ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib The Event of Brotherhood After migrating to al-Madinah the Muhajirūn (the Migrants) and the Ansar (The Local Helpers) became so friendly with one another as if there was no difference of the tribe or the place of origin between them. It appeared that all of them belonged to one large family. They treated their properties as common, their honor and respect as common, and shared their happiness and sorrows together.

This was a true example of unity and integrity. To make these bonds stronger, the Prophet (a.s) repeated the establishment of brotherhood between individuals of the two groups as he had done with the persons at Makkah. This created closer bonds between individuals and they forgot the difference of origin and the tribal affiliations. In the view of experts, brotherhood can be strong only between individuals of the same nature.

If the natures are different, and the individuals come together for whatever reason, the togetherness will be temporary. The Prophet (a.s) kept this factor in mind when he established brotherhood between individuals from the two groups. He closely studied the natures of the individuals before declaring them brothers. When he saw that any two persons had a lot in common, he named them brothers.

Therefore, in Makkah, Abū-Bakr and `Umar were named brothers, `Uthman and `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Awf, Talhah and al-Zubayr ibn al-`Awwam were made brothers. Their brotherhood is evident from the events of the caliphate, Shūra and the Battle of the Camel!

Similarly in al-Madinah keeping in mind the natures of the individuals Abū-Bakr was created the brother of Kharijah ibn Zayd, `Umar of `Utban ibn Malik, `Uthman of Aws ibn Thabit, Abū-`Ubaydah of Sa`d ibn Mu`adh, `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Awf of Sa`d ibn Rabi`ah, al-Zubayr of Salamah ibn Salamah, Talhah of Ka`b ibn Malik, `Ammar ibn Yasir of Qays ibn Thabit, Salman al-Farisi the brother of Abul-Darda’. Thus, whoever appeared of a similar nature to that of another person was declared brothers.

It was also borne in the mind that the two persons were of the same level of capability and intelligence. On this occasion the Prophet (a.s) named about forty-five or fifty Muhajirūn and an equal number of Ansar as brothers and tied them in the bonds of brotherhood. But he did not find any one who could be declared a brother to `Ali (a.s).