The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.
Hadith Text
The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2586 a, The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship
Commentary on the Metaphor
This profound hadith employs the metaphor of a single body to illustrate the essential unity and interdependence of the Muslim community. Just as the human body functions as one integrated entity where pain in one part affects the whole system, so too must believers feel each other's sufferings and joys.
The phrase "sleeplessness and fever" indicates that the response to a believer's distress should not be superficial sympathy but rather a genuine, visceral reaction that disrupts one's comfort and peace, mirroring the physical symptoms of illness.
Practical Implications
This teaching necessitates active concern for fellow Muslims worldwide. When Muslims are oppressed in any land, we must feel their pain as our own and respond through prayer, advocacy, and practical assistance according to our capacity.
It forbids indifference to others' suffering and requires that we share in both the hardships and blessings of our brothers and sisters in faith, strengthening the bonds of Islamic brotherhood.
Spiritual Dimensions
This unity transcends physical proximity or ethnic ties, being rooted in the shared bond of iman (faith). The spiritual connection between believers is such that their souls are intertwined like the limbs of a single body.
The metaphor also implies that harming another believer is akin to self-harm, while benefiting others brings benefit to oneself - a profound spiritual reality that shapes ethical conduct in Islamic teachings.