Dought & clear - The rights of one Muslim over another include those that are obligatoryand those that are mustahabb.

We know the hadeeth of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) about the rights of one Muslim over another. Myquestion is:
Will we be sinning if we do not fulfil one of these rights towards our
Muslim brother? i.e., will we incur a burden of sin thereby?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The rights that one Muslim has over another are many, some of whichare
individual obligations that are required of each person,and if he
fails to do themhe is sinning. Others are communal obligations; ifsome
people do them, the burden of sin is waived for the rest. And some are
mustahabb (encouraged) but not obligatory, so the Muslimis not sinning
if he does not do them.
Al-Bukhaari (1240) and Muslim (2162) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may
Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "The rights of one
Muslim over another are five: returning the greeting of salaam,
visiting the sick, attending funerals, accepting invitations, and
sayingyarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you) to one who sneezes."
And Muslim (2162) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased
with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) said: "The rights of one Muslim over another are six." It
was said: What are they, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: "If you meet
him, greet him with salaam; if he invitesyou, accept the invitation;
if he asks for advice, give him sincere advice; if he sneezes
andpraises Allaah, sayYarhamuk Allaah(may Allaah have mercy on you);
if he falls sick, visit him; and if he dies, attend his funeral."
Ash-Shawkaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is meantby the
words "The rightsof the Muslim" is that they should not be omitted and
doing them is either obligatory, or recommended to such an extent that
it is very similar to being obligatory and should not be omitted. The
word "right" (haqq) maybe used in the sense of obligatory, as was
mentioned by Ibn al-A'raabi.
End quote fromNayl al-Awtaar, 4/21
1.
Returning the greeting of salaam is obligatory ifthe greeting is given
to one person. If it is given to a group, then it is obligatory upon
the group (fard kifaayahor communal obligation; if one of the group
returnsthe greeting, the obligation as been met). With regard to
initiatingthe greeting, the basic principle is that it is Sunnah. It
says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah(11/314):
Initiating the greeting is Sunnah mu'akkadah (a confirmed Sunnah)
because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Spread the greeting of salaam amongst yourselves." It is obligatory
to return the greeting if it is given to one person. If the greeting
is given to a group, then in their caseresponding is a fard kifaayah
(communal obligation); if one of them responds the sin is waived from
the others, but if they all respond, they have all done what is
required, Whether they respond all together or one after another. If
they all refrain from responding,then they are all sinning because of
the report which says: "The rights of one Muslim over another are
five: returning (the greeting) of salaam…"
End quote.
2.
Visiting the sick it is a communal obligation. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:
Visiting the sick is a fard kifaayah (communal obligation).
Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen,13/1085
See also the answer to question no. 71968
3.
Attending funerals is also a fard kifaayah (communal obligation). See
the answer to question no. 67576
4.
With regard to acceptinginvitations, if the invitation is to a wedding
feast, then the majority of scholars are of the view that it is
obligatory to accept unless there is a legitimate shar'i reason not to
do so. If it is for something other than a wedding feast, the majority
are of the view that it is mustahabb. But there are conditions for
accepting invitations in general terms. For details of that please
seethe answer to question no. 22006
5.
With regard to sayingYarhamuk Allah(May Allah have mercy on you)to one
who sneezes, there is a difference of opinion concerning the ruling.
It says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 4/22:
This sayingYarhamuk Allah(May Allah have mercy on you) is Sunnah
according to the Shaafa'is.
According to the Hanbalis and the Hanafis, it is obligatory.
The Maalikis said – and itis an opinion among the Hanbalis – that it
is a communal obligation. It was narrated from al-Bayaan that the
stronger view is that it isan individual obligation (fard 'ayn),
because of the hadeeth: "It is the duty of every Muslim who hears him
(the one who sneezes) to say: Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah have mercy on
you). End quote
The more correct opinion is that it is obligatory on the one who hears
the sneezer praise Allah (by saying "Al-hamdu Lillah"), because of the
report narrated by al-Bukhaari (6223) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be
pleased with him) from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) who said: "Allaah likes the act of sneezing and dislikes
theact of yawning, so if any one of you sneezes and praises Allaah
(says 'al-hamdu Lillaah'), it is aduty on every Muslim who hears him
to say to him, 'Yarhamuk Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you).'"
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:We have quoted above
the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, in which it says: "if any one of you
sneezes and praises Allaah (says 'al-hamdu Lillaah'), it is a duty
(haqq) on every Muslim who hears him to say to him, 'Yarhamuk
Allaah(may Allaah have mercy on you).". al-Tirmidhi included the
hadeeth of Anas under the heading: Chapter on what was narrated about
it being obligatory to sayYarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on
you)when one who sneezes saysAl-hamdu Lillah(Praise be to Allah). This
indicates that it is obligatory in his view, and this is the correct
view, because of the hadeeths that clearly indicate that it is
obligatory and there was nothing to contradict that, and Allah knows
best.
One of them is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah mentioned above, and
another is his other hadeeth, "There are five (rights) that the Muslim
has over his brother," which is also mentioned above. Another is the
hadeeth of Saalim ibn 'Ubayd, in which it says: "Let those who are
with him say to him:Yarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you)." And
another is the report narrated by at-Tirmidhi from 'Ali who said: The
Messengerof Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"The Muslim has six (rights) over his fellow-Muslim: he shouldgreet
him with salaam when he meets him; he should respond when heinvites
him; he should sayYarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you)if he
sneezes; he should visit him if he falls sick; he should attend his
funeral if he dies; and heshould love for him whathe loves for
himself." He (at-Tirmidhi) said: This is a hasan hadeeth. It was also
narrated via another isnaad from the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him). Some of the scholars spoke negatively about
al-Haarith al-A'war (one of the narrators). In the same chapter it is
also narrated from Abu Hurayrah, Abu Ayyoob, al-Bara' and Abu Mas'ood.
And another of these hadeeths is that which was narrated by
at-Tirmidhi from Abu Ayyoob, according to which the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "If one of you
sneezes, let him sayAl-hamdu Lillah(praise be to Allah); and let him
say'ala kulli haal(in all circumstances). And let the one who responds
tohim say:Yarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you). And let him
say:Yahdikum Allahu wa yuslih baalakum(May Allah guide you and set
your affairs straight).
There are four kinds of proof in the hadeeth quoted above ("if any one
of you sneezes and praises Allaah (says 'al-hamdu Lillaah'), it is
aduty (haqq) on every Muslim who hears him tosay to him, 'Yarhamuk
Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you)"):
(i)there is a clear statement that it is obligatory to sayYarhamuk
Allah(may Allah have mercy on you), which cannot be interpreted in any
other way;
(ii)it is made obligatory by use of the wordhaqq(translated above as duty);
(iii)it is made obligatory by use of the word'ala(on). This word
clearly means that it is obligatory
(iv)it is enjoined. There can be no doubt that there are many duties
that are proven to be obligatory on the basis of less evidence than
this. And Allah knows best.
End quote fromHaashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim 'ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 13/259
He also said: The apparent meaning of the hadeeth mentioned above is
that sayingYarhamuk Allahis an individual obligation upon everyone who
hears the one who sneezed sayAl-hamdu Lillah; it is not acceptable for
just one of them to say it. This is one of the two scholarly opinions,
which was favoured by the Maalikis Ibn Abi Zayd and Abu Bakr ibn
al-'Arabi, and it cannot be otherwise.
End quote fromZaad al-Ma'aad, 2/437
6.
With regard to giving him advice if he asks for it, it is most likely
that offering advice is a communal obligation.
Ibn Muflih (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The apparent meaning of the words of Ahmad and our companions is that
it is obligatory to offer advice to the Muslim, even if he does not
ask for it, as is the apparent meaning of the reports.
End quote fromal-Adaabash-Shar'iyyahby Ibn Muflih, 1/307
Al-Mullah 'Ali al-Qaari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"If he asks you for advice" means if he asks you for advice, then
giveit to him; it is obligatory.It is also obligatory to give advice
even if he did not ask for it.
End quote fromMirqaat al-Mafaateeh, 5/213
al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is clear that what is meant by "duty" (haqq) here is that it is
obligatory. This is different from the wordsof Ibn Battaal who said
that what is meant is theduty of respect and companionship. It
seemsthat what is meant here is that it is a communal obligation.
End quote fromFath al-Baari, 3/113
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear - Is feeling proud of one’s religion a kind of blameworthy pride?.

Is there anything wrongwith a person feeling proud of his religion or
feeling proud of a person who does something good? Because we know
that pride in the heart is something bad.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
With regard to feeling proud of one's religion and of belonging to it,
this is something that is prescribed in Islam and is a righteous deed.
A story from one of the battles illustrates this point: Abu Sufyaan,
the leader of Quraysh, expressed pride in his religion and the
religionof his people – as he hadnot yet entered Islam. The Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) answered his boast with an
expressionof the Muslim's pride in his religion and his affirmation of
the Oneness of the Lord of the Worlds.
Al-Bukhaari narrated in hisSaheeh(3039) from the hadeeth of al-Bara'
ibn 'Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) that after the battle Abu
Sufyaan ibn Harb startedcomposing rajz verse and saying: "Rise in
honour, Hubal; rise in honour Hubal."
The Prophet blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Why don't
you answer him?"
They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should wesay?"
He said: "Say: Allah is Most High and Most Glorious."
Abu Sufyaan said: We have al-'Uzza and you have no 'Uzza."
The Prophet blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Why
don''t you answer him?"
They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should wesay?"
He said: "Say: Allah is ourSupporter and you have no supporter!"
Allah, may He be exalted,has taught His slaves thattrue pride and
perfect honour can only be achieved by obeying Allah. Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all
honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only
by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the
goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words
are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good
deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And
the plotting of such will perish"
[Faatir 35:10].
i.e., and whoever would like to be honoured in this world and the
Hereafter, let him adhere to obedience to Allah, then he will attain
what he wants, because Allah is the Sovereign of this world and the
Hereafter, and all honour, power and glory belong to Him, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Those who take disbelievers for Awliyaa' (protectors or helpers or
friends) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory
with them? Verily, then to Allaah belongs all honour, power and glory"
[al-Nisa' 4:139]
"And let not their speechgrieve you (O Muhammad r), for all power and
honour belong to Allaah"
[Yoonus 10:65]
"But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, and to His Messenger
(Muhammadصلى الله عليه وسلم(, and to the believers, but the hypocrites
know not"
[al-Munaafiqoon 63:8].
Mujaahid said: "Whosoever desires honour, power and glory" [al-Faatir
35:10] by worshipping idols, "then to Allaah belong all honour, power
andglory.
Qataadah said:"Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to
Allaah belong all honour, power and glory"i.e., lethim seek honour,
powerand glory by obeying Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/536
Secondly:
With regard to a person feeling proud of himself,if it is because he
is religiously committed, righteous and pious, then it is good, but if
it isbecause of anything else, such as lineage, ancestry, wealth,
position or status amongpeople, then this is an act of Jaahiliyyah and
is not permissible.
Muslim (1550) narrated from Abu Maalik al-Ash'ari (may Allah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) said: "There are four matters of Jaahiliyyah in my ummah
that they will not give up: pride in one's forefathers, slandering
lineages, seeking rain by the stars and wailing (for the dead)."
Muslim (5109) also narrated from 'Iyaad ibnHimaar al-Mujaasha'i (may
Allah be pleased with that) that the Messenger of Allah (sa) said one
day in his khutbah: "Allah has revealed to me that you should be
humble so that no one will boast to anyone else and no one will
transgress against anyone else."
Al-Majd Ibn Tamiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Allah has
forbidden on the lips of His Prophet two types of mistreatment of
people: pride and transgression against them and scorn.
Fayd al-Qadeer, 2/217
The guideline with regard to this issue is: whatever is a source of
pride and honour because of religion is part of the religion and is
praiseworthy; any source of pride other than that is blameworthy.
But feeling proud because of doing acts of obedience and worship means
feeling happy that one has been enabled to do that and feeling proud
of belonging to people who do that, and praising Allah for saving him
from shirk and its people, and from sin andits path.
As for looking down on the slaves of Allah and feeling that one is
abovethem because of acts of obedience that one has done, this is the
worst type of pride and arrogance, and the one who is like this is on
the brink of disaster and there is a danger that hisdeeds will be
thrown back at him.
And Allah knows best.

Interesting Workplace facts: Always let your bosshave the first say

A sales representative, anadministration clerk and the manager are
walkingto lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. Theyrub it and a
Genie comes out.
The Genie says, "I will give each of you just one wish."
"Me first! Me first!" says the administration clerk."I want to be in
the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world."
Puff! He's gone.
"Me next! Me next!" says the sales representative."I want to be in
Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless
supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life."
Puff! He's gone.
"OK, you are up," the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."
Moral of the story: Always let your boss havethe first say.

Interesting Workplace facts: A great lesson from a simple story of Horse and Goat

There was a farmer who had a Horse and a Goat. One day, the Horse
became ill and farmer called the Veterinarian, who said: Well, your
Horse has a virus. He musttake this medicine for three days. I will
come back on the 3rd day and if he's not better, we have to put him
down. Nearby, the Goat listened closely to their conversation.
Next day, they gave him the medicine and left. The Goat approached
theHorse and said: Be strong, my friend. Get up or else they are going
to put you to sleep!
On the second day, they gave him the medicine and left. The Goat came
back and said: Come on buddy, get up or else youare going to die! Come
on, I will help you get up.Let's go! One, two, three!
On the third day, they came to give him the medicine and the
Veterinarian said: Unfortunately, we are going to have to put him down
tomorrow. Otherwise, the virus might spread and infect the other
Horses. After they left, the Goat approached the Horse and said:
Listen pal, it's now or never! Get up, come on! Have courage! Come on!
Get up! That's it, slowly! Great! Come on,one, two, three! Good. Now
faster, come on, Fantastic! Run, run more! Yes! You did it, you are a
champion!
The Horse got up with tremendous effort. After some more
encouragementfrom the Goat, he trotted and thengalloped.
All of a sudden, the farmer came back, saw the Horse running in the
field and began shouting: It's a miracle! My Horse is cured. We must
have a grand party. Let's kill the Goat!
Moral of the story: This often happens in the workplace. Nobody truly
knows which employee actually deserves the merit of success, or
who'sactually contributing the necessary support to make things
happen.
Remember: Learning to live without recognition is a skill! So, if
anyone ever tells you that your work is unprofessional, then remember:
Amateurs built the Ark [which saved all the species] and professionals
built the Titanic [all died tragically].