What Are the Obligations Believers Owe One Another?

Question

Respected استاد, in Usul al-Kafi, Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq was performing the obligatory circumambulation with one of his companions when someone called out to the companion. Because they were performing the obligatory circumambulation, and because he was accompanying the Imam, the companion did not answer. The Imam noticed and asked him about the person. When he learned that the man was a Muslim, he said, “Why didn’t you answer him?” The companion replied that they were performing the obligatory circumambulation and that he had not wanted to leave the Imam or show him disrespect. The Imam told him to go and attend to the man’s need, and to give him half his wealth. In light of this, should believers go to such lengths to meet one another’s needs—as though a person were doing a kindness to himself?

Please explain the obligatory rights believers owe one another and are bound to observe. If we fall short, will we be questioned about it in God’s presence?

Usul al-Kafi, vol. 3–4, p. 249

Please explain the obligatory rights believers owe one another and are bound to observe. If we fall short, will we be questioned about it in God’s presence?

Usul al-Kafi, vol. 3–4, p. 249

Accepted Answer

Al-Muʿallā ibn Khunays relates: I said to Abū ʿAbd Allāh [Imam al-Ṣādiq], peace be upon him, “What rights does a believer have over another believer?” He replied, “I care deeply for you. I fear that you may learn these things but fail to act on them, and so lose them without preserving them.” I said, “There is no power or strength except through God.” He said:

“A believer has seven binding duties toward another believer. Every one of them is incumbent upon him. If he neglects even one, he leaves God’s guardianship, abandons obedience to Him, and has no share in it.

“The simplest of these duties is to love for your brother what you love for yourself, and to dislike for him what you dislike for yourself.

“Second, support him with all that you have—with your person, your wealth, your words, your hands and your feet—and hold nothing back.

“Third, seek what pleases him, avoid anything that would upset him, and obey his lawful requests.

“Fourth, be his seeing eye, his guide and his mirror—one that shows him his faults and shortcomings.

“Fifth, never be full while he is hungry, well-watered while he is thirsty, or clothed while he is without clothes.

“Sixth, if you have a servant and he does not, or you have a wife who helps you in your daily life while he has neither a wife nor anyone to help him, send your servant to him to wash his clothes, prepare his food and make up his bed.

“Seventh, honour his oath, answer his invitation, visit him when he is ill or distressed, and attend his funeral and help carry him to his grave. If he has a need, hasten to meet it; never put him in a position where he has to ask you for help. If you fulfil these duties, your bond of loyalty with him—and his with you—will be joined and made firm.

“It is also related from al-Muʿallā in similar words, with this addition: ‘If you do these things, your bond of loyalty and affection will be joined to God’s guardianship.’”

What Are the Obligations Believers Owe One Another?

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

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