The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There has come to you the disease of the nations before you, jealousy and hatred. Hatred is the `shaver` (destroyer) that shaves (destroys) religious commitment; it does not shave hair. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread (the greeting of) salam amongst yourselves.”
The Musnad of az-Zubair bin al-'Awwam - Musnad Ahmad 1412
This noble hadith from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) contains profound wisdom regarding spiritual diseases that afflict communities and their remedies.
The Disease of Nations
The Prophet (ﷺ) identifies jealousy (hasad) and hatred (baghdā') as diseases that afflicted previous nations. Jealousy is when one wishes for the removal of blessings from others, while hatred is intense animosity in the heart.
These spiritual maladies are particularly dangerous because they originate internally and corrupt one's relationship with both Allah and His creation.
The Shaver That Destroys Religion
The metaphor of hatred as a "shaver" is profound. Just as a razor removes hair completely, hatred removes and destroys one's religious commitment (dīn). This indicates the severe spiritual consequences of harboring hatred.
Unlike physical shaving which is external and temporary, the shaving of religious commitment affects one's eternal destiny and relationship with Allah.
The Condition of Faith
The Prophet's solemn oath "By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad" emphasizes the critical importance of mutual love for complete faith. True faith (īmān) cannot be complete without genuine brotherly love among believers.
This connects to the hadith where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."
The Practical Remedy
Spreading salām (peace greetings) is prescribed as the practical means to cultivate love. Salām means "peace" and when Muslims greet each other with "al-salāmu 'alaykum" they are invoking Allah's peace upon one another.
This simple act breaks barriers, fosters connection, and reminds believers of their shared identity and purpose. It is both an expression and cultivation of the love essential to faith.