ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Fraternity and Cooperation in Islam Cooperation (Muwasaat) In Islam " Muwasaat "means helping brethren in Islam and extending material support to them. It has a great importance in religion due to the reason that it plays a vital role in the betterment of depressed classes and creates feeling of love amongst Muslims. It is considered as an essential virtue of every Muslim and brings divine blessings in return. Al-Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.

s.) said: Seek nearness to Almighty Allah through helping your (Muslim) brothers.[^1] The Holy Prophet in one of his testaments to `Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) said: The most commendable are three deeds:-First is being just to the people even against yourself. Secondly, cooperation and material help to (Muslim) brothers.

Thirdly, remembrance of Allah in all circumstances.[^2] Al-Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) said: Helping the brothers-in-Allah (fellow Muslims) increases sustenance.[^3] Al-Waqidi, the famous historian of al-Mamun's period, narrates: "I had two very close friends, one of whom was a Hashimite. Truly speaking, we were one spirit in three bodies. Once, on the occasion of `id (Islamic festival), I was reduced to poverty.

My wife told me that we could face together all the hardships boldly, but her heart was burning for the children. They were looking at other children wearing new dresses and making jubilant preparation for `id; whereas their lot was worn and torn clothes. She asked me, if possible, to arrange some money for buying dresses for them. I thought and thought but could not find any way of obtaining money. At last, I wrote a letter to my Hashimite friend for help.

My friend sent me a sealed packet containing one thousand Dirhams. Before I could open the packet, a message came from my second friend with a request of help, I sent him the same packet intact and went to the mosque, heart-broken and depressed, I passed the whole night in the mosque as I could not bring myself to face my wife.

But when I went home next morning, to my great surprise, my wife welcomed me with a smiling face and expressed her unbounded pleasure for the help I had rendered to my friend. It was then that my Hashimite friend came to me and asked me what I had done with the money he had sent me the day before. I narrated to him the whole story.