as their guardian. They should refrain from backbiting, tale-telling and having ill-assumptions about him. They should try their utmost to obey to his permissible desires and commands. They should always keep good ties with him. In case there is any dispute among them, then he (younger brother) should come forward and apologise to the elder brother himself and try his best to reconcile with him.     

Treat elder brother nicely

Sayyiduna Jareer Bin Haazim رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: Once, I saw a dream that my head is in my hands. For the interpretation of this dream, I told my dream to Sayyiduna Imam Ibn Seereen رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه (who had great expertise in dream interpretation). He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه inquired me ‘if anyone of my parents was alive.’ I replied in the negative. Thereafter he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه inquired ‘do you have an elder brother?’ I responded in positive. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: ‘Fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in his matter. Treat him nicely and abstain from cutting off ties with him.’

(Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 6, pp. 210, Hadees 7928)

Dear Islamic brothers! You see that the status of the elder brother in terms of respect is like that of father’s status. However, after listening to his excellences, the elder brother should also not develop a mind-set that only younger siblings should respect me. No matter if I speak to them harshly, humiliate them in front of others whenever I like to, swear at them if they make any mistake, and stare at them angrily all the time in order to keep my awe and fear before them.

Remember! Islam has illustrated the rights and etiquettes of everyone. While the young ones have been urged to show respect to the elders, at the same time, elders have also been commanded to treat the young ones with affection. In this relation, listen to two blessed sayings of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

1.          لَیْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَّمْ یَرْحَمْ صَغِیْرَنَا وَیُوَقِّرْ کَبِیْرَنَا وَیَعْرِفْ لَنَا حَقَّنَا: The one who does not have mercy on our young ones, does not respect our elders and does not know the right of a Muslim is not amongst us.

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 11, pp. 355, Hadees 12276)