In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, Who guided us to Islam, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the best of all Prophets and Messengers, our beloved Prophet, Muhammad, and upon all his family members and Companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! The statement in my today’s piece, “O The Ummah Of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), Wallahi Our Strength Is In Our Unity!” is a declaration of the Islamic principle that the collective unity of Muslims, known as the Ummah, is their source of strength and solidarity. This concept emphasises that Muslim believers, despite diverse backgrounds and different opinions, are brothers and sisters united by their shared faith, which is a command from Allah to hold firmly to the rope of Allah and not to become divided. The phrase “Wallahi” in the statement is an oath, confirming the truth of this statement.
Muslims are united by their belief in Tawhid (the oneness of Allah), a single Prophet (Muhammad Peace be upon him), a singular noble book (the Qur’an), and one religion (Islam).
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) taught that Muslims should not envy, hate, or turn away from one another but should instead be brothers and sisters to one another, regardless of their differences in origin, in race, in tribe, in region, in understanding or in language.
The concept of unity is not just a suggestion but a divine command from Allah Almighty to the Ummah to remain united and not to be divided, as mentioned in the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Imran, verse 103.
When Muslims are united, they can overcome any hardships and difficulties together, as their shared ideals and solidarity become a powerful force.
The Ummah is described by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as being like one body, where the commands and prohibitions from Allah apply to all members equally, signifying their oneness and interconnectedness.
Respected brothers and sister! The proverb, “Our strength is in our unity” means that people are most effective and powerful when they work together towards a common goal. The proverb emphasises that a collective group, united by a shared purpose, can achieve far more and overcome greater challenges than any individual working alone. Unity fosters support, makes problem-solving easier, and is crucial for success in various aspects of life, from families and communities to nations.
Unity provides a common goal that aligns individual’s efforts, creating a more efficient and powerful force.
A united group supports its members, fostering a sense of belonging and collective responsibility.
When individuals stand together, they can withstand greater difficulties and overcome obstacles that would be insurmountable for a single person.
Unity allows for the accomplishment of goals and tasks that are beyond the capacity of isolated individuals.
A unified team or Ummah can solve problems more easily and achieve significant outcomes that would otherwise be impossible.
The fable of the king with his thirty sons and the bundle of twigs illustrates that a united bundle of sticks is strong, while the individual sticks are easily broken.
An Ummah can address environmental issues or other local concerns by working together, as shown in the example of a town striving for a more collaborative future.
In a spiritual context, unity is seen as a command and a core belief, as exemplified by the early Muslims being in one accord, which led to supernatural blessings.
Fellow brothers and sisters! Know that, the Muslims Ummah will only succeed through unity, holding fast to the Rope of Allah (the Qur’an) and following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), avoiding division and discord. This strength comes from their shared faith, their single Lord, their unified community (the Ummah), and their common purpose to uphold Allah’s message. By embodying habits like purification, prayer, good deeds, consistency, patience, and gratitude, and by fulfilling their individual duties as believers, Muslims can achieve victory and success in this life and the next.
The Qur’an serves as the “Rope of Allah” and the primary source of unity for Muslims. Adhering to its teachings fosters strength and cohesion within the Ummah.
The core of Islamic unity lies in the shared belief in one Creator, Allah, and one final Prophet, Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
Muslims are united in a common purpose to convey and establish Islam, leading to collective success and victory.
As the Qur’an states, disputing and being divided leads to a loss of courage and strength for the Ummah.
Division distracts from the core message of Islam and weakens the believer’s collective ability to achieve their objectives.
Recognise that all Muslims are part of one body, one Ummah, with equal rights and responsibilities before Allah.
Cultivate a life of purification, prayer, doing good deeds, consistency, patience, perseverance, and gratitude to Allah Almighty.
Foster mutual trust and understanding among Muslims and direct efforts toward promoting dialogue and accepting diverse opinions within Islamic principles.
Pray for ease and success, remembering that Allah is with those who are patient and that He does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.
In essence, the path to success for Muslims is through unwavering unity, steadfast faith, and adherence to the divine guidance of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Dear brothers and sisters! Here Are Some Lessons From Hilful-Fudul (Pledge of the Virtuous) For Today’s Muslims:
Hilful-Fudul “Pledge of the Virtuous” was a pre-Islamic unity and alliance of tribes in Makkah, formed around 590 AD to defend the rights of the oppressed and ensure justice for all, even outsiders. It was a significant pact that influenced Islamic ethics and was praised by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), who later joined the alliance, setting a precedent for social justice that shaped Islamic law and ethics.
The alliance was formed after a Yemeni merchant was cheated by a member of the powerful Quraish tribe in Makkah.
The pact committed its members to collectively defend and restore the rights of anyone who suffered injustice within Makkah.
The alliance aimed to establish justice and uphold the rights of the weak against oppressors, promoting fairness regardless of tribal affiliation.
Even as a young man, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was involved in and supported the Hilful-Fudul, demonstrating his early commitment to justice and his opposition to cruelty, injustice and oppression.
After the advent of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stated that the pact was a just agreement and that Islam only strengthened such existing commitments to justice.
The Hilful-Fudul laid foundational principles of social justice, human dignity, and collective responsibility that became central to Islamic ethics.
The alliance served as a model for collective action to establish justice, a principle that influenced generations and was invoked by the Prophet’s descendants.
The Hilful-Fudul, “The Pact of Virtue,” offers Muslims lessons in social justice, collective responsibility to protect the weak, and building cooperative coalitions across religious divides for a noble goal. It establishes a precedent for advocating for the oppressed, critiquing power, and forming citizen groups to fight for social rights, serving as a model for establishing justice and collective well-being in society, even for those who are marginalised.
Lessons from Hilful-Fudul for today’s Muslims:
● Protecting the Vulnerable: The pact underscores the moral duty of all citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to stand up for the rights of the oppressed, the weak, and those without a clan’s protection.
● Collective Action for Justice: It shows the power of forming alliances and coalitions to achieve a specific, noble goal, even if participants disagree or differ on larger issues.
● Advocacy and Critique: The pact sets a precedent for citizen groups and individuals to advocate for social rights and to hold leaders and the powerful accountable.
● Cross-Faith Cooperation: Hilful-Fudul demonstrates that cooperation between Muslims and non-Muslims is permissible and even necessary for achieving common good and righteousness, as long as it’s for a specific, noble purpose.
● Promoting Human Well-being: Any pact or coalition should strive for “Al-Birr” (well-being in this world) and “Taqwah” (well-being in the next), reflecting Allah’s command to cooperate in righteousness and piety.
● Applying Principles to All Contexts: The lessons of Hilful-Fudul are not limited to a minority community but apply to Muslims in positions of power as well, reminding them of their responsibility to uphold justice for all.
And finally, dear brothers and sisters! Islam means complete submission to the will of Allah Almighty. As Muslims, it’s obligatory for us to follow the rules and guidelines that Allah the Most High described in noble Qur’an. In this regard, Allah the Almighty stated in noble Qur’an:
“O who believe! Enter into Islam wholeheartedly, and follow not the footsteps of the evil one (Satan); for he is to you an avowed enemy.” [Qur’an, 2: 208]
Unity is not new to Islam so it should be to Muslims as well. Unity among all Muslims must follow two things: Qur’anic teachings and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). All Muslims must know the value and importance of unity among the Muslims in Nigeria and around the world. In the noble Qur’an Allah Almighty stated:
“And hold fast all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves, and remember with gratitude Allah’s favour on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love so that by His grace you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus did Allah make his signs clear to you: that you may be guided.” [Qur’an, 3:103]
Islam is a religion of peace, love, and unity that’s why its emphasis on mutual understanding, love, and respect for each other. Great stress is laid upon the unity and development of brotherhood among Muslim brothers and sisters. In the sight of Allah Almighty, all Muslims are equal and no superiority is given to anyone on the bases of colour, cast, and profession. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has related the Muslim Ummah with the human body according to Him all the Muslims is like one body. When even a single part of the human body suffers for any reason the restlessness is felt in all parts of the body. The stress that has been laid upon unity among Muslims makes it compulsory for all the Muslims to respect and care about the comfort of their Muslims brothers and sisters. The Noble Qur’an says:
“The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islam). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.” [Quran, 49:10]
We should treat our fellow Muslims with love and respect so that we may receive Allah’s mercy as mentioned in the above Qur’anic verse. We should keep in mind the last sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in which He said:
“… Arabs have no superiority over non-Arabs and Non-Arabs have no Superiority over Arabs, You are all equal except by piety and good actions. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my example, the Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go astray.”
Muslim rules over the world when they were united and when they were acting according to the teachings of Allah Almighty and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). We Muslims should live our lives according to the teachings of Allah the Most High and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) then we may be able to rule the world again. The unity of people makes an unbeatable strong nation. This is the reason Islam lays great stress on the importance of unity. The foundation of Islam is the unity of Allah Almighty. Allah’s unity teaches us the message that we should not divide humans into sections, sects and groups instead we should treat other fellows Muslims with love and respect. Unity teaches peace, love, equality, and lineage that’s why Islam laid great stress on Unity.
Another important concept of unity among Muslims is the concept of Ummah. Today, Ummah represents the unification of Muslims all around the globe. Islam preaches that all people are equal regardless of culture, race or gender. Qur’an is important for Muslims in order to achieve Unity and Brotherhood among Muslims. If we start following the teachings of Qur’an we will stay united and can rule over the world again. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said about unity in one of his Hadiths:
“The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, and fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.” [Muslim]
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said in another Hadith:
“The Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, he doesn’t oppress him, neither does he hand him over to the enemy, he doesn’t disappoint him, nor does he humiliate him.”
From these sayings, we can conclude that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) emphasis on unity, love, respect, and brotherhood among fellow Muslims. We should follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) so that we can achieve success in this life and hereafter. In short, from the above Qur’anic verses and Prophetic Hadiths, we conclude the result that Islam believes in the unity of all humans and teaches peace, justice, love, and equality. The purpose of the religion of Islam basically is to serve humankind. We must criticise extremism and terrorism in the name of religion and unite humankind if we believe in the unity of Allah Almighty. For having a good Islamic society we should follow Allah’s teachings and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
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.
