in [certain matters, such as sharing in] faith (1), for believers are brothers in faith. This is what is meant by His words:
“Why, when you heard it, did the believing men and women not think well of themselves?”
[Surah al-Nūr: 12]
and His words:
“And do not disparage yourselves.”
[Surah al-Hujurāt: 11]
It may also arise through sharing a religion, even if a hypocrite is among them, just as Muslims share in outward Islam. If shared lineage is present as well, the commonality is all the stronger. Moses’ people were “our own selves” (2) in this respect.
Allah Most High says:
“Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves.”
[Surah Āl Imrān: 61]
That is, our men and your men—namely, the men who are of our kind in religion and lineage, and the men who are of your kind. Or what is meant (3) is being of the same kind through kinship alone, for He said:
“Our sons and your sons, our women and your women.”
Thus, He mentioned the children, and He mentioned [the women] (4) and the men. It is therefore understood that He meant the males and females nearest to us, from among the children and agnatic relatives. For this reason, he called al-Hasan and al-Husayn from among the sons, called Fātima from among the women, and called Alī from among his men (5). No one with him was more closely related to him by lineage than these, and they are the ones around whom he wrapped the cloak. Mutual imprecation can only be undertaken with those closest to him; otherwise, if he were to engage them in mutual imprecation with those more distant in