In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our beloved master Muhammad, the last of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, in Islam, assisting those who love and support you is not merely a social obligation but a deeply rewarded act of worship that strengthens community bonds and is a sign of true Iman. The principle is rooted in core Islamic teachings of mercy, mutual support, and reciprocating kindness, with a focus on doing good for the sake of Allah alone.
Islam emphasises that love for fellow believers is part of the perfection of Iman. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“You will not enter Paradise (Jannah) until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another.”
This love is not passive; it is demonstrated through action, particularly by offering support to those who show you love and affection. When someone in your life extends love and care, reciprocating this with assistance, kindness, and protection fulfills an essential duty. Ignoring the needs of those who love you is a sign of ingratitude, while showing kindness and support, especially to family and close companions, is an act that is highly esteemed by Allah Almighty.
Respected brothers and sisters! A powerful motivational factor is the assurance that Allah helps those who help others. A well-known Hadith states:
“Allah helps the servant as long as he helps his brother.”
This creates a beautiful cycle of giving and receiving, where your efforts to assist your loved ones bring divine aid into your own life. When you relieve the hardship of a believer, Allah will relieve your hardship on the Day of Resurrection. This teaching motivates Muslim believers to be reliable sources of support for their loved ones, not just for the worldly benefits, but for the immense reward in the hereafter.
While there is an obligation to help others, the highest standard in Islam is Ihsan, or doing something in an excellent and beautiful manner, with a strong love and attachment to Allah. Helping those who love you with a pure intention, without expecting anything in return (except Allah’s pleasure), is a manifestation of Ihsan. This selfless giving purifies your heart and strengthens your character, fostering qualities like empathy, patience, and humility. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)’s life exemplified this, as he was always gentle and kind to his family and companions, and was the most generous of people.
Love and support in Islam are not just emotions but are reflected in daily actions. Simple acts of kindness, such as offering a listening ear, providing a shoulder to lean on, assisting with chores, or offering sincere prayers (Du’a) for those who love you, all count as charity (Sadaqah). These actions foster harmony, unity, and a strong sense of community, making the Muslim believers like one body, where if one part complains, the rest of the body stays awake in pain. By actively supporting those who love you, you demonstrate the depth of your Iman and your commitment to the well-being of the Ummah.
In essence, assisting those who love you is an opportunity for spiritual growth, a way to attract Allah’s mercy and help, and a powerful expression of genuine Iman and good character.
Fellow brothers and sisters! Having people that love you is one thing, but having people who still love you when you’re a burden, still love you when things are a mess, still love you when you’re in the wrong … those are your people.
To truly be loved is to still be loved when it’s inconvenient to love you.
Dear brothers and sisters! As mentioned above, assisting and helping those who love and care for you is not only a sign of good character but an essential part of Iman and a path to receiving Allah’s mercy and support. The principle is rooted in the idea of mutual support and compassion, as the Ummah of Muslim believers is likened to a single body.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
This powerful Hadith sets a standard for all relationships, especially with those who love us. It means we should desire ease, help, and goodness for them just as we desire it for ourselves, making their needs a priority and actively working to fulfill them. This is a true measure of excellence and good will, fostering a strong and cohesive Ummah free from selfishness.
“Allah Helps the Servant as Long as He Helps His Brother.”
The act of helping others is directly linked to receiving divine aid. A powerful Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah states:
“Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Resurrection… Allah will help a person so long as he is helping his brother.”
This serves as a strong motivation to assist those who love you; by supporting them in their times of need, you are essentially securing Allah’s support in your own life and in the hereafter. When you make things easy for others, Allah makes things easy for you.
As mentioned earlier, love in Islam is not merely an emotion but is manifested through action and mercy. The Qur’an mentions that affection and mercy are signs of Allah’s blessing in relationships, especially within the family unit. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was an excellent example, always treating his family and companions with gentleness and kindness. He taught that “A kind word is charity” and encouraged Muslim believers to be approachable and easy-going, using kind words and actions to build strong bonds. When someone loves you, reciprocating that with tangible assistance, respect, and care, rather than taking them for granted, strengthens the bond and is a form of worship.
Serving those around you, particularly loved ones, is viewed as a great blessing and a path to high ranks in Jannah (Paradise). The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) once indicated that those who were not fasting but were serving their fasting companions had achieved a greater reward, highlighting the immense value of selfless service. Engaging in such acts of kindness, whether through time, effort, wealth, or even just good advice, preserves the blessings Allah has bestowed upon you and makes you beloved to Allah and His creation.
Fellow brothers and sisters! Try to be around people who value you, even if that means you only have a few.
The real value of any relationship lies in the value we give each other because when we value something, we always take care of it.
At the beginning of life, we feel that happiness comes from people, so we try to have more and more people in our lives. But, as we experience different phases of life, we realise that at the time of need, when we needed a shoulder to lean on, someone to take a stand with us or trust us, we only had a few.
Choose carefully who accompanies you in your life. If you have even one who understands, values and feels for you, you don’t need anyone else.
Finally, Abdullahi Ibn Umar (RA) related that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was asked:
“O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most beloved to Allah, and which deeds are most beloved to Allah?” The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: “The people most beloved to Allah are those who are most beneficial to the people; and the most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy, or remove one of his troubles, or to fulfill his debt, or to satiate his hunger. Walking to fulfill a need of my Muslim brother is more beloved to me than sitting in i’tikaf in a Mosque for two months. Whomsoever averts his anger, Allah will conceal his faults and whomsoever suppresses his anger while he is able to vent it, Allah will fill his heart with happiness. Whoever walks with his brother to fulfill his need and fulfills it for him, then Allah Ta’ala will make his footing firm [on the bridge] on the day when the footings are shaken. Evil character spoils one’s deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.”
Imam Abubakar Ibn Abid Dunya has recorded this narration in Qada’ul Hawaij, Hadith no. 36.
Also see Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith no. 13646, Al Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith no. 6023, Al Mu’jamus Saghir, Hadith no. 861, Targhib, volume 2, page 67 and volume 3, page 394/5, Majma’uz Zawa’id, volume 8, page 191.
When Allah wishes to honour a soul, He makes them a source of comfort for others.
Just as rivers flow without asking, and trees offer fruit without return
the hearts chosen by Allah give quietly, gently, endlessly.
Every smile you inspire becomes a witness on the Day of Judgement.
Every tear you wipe is recorded by angels.
Live for others, and the Most Merciful will live within you.
For the ones who brighten hearts on earth, Allah brightens their path in the heavens.
Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself.
Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is, life is good when others are happy because of you.
Ya Allah, remove all sources of constraints in our lives. Burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear, strengthen our Iman and protect us from every form of evil. Open for us the doors of your grace. Accept our prayers, protect our family and loved ones, bring happiness to our lives, forgive our parents and grant us Jannatul Firdaus!
Allah is Supreme over all things. He knows the best, He does the best, and gives the best to His servants. May He consider us for the best in this life and in the Hereafter. May Allah Almighty accept our Du’a, forgive our sins, shortcomings and failings, and bless our family and loved ones. Ameen Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum!
Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa bara ka tuh
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
