The first is that this has been abrogated. This is the position of Mālik, al-Shāfi‘ī, and Ahmad according to the better-known of the two reports from him, supported by the Prophet’s statement established in Sahīh Muslim:

“There is no alliance by covenant in Islam, but any such alliance established in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance has only been strengthened by Islam.”

The second is that this remains in force. This is the position of Abū Hanīfah and of Ahmad according to the other report from him.

As for establishing “bonds of brotherhood” among the Emigrants themselves—as in the claims that he paired Abū Bakr with ‘Umar, that he paired himself with ‘Alī, and similar reports—all of this is false. Some have mentioned that he did this in Mecca, while others have mentioned Medina. These reports are weak: either their chains of transmission are disconnected, or their chains are weak. What is authentically established is what has already been mentioned. Anyone who carefully considers the authentic hadiths and the reliably established accounts of the Prophet’s life will be certain that those claims are false.

As for entering into “bonds of brotherhood” among people in our own time, if the intention is to commit oneself to the brotherhood of faith that Allah has established among the believers through His words:

“The believers are but brothers,”

and the words of the Prophet (may Allah Most High bless him and grant him peace):

“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim: he neither abandons him nor wrongs him,”

and his words:

“None of you should undercut his brother’s sale, enter into purchase negotiations over his brother’s negotiations, or propose marriage to a woman to whom his brother has already proposed,”

and his words: “By Him in Whose