The rights that one Muslim has over another, some of which are individual obligations that are

required of each person, and if he fails to do them he is sinning. Others are communal obligations;
if some people do them, the burden of sin is waived for the rest. And some are ​mustahab
(encouraged) but not obligatory, so the Muslim is not sinning if he does not do them.

The Prophet said, ​“The rights of one Muslim over another are six.” It was said: What are they, O
Messenger of Allaah? He said: ​“If you meet him, greet him with salaam; if he invites you, accept
the invitation; if he asks for advice, give him sincere advice; if he sneezes and praises Allaah, say
Yarhamuk Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you); if he falls sick, visit him; and if he dies, attend
his funeral.”​ ​ [Muslim]

Ash-Shawkaani said: What is meant by the words ​“The rights of the Muslim” ​is that they should not
be omitted and doing them is either obligatory, or recommended to such an extent that it is very
similar to being obligatory and should not be omitted.

RETURNING THE GREETING OF SALAAM

It is obligatory to return the greeting if the greeting is given to one person. If it is given to a group,
then it is obligatory upon the group (fard kifaayah or communal obligation). If one of the group
returns the greeting, the obligation has been met). Initiating the greeting is Sunnah mu’akkadah (a
confirmed Sunnah) because the Prophet said: “Spread the greeting of salaam amongst
yourselves.”

VISITING THE SICK

Visiting the sick is a fard kifaayah (communal obligation).

ATTENDING FUNERALS
It is fard kifaayah (communal obligation).

WITH REGARD TO ACCEPTING INVITATIONS

The scholars divided the invitations which the Muslim is commanded to accept into two categories:

1. Invitation to a wedding party (waleemah). The majority of scholars said that it is obligatory
to accept such an invitation, unless there is a legitimate shar’i excuse.
2. Invitation to various kinds of gatherings other than wedding-feasts: The majority of
scholars say that accepting these invitations is mustahab (encouraged), and no one differs
from that apart from some of the Shaafa’is and Zaahiris, who said it is obligatory.

Scholars have stipulated conditions for accepting an invitation; if these conditions are not met then
it is not obligatory or mustahab to accept the invitation, rather it may be ​haraam​ to attend.

1. Accepting the invitation should not lead to ignoring a more important duty; if that is the
case then it is haraam to accept the invitation.
2. It should not cause any trouble to the person who is invited or someone else. For example,
if he needs to travel or to leave his family who need him there or leave his work where he
is needed or he has a commitment which may cause harm to someone if he leaves his
commitment etc.
3. If the host issued a general invitation, saying that everyone is welcome, then it is not
obligatory to accept the invitation.
SAYING YARHAMUK ALLAH TO ONE WHO SNEEZES
Saying Yarhamuk Allah (May Allah have mercy on you) is ​mustahab ​(encouraged) according to
the ​Shaafa‘is.​ According to the ​Hanbalis​ and the ​Hanafis​, it is obligatory. The Maalikis said – and it
is an opinion among the Hanbalis – that it is a communal obligation.

GIVING HIM ADVICE

The apparent meaning of the words of ​Imam Ahmad​ is that it is obligatory to offer advice to the
Muslim, even if he does not ask for it, as is the apparent meaning of the reports.

COMPILED BY

Zaid Khalid