his Muslim brother, including to love him, be sincere to him in advice, bring him out of discomfort, screen his slip, support him in the truth, respect the right of protection given by him, and deal generously with his guest.

They include also to return the greeting, visit the patient to inquire about his health, answer the invitation, invoke the mercy of Allah upon him whenever he sneezes (and praises Allah), and follow his funeral procession (when he dies). The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Five are the rights of the Muslim upon the Muslim: to return the greeting, to visit the patient to inquire about his health, to follow the funeral procession, to answer the invitation, and to reply to the sneezer (by invoking the mercy of Allah upon him in case he praises Allah).” [Al-Bukhari]

5- The rights of the neighbor

Islam gives a special care to the neighbor, be he a Muslim or a non-Muslim, due to the desired benefits that make the ummah like the one body. In confirmation of that, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Gabriel, peace be upon him, continued to recommend me about (dealing kindly and politely with) the neighbor so much that I thought he would make him one of the heirs.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The rights stipulated by Islam to a neighbor upon his neighbor include to greet him with peace first, to visit him to inquire about his health whenever he falls ill, to console him for his misfortune, congratulate him for his joy, pardon his slips, screen his defects, persevere his harm, give gifts to him, lend money to him whenever he is in need, lower sight from his women, and guide him to what benefits him in his religion and world. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The best of companions in the Sight of Allah is he who is the best (in treatment) to his companion; and the best of neighbors in the Sight of Allah is he who is the best (in treatment) to his neighbor.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]

In confirmation of that right due to the neighbor, Allah Almighty says (what means): “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side.” [An-Nisaa’ 4:36]

Transliteration: aoAAbudoo Allaha wala tushrikoo bihi shayan wabialwalidayni ihsanan wabithee alqurba waalyatama waalmasakeeni waaljari thee alqurba waaljari aljunubi waalssahibi bialjanbi

At the same time, Islam warned of any harm or mischief to be inflicted upon the neighbor, and the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, clarified that it is a cause of deprivation of Paradise, by saying: “He shall not enter Paradise, whose neighbor is not safe from his misbehaviors.” [Muslim]

Out of benefit, Islam has enjoined rights to the ruler upon his wards, to the wards upon their ruler, rights to the husband upon his wife, and to the wife upon her husband, to the end of such just rights as enjoined by Islam.


From the book “assets of the Islamic religion” by Shaykh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Tuwaijri

Translated by Wathakker.net website