In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Ali ibn Abi Talib, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ سِتَّةٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا لَقِيَهُ وَيُجِيبُهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيُشَمِّتُهُ إِذَا عَطَسَ وَيَعُودُهُ إِذَا مَرِضَ وَيَتْبَعُ جِنَازَتَهُ إِذَا مَاتَ وَيُحِبُّ لَهُ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim regarding good conduct: to greet him with peace when he meets him, to respond to his invitation, to respond to his sneeze, to visit him when he is sick, to follow his funeral prayer when he dies, and to love for him what he loves for himself.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2736, Grade: Hasan
Abu Umamah, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: A young man came to the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, give me permission to commit adultery.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَتُحِبُّهُ لِأُمِّكَ
Would you like that for your mother?
The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their mothers.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لِابْنَتِكَ
Would you like that for your daughter?
The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their daughters.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لِأُخْتِكَ
Would you like that for your sister?
The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their sisters.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لِعَمَّتِكَ
Would you like that for your aunts?
The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you. People would not like it for their aunts.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, placed his hand on him and he said:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ذَنْبَهُ وَطَهِّرْ قَلْبَهُ وَحَصِّنْ فَرْجَهُ
O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 21708, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said to him:
فَاكْرَهْ مَا كَرِهَ اللَّهُ وَأَحِبَّ لأَخِيكَ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ
Then hate what Allah has hated, and love for your brother what you love for yourself.
Source: Sunan al-Kubrā 17025, Grade: Sahih
Abu Dharr, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me as a leader?” The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي لَا تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَلَا تَوَلَّيَنَّ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ
O Abu Dharr, I see you are weak and I love for you what I love for myself. Do not command even two people and do not manage the property of an orphan.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1825, Grade: Sahih
All of these traditions and others led to the development among the righteous predecessors (as-salaf as-salih) of the principle that Muslims should hate sin but love the sinner.
Anas ibn Malik, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: I went out with a man to the market and some merchandise was being sold, so I bartered with him. The seller said, “Thirty coins.” The man thought to himself and said, “I will take it for forty coins.” The seller said, “What makes you say this when I would give it to you for less?” The man thought to himself again and he said, “I will take it for fifty coins.” The seller said, “What makes you say this when I would give it to you for less?” The man said:
إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ لَا يُؤْمِنُ عَبْدٌ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ وَأَنَا أَرَى أَنَّهُ صَالِحٌ بِخَمْسِينَ
I heard the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, say that a servant does not have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself, and I thought you would do better with fifty coins.
Source: Musnad al-Bazzār 7548, Grade: Sahih
Ammar ibn Nusair reported: Jesus the son of Mary, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
يَابْنَ آدَمَ كُنْ وَدِيعًا يُحِبَّكَ النَّاسُ وَارْضَ بِمَا قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لَكَ تَكُنْ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ وَأَحِبَّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ تَكُنْ مُؤْمِنًا وَلا تُؤْذِ جَارَكَ تَكُنْ مُسْلِمًا وَلا تُكْثِرِ الضَّحِكَ فَإِنَّهُ يُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ
O son of Adam, be disinterested in what people own and they will love you, be content with what Allah has allotted for you and you will be the wealthiest of people, love for people what you love for yourself and you will be a believer, do not harm your neighbor and you will be a Muslim, and do not laugh too much as it will deaden the heart.
Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 51199
Ibn Asakir reported: Sa’eed ibn Amir said to Umar ibn Al-Khattab, RadhiAllahu Anhu:
يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اخْشَ اللَّهَ فِي النَّاسِ وَلا تَخْشَ النَّاسَ فِي اللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ وَاكْرَهْ لَهُمْ مَا تَكْرَهُ لِنَفْسِكَ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ
O commander of the faithful! Fear Allah regarding people, yet do not fear people regarding Allah. Love for the Muslims what you love for yourself and your household, and hate for them what you hate for yourself and your household.
Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 20103
Umar ibn Al-Khattab, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said:
لِمَ تَمْنَعُ أَخَاكَ مَا يَنْفَعُهُ وَهُوَ لَكَ نَافِعٌ
Why would you prevent your brother from what benefits him, while you yourself benefit from it?
Source: Sunan al-Kubrā 10985, Grade: Sahih
Ali ibn Abi Talib, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said:
مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَنْصِفَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فَلْيُحِبَّ لَهُمْ مَا يُحِبَّ لِنَفْسِهِ
Whoever intends from himself to be fair to people, then let him love for them as he loves for himself.
Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 44955
Ibn Mas’ud, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said:
مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُنْصِفَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ , فَلْيَأْتِ إِلَى النَّاسِ مَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُؤْتَى إِلَيْهِ
Whoever would love for himself to be just with people, then let him treat people the way he would love to be treated.
Source: Shu’b al-Imān 10375
Ibn Abbas, RadhiAllahu Anhuma, said:
إِنِّي لَأَمُرُّ عَلَى الْآيَةِ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَأَوَدُّ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ مِنْهَا مَا أَعْلَمُ
Verily, I will pass over a verse from the Book of Allah and I would love for all of the people to know it as I know it.
Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥikam 13
Mu’adh ibn Jabal, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said:
لَا يَبْلُغُ عَبْدٌ ذُرَى الْإِيمَانِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ التَّوَاضُعُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الشَّرَفِ وَمَا قَلَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا كَثُرَ وَيَكُونُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ وَأَبْغَضَ فِي الْحَقِّ سَوَاءً يَحْكُمُ لِلنَّاسِ كَمَا يَحْكُمُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ
A servant will not reach the heights of faith until humility is more beloved to him than nobility, until less in the world is more beloved to him than more, until it is the same whether he is loved or hated for the truth, and until he judges people the way he would love to be judged for himself and his household.
Source: al-Zuhd li-Ibn Ḥammād 191
Abdullah Al-Hashimi reported: I came to Tawus, may Allah have mercy on him, and he said to me, “Would you like me to summarize in this sitting all of the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the Quran?” I said yes. Tawus said:
خَفِ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى مَخَافَةً لا يَكُونُ عِنْدَكَ شَيْءٌ أَخْوَفَ مِنْهُ وَارْجُهْ رَجَاءً هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْ خَوْفِكَ إِيَّاهُ وَأَحِبَّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ
Fear Allah the Exalted more than anything else, hope in Allah more intensely than you fear him, and love for people what you love for yourself.
Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 4693
Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
أَنَّ مُوسَى صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ جِمَاعًا مِنَ الْخَيْرِ فَقَالَ اصْحَبِ النَّاسَ بِمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ تُصْحَبَ بِهِ
Moses, peace and blessings be upon him, asked his Lord about what encompasses all goodness. Allah said: Be a companion to people in the way you would love to be accompanied yourself.
Source: Shu’b al-Imān 10374
Fadalah ibn Ubaid reported: David, peace be upon him, asked his Lord the Exalted about the most beloved people to him. Allah said:
ذُو سُلْطَانٍ يَرْحَمُ النَّاسَ وَيَحْكُمُ لِلنَّاسِ كَمَا يَحْكُمُ لِنَفْسِهِ
Among them is a ruler who is merciful with people and he judges for people as he would judge himself.
Source: al-Zuhd wal-Raqā’iq 471
Ibn Al-Mubarak reported: Maymun ibn Mihran wrote to Yunus ibn Ubaid, saying, “I would love for you to write to me about what you do that I might do it.” Yunus wrote back to him, saying:
إِنِّي جَهَدْتُ بِنَفْسِي أَنْ تُحِبَّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّ لَهَا وَتَكْرَهُ لَهُمْ مَا تَكْرَهُ لَهَا
Verily, I strive for my soul to love for people what it loves for itself, and to hate for people what it hates for itself.
Al-Halimi, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
وَلا يَنْبَغِي لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَتَمَنَّى بِقَلْبِهِ لأَخِيهِ مِنَ الشَّرِّ مَا يَكْرَهُ لِنَفْسِهِ أَوْ يَكْرَهُ لَهُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ مَا يَتَمَنَّاهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ لِنَفْسِهِ
It is not befitting for a Muslim to wish evil in his heart for his brother that he would hate for himself, or to hate good that he wishes and loves for himself.
Source: Shu’b al-Imān 10379
Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
اعْدِلْ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ كَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْدَلَ عَلَيْكَ وَأَوْفِ كَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُوَفَّى لَكَ فَإِنَّ بِالْعَدْلِ صَلَاحَ النَّاسِ
O son of Adam, be just as you would love justice for yourself and fulfill the measure as you would love for it to be fulfilled for yourself. Verily, with justice is the well-being of people.
Source: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 55:8
Hudhaifa ibn Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
ثَلاثُ خِصَالٍ إِنْ كُنَّ فِيكَ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ خَيْرٌ إِلا كَانَ لَكَ فِيهِ نَصِيبٌ يَكُونُ عَمَلُكَ لِلَّهِ وَتُحِبُّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ وَهَذِهِ الْكَسْرَةُ تَحَرَّ فِيهَا مَا قَدَرْتَ
If you have three qualities, then no good will descend from the heavens but that you will have a share of it: that your deeds be for the sake of Allah, that you love for people what you love for yourself, and that you are careful with food as much as you can.
Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 12570
Ash-Shafi’ee, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
مَا نَاظَرْتُ أَحَدًا فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يُخْطِئَ وَمَا فِي قَلْبِي مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلا وَدِدْتُ أَنَّهُ عِنْدَ كُلِّ أَحَدٍ وَلا يُنْسَبُ إِلَيَّ
I never debated anyone while desiring them to be wrong. There is no knowledge in my heart except that I would love for everyone to have it and attribute none of it to me.
Source: Ādāb al-Shāfi’ī 78
Ibn ‘Asākir reported: Abu Al-Hasan Al-Bushanji, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about chivalry and he said:
الْفَتْوَةُ عِنْدَكَ فِي آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَخَبَرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، فَأَمَّا قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ وَخَبَرُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لا يُؤْمِنُ الْعَبْدُ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ يَعْنِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَيَكْرَهَ لأَخِيهِ مَا يَكْرَهُ لِنَفْسِهِ فَمَنِ اجْتَمَعَ فِيهِ هَاتَانِ الْحَالَتَانِ فَلَهُ الْفَتْوَةُ
Chivalry is with you in a verse from the Book of Allah and a report from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. As for the saying of Allah, it is: They love those who emigrated to them and do not find any want in their hearts for what they were given, for they prefer them over their own selves even though they were in deprivation.(59:9) As for the report of the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, it is: No servant has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. It means to love what is good, and to hate for his brother what he hates for himself. Whoever combines these two traits will be chivalrous.
Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 42964
Al-Ghazālī reported: Ibn Al-Muqaffa heard that some people complained of the many rats in his house. It was said to him, “If only you had a cat!” Ibn Al-Muqaffa said:
أخشى أن يسمع الفأر صوت الهر فيهرب إلى دور الجيران فأكون قد أحببت لهم ما لا أحب لنفسي
I am afraid that the rats would hear the sound of the cat and flee to the houses of my neighbors, for then I would have loved for them what I do not love for myself.
Source: Iḥyāʼ Ulūm al-Dīn 2/213
Ibrahim ibn Adham reported: Were passing through some cities and I saw two people among the ascetics on a journey. One of them said to the other, “O brother, what do the people who love Allah inherit from their beloved?” The other said, “They inherit insight from the light of Allah the Exalted and compassion for those who disobey Allah.” I said, “How can he have compassion for people who contradict their beloved?” He looked to me and said:
مَقَتَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ وَعَطَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَرُدَّهُمْ بِالْمَوَاعِظِ عَنْ فِعَالِهِمْ وَأَشْفَقَ عَلَى أَبْدَانِهِمْ مِنَ النَّارِ لا يَكُونُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُؤْمِنًا حَقًّا حَتَّى يَرْضَى لِلنَّاسِ مَا يَرْضَى لِنَفْسِهِ
They abhor their sinful deeds and have compassion for them that by their admonition they might leave their deeds, and they feel sympathy that their bodies might be burned in Hellfire. The believer is not truly a believer until he is pleased for people to have what he is pleased for himself.
Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 11441
Ibn Rajab reported:
فَضِيلَةً فَاقَ بِهَا عَلَيْهِ فَتَمَنَّى لِنَفَسِهِ مِثْلَهَا فَإِنْ كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْفَضِيلَةُ دِينِيَّةً كَانَ حَسَنًا
Some of the righteous predecessors said: The people who love Allah look by the light of Allah, and they are compassionate with those who disobey Allah. They hate their actions but show mercy to them so that through their admonitions they might leave their actions. They are afraid that the Hellfire will consume their bodies. The believer will not truly be a believer until he is pleased for people to have what he is pleased for himself. If he sees in someone else some merit by which they excel him, then he wishes the like of it for himself. If that merit is related to the religion then it is good.
Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥikam 13
And Ibn Rajab writes:
فأفضل الأعمال سلامة الصدر من أنواع الشحناء كلها وأفضلها السلامة من شحناء أهل الأهواء والبدع التي تقتضي الطعن على سلف الأمة وبغضهم والحقد عليهم واعتقاد تكفيرهم أو تبديعهم وتضليلهم ثم يلي ذلك سلامة القلب من الشحناء لعموم المسلمين وإرادة الخير لهم ونصيحتهم وأن يحب لهم ما يحب لنفسه وقد وصف الله تعالى المؤمنين عموما بأنهم يقولون رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْأِيمَانِ وَلا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلّاً لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
The best of deeds is to secure the heart from every type of enmity, and the best of it is to be secure from the enmity of the people of desires and heretical innovations that demands challenge against the righteous predecessors of the nation, their hatred and malice towards them, and belief in their charges of unbelief, heresy, and misguidance against them. Thereafter, following that is to secure the heart from enmity against the Muslim in general, to intend good for them, to give them sincere counsel, and to love for them what he loves for himself. Allah the Exalted has described the believers in general, that they say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not make any animosity in our hearts towards those who believe. Our Lord, you are kind and merciful. (59:10)
Source: Laṭā’if al-Ma’ārif 1/139
Ibn Taymiyyah writes:
وَأَمَّا طُمَأْنِينَةُ الْقَلْبِ بِمَحَبَّتِهِ وَحْدَهُ وَأَنْ يَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إلَيْهِ مِمَّا سِوَاهُمَا وَبِالتَّوَكُّلِ عَلَيْهِ وَحْدَهُ وَبِأَنْ يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ فَهَذِهِ مِنْ حَقَائِقِ الْإِيمَانِ الَّتِي تَخْتَصُّ بِهِ
As for what reassures the heart, it is in love for Allah alone and that he is beloved more than anything else, and it is in reliance upon Allah alone, and it is in loving for his faithful brother what he loves for himself. Hence, these are among the realities of faith with which it has been specified.
Source: Majmū’ al-Fatāwá 7/426
Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:
فَإِنَّ الْإِنْصَافَ يُوجِبُ عَلَيْهِ أَدَاءَ حُقُوقِ اللَّهِ كَامِلَةً مُوَفَّرَةً وَأَدَاءَ حُقُوقِ النَّاسِ كَذَلِكَ وَأَنْ لَا يُطَالِبَهُمْ بِمَا لَيْسَ لَهُ وَلَا يُحَمِّلَهُمْ فَوْقَ وُسْعِهِمْ وَيُعَامِلَهُمْ بِمَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعَامِلُوهُ بِهِ وَيُعْفِيَهُمْ مِمَّا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْفُوهُ مِنْهُ وَيَحْكُمَ لَهُمْ وَعَلَيْهِمْ بِمَا يَحْكُمُ بِهِ لِنَفْسِهِ وَعَلَيْهَا
Indeed, a sense of justice is required to fulfill the rights of Allah with complete respect, as well as fulfill the rights of people. It is that he does not demand from them what they cannot do, he does not burden them beyond their capacity, he deals with them as he would love to be dealt with by them, he pardons them as he would love to be pardoned by them, and he judges for them and over them as he would judge for himself and over himself.
Source: Zād al-Ma’ād 2/371
And Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:
مُلَاطَفَةُ الْخَلْقِ وَهِيَ مُعَامَلَتُهُمْ بِمَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعَامِلُوهُ بِهِ مِنَ اللُّطْفِ وَلَا يُعَامِلُهُمْ بِالْعُنْفِ وَالشِّدَّةِ وَالْغِلْظَةِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يُنَفِّرُهُمْ عَنْهُ وَيُغْرِيهِمْ بِهِ وَيُفْسِدُ عَلَيْهِ قَلْبَهُ وَحَالَهُ مَعَ اللَّهِ
A mark of tranquility and dignity is kindness with the creation. It is dealing with them in a way he would love to be treated kindly by them, and not treating them harshly, strictly, or roughly, for that would alienate them from him, estrange them, and corrupt his heart and his relationship with Allah.
Source: Madārij al-Sālikīn 2/478
And Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:
فَإِن النَّصِيحَة لَا تجامع الغل إِذْ هِيَ ضِدّه فَمن نصح الائمة والامة فقد برِئ من الغل … فَإِن صَاحبه للزومه جمَاعَة الْمُسلمين يحب لَهُم مَا يحب لنَفسِهِ وَيكرهُ لَهُم مَا يكره لَهَا ويسوؤه مَا يسؤوهم ويسره مَا يسرهم
Indeed, sincere good will does not include animosity, but is against it. Thus, whoever is sincere to the leaders and the nation is free from animosity… The one who is sincere to the Muslim community must love for them what he loves for himself, hate for them what he hates for himself, be displeased by what displeases them, and be happy by what makes them happy.
Source: Miftāḥ Dār al-Sa’ādah 1/72
Al-Muhāsibī writes:
وَلَا احوط فِي الْحق وَالْعدْل وَلَا ارضى عِنْد الْخَاصَّة والعامة وَهُوَ ان تحب للنَّاس مَا تحب لنَفسك وَتكره للنَّاس مَا تكرههُ لَهَا
There is nothing better to guard truth and justice, and nothing more pleasing specifically and generally than that you love for people what you love in your soul and hate for people what you hate in your soul.
Source: Ādāb al-Nufūs 1/125
Al-Ghazālī writes:
وَمِنْهَا أَنْ يُنْصِفَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَلَا يَأْتِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا بِمَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُؤْتَى إِلَيْهِ
Among the duties of a Muslim are to have a sense of justice within himself for people, and to not treat them except in a way that he would love to be treated by them.
Source: Iḥyā’ Ulūm al-Dīn 2/198
And Al-Ghazālī writes:
كلما عملت بالناس اجعله كما ترضى لنفسك منهم لأنه لا يكمل إيمان العبد حتى يحب لسائر الناس ما يحب لنفسه
Every time you deal with people, treat them as you would be pleased to be treated by them, for the faith of a servant is not complete until he loves for all people what he loves for himself.
Source: Ayyuhā al-Walad 1/145
And Al-Ghazālī writes:
الْوَدُود من عباد الله من يُرِيد لخلق الله كل مَا يُريدهُ لنَفسِهِ وَأَعْلَى من ذَلِك من يؤثرهم على نَفسه كمن قَالَ مِنْهُم أُرِيد أَن أكون جِسْرًا على النَّار يعبر عَليّ الْخلق وَلَا يتأذون بهَا وَكَمَال ذَلِك أَن لَا يمنعهُ عَن الإيثار وَالْإِحْسَان الْغَضَب والحقد وَمَا ناله من الْأَذَى
Loving kindness among the servants of Allah is one who desires for the creation of Allah what he desires for himself, and the highest part of that is to prefer them over himself. As if one of them said: I wish I could be a bridge over Hellfire so that the creation would cross over me and not be harmed by it. The perfection of this is that anger, malice, and what he endures of harm will not prevent him from altruism and excellent behavior.
Source: al-Maqṣad al-Asná 1/122
Al-Ṭūfī writes:
فمقصوده ائتلاف قلوب الناس وانتظام أحوالهم وهو قاعدة الإسلام الكبرى التي أوصى الله عزَّ وجلَّ بها … وبيان ذلك أنه إذا أحبَّ كل واحد من الناس لباقيهم ما يحب لنفسه أحسن إليهم ولم يؤذهم لأنه هو يحب لنفسه أن يُحسَنَ إليه ولا يُؤذَى وإذا أحسن إليهم ولم يؤذهم أحبوه فتسري بذلك المحبة بين الناس وبسريان المحبة بينهم يسرى الخير ويرتفع الشر وبذلك ينتظم أمر المعاش والمعاد وتصلح أحوال العباد
The objective of this tradition is to unite the hearts of people and rectify their circumstances, and it is a major principle in Islam that Allah the Exalted has enjoined… In clarification of that, if every person loved for others what he loves for himself he would treat them in the best manner, he would not harm them because he loves for himself to be treated well, and he himself would not be harmed. If he treats them well and does not harm those he loves, then love will emanate from that between people, and with the emanation of love between them will be the emanation of good and removal of evil, and with that the rectification of daily life and habits and the improvement of the servants’ circumstances.
Source: al-Ta’yīn fī Sharḥ al-Arba’īn 1/124-125
Al-Saffarīnī writes:
مِمَّا لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَسْتُرَ عَوْرَتَهُ وَيَغْفِرَ زَلَّتَهُ وَيَرْحَمَ عَبْرَتَهُ وَيُقِيلَ عَثْرَتَهُ وَيَقْبَلَ مَعْذِرَتَهُ وَيَرُدَّ غِيبَتَهُ وَيُدِيمَ نَصِيحَتَهُ وَيَحْفَظَ خُلَّتَهُ وَيَرْعَى ذِمَّتَهُ وَيُجِيبَ دَعَوْتَهُ وَيَقْبَلَ هَدِيَّتَهُ وَيُكَافِئَ صِلَتَهُ وَيَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَهُ وَيُحْسِنَ نُصْرَتَهُ وَيَقْضِيَ حَاجَتَهُ وَيَشْفَعَ مَسْأَلَتَهُ وَيُشَمِّتَ عَطْسَتَهُ وَيَرُدَّ ضَالَّتَهُ وَيُوَالِيَهُ وَلَا يُعَادِيَهُ وَيَنْصُرَهُ عَلَى ظَالِمِهِ وَيَكُفَّهُ عَنْ ظُلْمِ غَيْرِهِ وَلَا يُسْلِمَهُ وَلَا يَخْذُلَهُ وَيُحِبَّ لَهُ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
Among the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim are that he cover his faults, forgive his mistakes, have mercy for his errors, overlook his missteps, reject his backbiting, always give him sincere advice, preserve his good traits, guard his covenants, answer his invitations, accept his guidance, repay his gifts, show gratitude for his favors, assist him in the best manner, fulfill his needs, intercede for his problems, respond to his sneeze, refuse his misguided advice, protect him and not take him as an enemy, support him against his oppressors, restrain him from oppressing others, not surrender him, not abandon him, and to love for him what he loves for himself.
Source: Ghidhā al-Albāb 1/266
Al-Qurtubī writes:
الْمُسْلِمَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُحَذِّرَ أَخَاهُ مِمَّا يَخَافُ عَلَيْهِ وَيُرْشِدَهُ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ طَرِيقُ السَّلَامَةِ وَالنَّجَاةِ فَإِنَّ الدِّينَ النَّصِيحَةُ وَالْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ
The Muslim must warn his brother of what he fears for himself, and guide him to ways of safety and salvation. Indeed, the religion is sincere good will and the Muslim is the brother of another Muslim.
Source: Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī 12:68
Abu Abbas Al-Qurtubī writes:
لا يتم إيمانُ أحد الإيمان التام الكامل حتى يضم إلى إسلامه سلامة الناس منه وإرادة الخير لهم والنصح لجميعهم فيما يحاوله معهم
The faith on no one will be complete and perfected until his Islam includes safety for people, desire to do good to them, and good will for all of them in his dealings with them.
Source: Kitāb al-Mufhim 1/224
Ibn Al-Arabi writes:
لَا يَكُونُ الْقَلْبُ سَلِيمًا إذَا كَانَ حَقُودًا حَسُودًا مُعْجَبًا مُتَكَبِّرًا وَقَدْ شَرَطَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْإِيمَانِ أَنْ يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
He cannot have a pure heart if it holds malice, envy, pride, and arrogance. The Prophet made it a requirement of faith that he love for his brother what he loves for himself.
Source: Aḥkām al-Qurʼān 26:89
Ibn Abdul Barr writes:
مِنْ عَلَامَةِ الْمُومِنِ سُرُورُهُ لِأَخِيهِ بِمَا يُسَرُّ بِهِ لِنَفْسِهِ
Among the signs of a true believer is that he is happy for his brother to have what makes himself happy.
Source: al-Tamhīd 1011
Ibn Hazm writes:
لا تكلف صديقك إلا مثل ما تبذل له من نفسك فإن طلبت أكثر فأنت ظالم
Do not hold your friend responsible except with what you would have him offer yourself. If you demand more, then you have done wrong.
Source: Rasā’il Ibn Ḥazm 1/364
Al-Ṭībī writes:
فعلي المؤمن أن يحب لصاحبه ما يحب لنفسه ويكره له ما يكره لنفسه
It is a duty upon the believer to love for his companion what he loves for himself and to hate for him what he hates for himself.
Source: Sharḥ al-Mishkāh 3/968