Author: Abdul Hamid Dosti
Sympathy The Backbone of Society
Islam: The Religion of Dignity and Compassion
Islam is a religion of elevation and mercy. The teachings of this divine faith form a unified structure that gathers all its followers under one roof. The pain and sorrow of one person become the pain and sorrow of all, and the joy and happiness of one are shared by the entire community.
Unity and solidarity are the cornerstones of this religion, while mutual support and cooperation are among its most important principles and lessons.
The society established under Islam is founded upon justice, fairness, and equal attention to all, and gains its strength from these principles. In the system of Islam, no one is left helpless or alone; no burden of hardship or calamity is placed solely on one person’s shoulders. Instead, hands and shoulders reach out to assist, carrying the weight together and becoming a staff of support for those in need.
One of the key teachings of Islam is compassion and mutual assistance.
Definition of Compassion
Compassion (sympathy) means sharing and participating in alleviating or removing another person’s pain—whether that person is familiar and close or unknown and distant.
Compassion is always desirable and encouraged by the Shariah. It is a moral and human response that arises when a widespread difficulty or crisis affects an individual or a community and calls for immediate collective attention.
In Islamic teachings and narrations, compassion is closely associated with the concept of Ta ‘āwun, derived from the Arabic word ‘Awn, meaning “help” or “assistance.”
Cooperation and mutual support hold exceptional significance in Islam. Numerous Qur’anic verses and Hadiths encourage believers to cooperate and highlight the countless virtues of helping one another.
Allah Almighty says in His noble words: وَ تَعٰاوَنُوا عَلَى اَلْبِرِّ وَ اَلتَّقْوىٰ وَ لاٰ تَعٰاوَنُوا عَلَى اَلْإِثْمِ وَ اَلْعُدْوٰانِ وَ اِتَّقُوا اَللّٰهَ إِنَّ اَللّٰهَ شَدِيدُ اَلْعِقٰابِ (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 2) Translation: “Cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.”
Explanation of the Verse
In this verse, Allah commands two actions: one of engagement and the other of avoidance.
Engagement refers to Allah’s command to cooperate and support one another, but not indiscriminately or under all circumstances. The boundaries between what is righteous and what is corrupt must be clearly defined. Hence, Allah instructs believers to cooperate only in righteousness and piety and to avoid cooperation in sin and transgression.
This means that assistance must remain within the limits of goodness and must not violate the rights or sanctity of others. Helping one person should never lead to harming another or breaching divine laws.
Thus, the verse provides a guiding principle for cooperation in society — that collaboration should always aim for Allah’s pleasure and be directed toward good and lawful deeds, not in wrongdoing or injustice that causes harm or division among people.
Compassion in the Light of Hadith
The treasure of Hadith literature contains many narrations emphasizing cooperation and compassion. Among them, a few are particularly noteworthy.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ.” (Narrated by Muslim) Translation: “Whoever relieves a believer from one of the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him from one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever eases the burden of a debtor, Allah will ease his affairs in this world and the Hereafter.”
Another Hadith states: “وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ، وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ.” Translation: “Whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah helps the servant as long as the servant helps his brother.”
Lessons and Dimensions of Cooperation
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The virtue of cooperation takes many forms:
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Providing financial help to those in need.
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Supporting the oppressed and rescuing them from injustice.
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Helping the sick by providing medicine and treatment.
Each of these actions opens doors to immense reward and is part of the broad path of compassion in Islam.
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Granting relief to debtors—either by extending deadlines or forgiving debts—is one of the highest forms of good deeds and will be rewarded greatly on the Day of Judgment.
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Overlooking the faults of others is another form of compassion. When a believer sees another committing a wrong act, he should cover it, advise him kindly, and pray for his correction. In return, Allah will cover that believer’s faults in the Hereafter.
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Divine assistance is promised to those who assist others. Whoever desires Allah’s help must first help his brothers and sisters in faith.
Through such cooperation, a compassionate society emerges — one that thrives on mutual care and solidarity. As a result, divine blessings descend upon the community like spring rain, transforming the drought of indifference into the lush gardens of cooperation, empathy, and unity.
Forms of Compassion on a Broader Scale
There are four levels of compassionate interaction within society:
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Individual to Individual
When someone experiences hardship or loss, relatives, friends, and acquaintances should be the first to offer emotional, moral, and financial support.
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Individual to Society
When a widespread social problem arises, a conscious and faithful individual—through personal effort or institutional means—should take initiative to resolve it, regardless of the outcome.
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Society to Individual
A united society, with its collective strength, can swiftly and effectively resolve the problems of individuals through organized efforts.
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Society to Society
The highest level of compassion occurs when entire communities unite to support other communities facing disaster or hardship—embodying the Qur’anic principle of solidarity among Muslims worldwide.
Conclusion
From the verses of the Qur’an and the Hadiths mentioned above, it is evident that compassion and mutual support are essential for a healthy and strong society.
A community that helps its members, shares their pains, and eases their burdens truly deserves to be called an Islamic and righteous society.
Without such compassion, the body of society becomes paralyzed, its backbone weakened, and its vitality and progress come to a halt.
