al-Muslim wa Huquq al-Akhareen
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- al-Muslim wa Huquq al-Akhareen
al-Muslim wa Huquq al-Akhareen (The Muslim and the Rights of Others) is an Islamic ethical and legal treatise authored by Abu Faysal al-Badrani, dedicated to clarifying interpersonal obligations, social ethics, and the duties a Muslim owes to various segments of society.
Purpose and Scope
The author composed the treatise as a concise compilation of dispersed issues regarding interpersonal rights and social conduct in Islam. The work addresses both broad social interactions and defined familial and relational obligations, including virtuous character, filial piety, the maintenance of kinship ties, neighbors' rights, marital duties, and the rights of children. The author incorporates textual evidence from the Quran and prophetic Sunnah throughout the discussions, while intentionally omitting evidence in certain subtopics to maintain brevity and conciseness.
Structure and Content
The treatise is organized around two overarching divisions covering general and specific rights:
General Rights
The first major section focuses on general ethical conduct and public interpersonal duties:
- Good Character (Husn al-Khuluq): The author defines moral temperament and contrasts it with bad character (su' al-khuluq), listing various manifestations of poor conduct—such as harshness, arrogance, backbiting, suspicion, and impatience—along with their underlying causes and remedies. Good character is established upon four pillars: patience, chastity, bravery, and justice. The text emphasizes that moral excellence is enjoined with all people, including non-Muslims, distinguishing between lawful kindness and justice toward peaceful individuals and prohibited religious alliance (muwalah).
- Diplomacy versus Flattery (al-Mudarah wa al-Mudahanah): The author presents comparative points distinguishing commendable tact or diplomacy (mudarah)—using gentleness or worldly concessions to preserve religion, defuse harm, or reconcile people—from blameworthy flattery (mudahanah), which involves compromising religious integrity or remaining silent about falsehood for worldly advantage.
- Communal Rights and Social Etiquette: The text outlines standard mutual rights among Muslims, including visiting the sick, responding to greetings, following funeral processions, and accepting invitations. It includes practical rules on the etiquette of conversation, listening, assembly gatherings (adab al-majalis), and constructive dialogue.
Specific Rights
The second division examines specialized relational rights:
- Filial Piety (Birr al-Walidayn): The author details the obligation of honoring parents and the severe prohibition against filial ingratitude (uquq). The chapter examines the legal boundaries of obeying parents, noting that obedience is mandatory in matters of benefit where there is no religious disobedience or severe harm to the offspring. It also surveys scholarly opinions on interacting with sinful or non-Muslim parents, emphasizing that kind companionship remains obligatory.
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