Wanting for your brother what you want for yourself is a sign of mature faith.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "None of you truly believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself." This principle is the touchstone of all moral behavior and the firmest foundation of social peace.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. وَعَنْ حُسَيْنٍ الْمُعَلِّمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ ".
Narrated Anas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 13. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadith. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, 7 (hadith no. 13)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Social Life
As a table with references: Social Life sunnahs.
- Looking After the Neighbor: Treating the neighbor well and looking after them is a sunnah the Prophet valued greatly.
- Visiting the Sick: Visiting and consoling sick friends and loved ones is a beautiful part of the sunnah.
- Exchanging Gifts: Giving a gift and receiving it graciously nourishes love between hearts.
- Saying That You Love Someone: Telling someone you love them is a sunnah the Prophet recommended.
- Honoring the Guest: Meeting guests with a smiling face and generosity is one of the beautiful reflections of the sunnah.
- Forgiveness and Keeping One's Word: Forgiving the one who wrongs you and answering with kindness was the way of the Prophet.
- Giving Charity: Giving charity, however little, protects its giver and softens the heart.
- Faithfulness to a Trust: Guarding what is entrusted to you and returning it to its owner is the most basic sign of trustworthiness.
- Seeking Knowledge: Allah eases the path to Paradise for one who sets out in search of knowledge.
- Never Saying "I Have None": A generosity that made a principle of never saying "I have none" when asked for something.