Dervish

One of the memes that floats around in the anti-Islam (mostly Christian dominionist and neo-conservative) websites is that there is no golden rule in Islam. The golden rule (or rule of reciprocity) is probably best known by English speakers as “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The version commonly quoted on websites pertaining to Islam is the hadith:

“None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

Anti-Islam writers then try and claim that actually the word here for “brothers” means only fellow Muslims, even though the Qur’an refers to all humanity as children of Adam (7:26; 17:70; 36:60 etc.) so we are all brothers and sisters in humanity.

Fine, then here are some other versions of the golden rule expressed by the Prophet Muhammad , that are unambiguously referring to everyone: Muslim or not.

“Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you; and reject for others what you would reject for yourselves.” (Abu Dawud)

“Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.” (Farewell Sermon)

“There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” (Ibn- Majah)

Not to mention there is a PLETHORA of golden rule material particularly in the Sufi literature, where even the statements of the Prophet Jesus are recast as hadiths to be followed. It is simply a bold-faced lie that there is no golden rule in Islam.

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