The Book of Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)

Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 6011

The Hadith Text

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it."

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the profound spiritual and emotional connection that binds the community of believers. The Prophet (ﷺ) employs the metaphor of a single body to illustrate the inseparable unity of Muslims.

The three qualities mentioned - mercy, love, and kindness - represent the essential characteristics that maintain this unity. Mercy prevents harshness, love eliminates enmity, and kindness ensures compassionate treatment.

The bodily analogy demonstrates that the suffering of one Muslim should genuinely affect others, just as pain in one organ disturbs the entire body. This requires believers to actively share in the difficulties of their brethren through prayer, assistance, and emotional support.

Scholars explain that this teaching establishes the obligation of mutual responsibility within the Ummah. When any Muslim faces hardship, others must respond with concern and practical help, fulfilling the rights of brotherhood in Islam.

Practical Implications

This hadith teaches us to cultivate genuine concern for fellow Muslims worldwide, responding to their afflictions as if they were our own.

It obligates us to maintain strong bonds of brotherhood, visiting the sick, helping the needy, and supporting those in distress.

The metaphor reminds us that neglecting other Muslims' suffering is like ignoring pain in our own body - ultimately harmful to our spiritual health.