2- Supporting and assisting the Muslims—by one’s self, wealth, and speech—in whatever they need for their religious and worldly affairs. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another.”⦗1⦘ And He says: “If they ask you for help in the matter of religion, it is your duty to help them, except against a people with whom you have a treaty.”⦗2⦘
3- Sharing in their pain and in their joy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The example of the Muslims in their mutual love, compassion, and mercy is that of a single body: when one limb suffers, the entire body responds with fever and sleeplessness.” He also said, “A believer to another believer is like a building; each part supports the other,” and he interlaced his fingers.
4- Giving them sincere counsel, loving good for them, and never cheating or deceiving them. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” He also said, “The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim: he does not belittle him, abandon him, or hand him over. It is sufficient evil for a person to despise his Muslim brother. The whole of a Muslim’s blood, wealth, and honor is sacred to another Muslim.” And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not hate one another, do not turn your backs on one another, do not artificially raise prices, and let none of you sell over the sale of another. Be, O servants of Allah, brothers.”
5- Honoring and respecting them, while refraining from disparaging or fault-finding. Allah the Most High says: “O you who believe, let not one group ridicule another—it may be that they are better than they are; nor women ridicule other women—it may be that they are better than they are. And do not slander yourselves, nor call one another by offensive nicknames. Wretched is the name ‘sinfulness’ after faith! Whoever does not repent—those are the wrongdoers. O you who believe, avoid much suspicion; indeed, some suspicion is sin. Do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would any one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would loathe it. So fear Allah; surely Allah is Ever-Relenting, Most Merciful.”⦗3⦘
6- To stand with them in hardship and in ease—unlike the people of