Quran Verses about Brotherhood

16 ayahs · from 10 surahs

The Quran declares that the believers are brothers, and that Allah united their hearts through Islam so that former enemies became brothers. The believers are therefore forbidden to dispute among themselves and commanded to make peace between brothers who quarrel, even between two groups that fight, with justice, and to set right the relations among themselves. The verses also praise the mercy of believers toward one another, the Ansar who preferred their brothers among the Muhajirun over themselves, the prayer for hearts free of rancour toward the believers, and the brotherhood of the people of Paradise.

The believers are brothers

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِصَاصُ فِي ٱلۡقَتۡلَىۖ ٱلۡحُرُّ بِٱلۡحُرِّ وَٱلۡعَبۡدُ بِٱلۡعَبۡدِ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰۚ فَمَنۡ عُفِيَ لَهُۥ مِنۡ أَخِيهِ شَيۡءٞ فَٱتِّبَاعُۢ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَأَدَآءٌ إِلَيۡهِ بِإِحۡسَٰنٖۗ ذَٰلِكَ تَخۡفِيفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٞۗ فَمَنِ ٱعۡتَدَىٰ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ ١٧٨

    Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū kutiba ʿalaykumul-qiṣāṣu fil-qatlā, al-ḥurru bil-ḥurri wal-ʿabdu bil-ʿabdi wal-unthā bil-unthā, faman ʿufiya lahū min akhīhi shayʾun fattibāʿum bil-maʿrūfi wa adāʾun ilayhi biʾiḥsān, dhālika takhfīfum mir rabbikum wa raḥmah, famaniʿtadā baʿda dhālika falahū ʿadhābun alīm.

    O you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered - the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female.1 But whoever overlooks from his brother [i.e., the killer] anything,2 then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him [i.e., the deceased's heir or legal representative] with good conduct. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. But whoever transgresses after that3 will have a painful punishment.

    Footnotes (3)
    1. No one else should be executed in place of the killer.
    2. By accepting compensation payment rather than execution.
    3. After acceptance of compensation.
  1. فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۗ وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰۖ قُلۡ إِصۡلَاحٞ لَّهُمۡ خَيۡرٞۖ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمۡ فَإِخۡوَٰنُكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصۡلِحِۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَعۡنَتَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ ٢٢٠

    Fid-dunyā wal-ākhirah, wa yasʾalūnaka ʿanil-yatāmā, qul iṣlāḥul lahum khayr, wa in tukhāliṭūhum fa ikhwānukum, wallāhu yaʿlamul-mufsida minal-muṣliḥ, wa law shāʾallāhu laʾaʿnatakum, innallāha ʿazīzun ḥakīm.

    To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers. And Allāh knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allāh had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise."

  1. وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعٗا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْۚ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَآءٗ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦٓ إِخۡوَٰنٗا وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٖ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡهَاۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ ١٠٣

    Waʿtaṣimū biḥablillāhi jamīʿaw wa lā tafarraqū, wadhkurū niʿmatallāhi ʿalaykum idh kuntum aʿdāʾan fa allafa bayna qulūbikum fa aṣbaḥtum biniʿmatihī ikhwānaw wa kuntum ʿalā shafā ḥufratim minan-nāri fa anqadhakum minhā, kadhālika yubayyinullāhu lakum āyātihī laʿallakum tahtadūn.

    And hold firmly to the rope1 of Allāh all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allāh upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Referring either to His covenant or the Qur’ān.
  1. فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَإِخۡوَٰنُكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِۗ وَنُفَصِّلُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لِقَوۡمٖ يَعۡلَمُونَ ١١

    Fa in tābū wa aqāmuṣ-ṣalāta wa ātawuz-zakāta fa ikhwānukum fid-dīn, wa nufaṣṣilul-āyāti liqawmiy yaʿlamūn.

    But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakāh, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.

  1. ٱدۡعُوهُمۡ لِأٓبَآئِهِمۡ هُوَ أَقۡسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِن لَّمۡ تَعۡلَمُوٓاْ ءَابَآءَهُمۡ فَإِخۡوَٰنُكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ وَمَوَٰلِيكُمۡۚ وَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٞ فِيمَآ أَخۡطَأۡتُم بِهِۦ وَلَٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتۡ قُلُوبُكُمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمًا ٥

    Udʿūhum liʾābāʾihim huwa aqsaṭu ʿindallāh, fa il lam taʿlamū ābāʾahum fa ikhwānukum fid-dīni wa mawālīkum, wa laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun fīmā akhṭaʾtum bihī wa lākim mā taʿammadat qulūbukum, wa kānallāhu ghafūrar raḥīmā.

    Call them1 by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allāh. But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Those children under your care.

Do not quarrel, and make peace between brothers

  1. ۞ لَّا خَيۡرَ فِي كَثِيرٖ مِّن نَّجۡوَىٰهُمۡ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوۡ مَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ إِصۡلَٰحِۭ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوۡفَ نُؤۡتِيهِ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا ١١٤

    Lā khayra fī kathīrim min najwāhum illā man amara biṣadaqatin aw maʿrūfin aw iṣlāḥim baynan-nās, wa may yafʿal dhālikabtighāʾa marḍātillāhi fasawfa nuʾtīhi ajran ʿaẓīmā.

    No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allāh - then We are going to give him a great reward.

  1. يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡأَنفَالِۖ قُلِ ٱلۡأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِۖ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَصۡلِحُواْ ذَاتَ بَيۡنِكُمۡۖ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ ١

    Yasʾalūnaka ʿanil-anfāl, qulil-anfālu lillāhi war-rasūl, fattaqullāha wa aṣliḥū dhāta baynikum, wa aṭīʿullāha wa rasūlahū in kuntum muʾminīn.

    They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the bounties [of war]. Say, "The [decision concerning] bounties is for Allāh and the Messenger." So fear Allāh and amend that which is between you and obey Allāh and His Messenger, if you should be believers.

  1. وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَٰزَعُواْ فَتَفۡشَلُواْ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ٤٦

    Wa aṭīʿullāha wa rasūlahū wa lā tanāzaʿū fatafshalū wa tadhhaba rīḥukum, waṣbirū, innallāha maʿaṣ-ṣābirīn.

    And obey Allāh and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.

  1. وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَاۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتۡ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ فَقَٰتِلُواْ ٱلَّتِي تَبۡغِي حَتَّىٰ تَفِيٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِن فَآءَتۡ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَا بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَأَقۡسِطُوٓاْۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ ٩

    Wa in ṭāʾifatāni minal-muʾminīnaqtatalū fa aṣliḥū baynahumā, fa im baghat iḥdāhumā ʿalal-ukhrā faqātilul-latī tabghī ḥattā tafīʾa ilā amrillāh, fa in fāʾat fa aṣliḥū baynahumā bil-ʿadli wa aqsiṭū, innallāha yuḥibbul-muqsiṭīn.

    And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allāh. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.

  2. إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٞ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ ١٠

    Innamal-muʾminūna ikhwatun fa aṣliḥū bayna akhawaykum, wattaqullāha laʿallakum turḥamūn.

    The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allāh that you may receive mercy.

Mercy and mutual support among the believers

  1. وَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِهِمۡۚ لَوۡ أَنفَقۡتَ مَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعٗا مَّآ أَلَّفۡتَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِهِمۡ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ ٦٣

    Wa allafa bayna qulūbihim, law anfaqta mā fil-arḍi jamīʿam mā allafta bayna qulūbihim wa lākinnallāha allafa baynahum, innahū ʿazīzun ḥakīm.

    And brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allāh brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.

  1. وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٖۚ يَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ سَيَرۡحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ ٧١

    Wal-muʾminūna wal-muʾminātu baʿḍuhum awliyāʾu baʿḍ, yaʾmurūna bil-maʿrūfi wa yanhawna ʿanil-munkari wa yuqīmūnaṣ-ṣalāta wa yuʾtūnaz-zakāta wa yuṭīʿūnallāha wa rasūlah, ulāʾika sayarḥamuhumullāh, innallāha ʿazīzun ḥakīm.

    The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Those - Allāh will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.

  1. مُّحَمَّدٞ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ تَرَىٰهُمۡ رُكَّعٗا سُجَّدٗا يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٗاۖ سِيمَاهُمۡ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنۡ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِۚ وَمَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡإِنجِيلِ كَزَرۡعٍ أَخۡرَجَ شَطۡـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسۡتَغۡلَظَ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعۡجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلۡكُفَّارَۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِنۡهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٗ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمَۢا ٢٩

    Muḥammadur rasūlullāh, wal-ladhīna maʿahū ashiddāʾu ʿalal-kuffāri ruḥamāʾu baynahum, tarāhum rukkaʿan sujjaday yabtaghūna faḍlam minallāhi wa riḍwānā, sīmāhum fī wujūhihim min atharis-sujūd, dhālika mathaluhum fit-tawrāh, wa mathaluhum fil-injīli kazarʿin akhraja shaṭʾahū fa āzarahū fastaghlaẓa fastawā ʿalā sūqihī yuʿjibuz-zurrāʿa liyaghīẓa bihimul-kuffār, waʿadallāhul-ladhīna āmanū wa ʿamiluṣ-ṣāliḥāti minhum maghfirataw wa ajran ʿaẓīmā.

    Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allāh and [His] pleasure. Their sign is in their faces from the effect of prostration [i.e., prayer]. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that He [i.e., Allāh] may enrage by them1 the disbelievers. Allāh has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. The given examples depict the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions.
  1. وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمۡ حَاجَةٗ مِّمَّآ أُوتُواْ وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِهِمۡ خَصَاصَةٞۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٩

    Wal-ladhīna tabawwaʾud-dāra wal-īmāna min qablihim yuḥibbūna man hājara ilayhim wa lā yajidūna fī ṣudūrihim ḥājatam mimmā ūtū wa yuʾthirūna ʿalā anfusihim wa law kāna bihim khaṣāṣah, wa may yūqa shuḥḥa nafsihī fa ulāʾika humul-mufliḥūn.

    And [also for] those who were settled in the Home [i.e.,al-Madīnah] and [adopted] the faith before them.1 They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what they [i.e., the emigrants] were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Before the settlement of the emigrants (Muhājireen) among the Anṣār, for whom a share is delegated as well.
  2. وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلّٗا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٌ ١٠

    Wal-ladhīna jāʾū mim baʿdihim yaqūlūna rabbanaghfir lanā waliʾikhwāninal-ladhīna sabaqūnā bil-īmāni wa lā tajʿal fī qulūbinā ghillal lil-ladhīna āmanū rabbanā innaka raʾūfur raḥīm.

    And [there is a share for] those who come after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."

The brotherhood of the people of Paradise

  1. وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلٍّ إِخۡوَٰنًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ ٤٧

    Wa nazaʿnā mā fī ṣudūrihim min ghillin ikhwānan ʿalā sururim mutaqābilīn.

    And We will remove whatever is in their breasts of resentment,1 [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing each other.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. See footnote to 7:43.