THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

difference lies in that for general human beings, it is a piece of advice, while for believers, it is seen as a responsibility and command. According to Islam, all of God’s servants are brothers to one another. The entire human race is regarded as one extended family. Just as two brothers within a home share a bond of brotherhood, a similar spirit of brotherhood is expected among all human beings on a broader level. When the hadith says “a Muslim is the brother of another Muslim (Sahih alBukhari, Hadith No. 2442), it should not be interpreted in a narrow, group-based sense, but in a universal, principled way. It means that true human beings always live together like brothers. A UNIVERSAL ETHIC OF COMPASSION A chapter in Sahih al-Bukhari titled “Bab Rahmat al-Nas wa al-Bahaim” translates to “The Chapter of Mercy Towards Human Beings and Animals.” In its explanation, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, a classic Islamic scholar, wrote that it refers to the display of mercy from a person towards others. The mercy and compassion that Islam instills in an individual are far-reaching—they extend not only to fellow human beings but also to animals and plants. Such a compassionate believer becomes gentle and merciful not only toward fellow human beings but also toward animals and plants.