recites the Book and the wisdom that was granted to him along with the Book. And He has commanded in His Book that all of you hold fast, together, to His rope, and He has forbidden division and dissension; indeed, He has commanded1 that we be a single party, not scattered factions. Allah the Exalted says in His Book: “If two groups of the believers fight, then make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, fight the group that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. If it does return, then reconcile them with justice and be equitable, for Allah loves those who are equitable. The believers are but brothers, so reconcile between your brothers and be mindful of Allah, so that you may receive mercy.” 2

Thus He has made the believers brothers and has ordered that they be reconciled with justice even in the presence of fighting and aggression. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The believers, in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion, are like a single body: when one limb aches, the rest of the body responds with fever and sleeplessness.” 3 He also said, “A believer to another believer is like a building: each part supports the other,” 4 and he interlaced his fingers.

These, then, are the foundations of Islam—the Book and the wisdom—and holding fast, all together, to the rope of Allah is an obligation upon the people of faith, so that they may remain firmly attached to them.