Nationalism/Patriotism In Islam?

I have been noticing an increasing number of Muslim brothers and sisters in my country taking great pride in their country, nationality and background. This is actually a disease that Muslims all over the world suffer from. How often have you heard Muslims uttering statements like “Proudly Pakistani” or “American Muslim”? And how often are Muslims willing to fight for their own countries, nationalities and families, even though it may be a fight against other Muslims??

Most of the times, it seems to be done out of ignorance as people simply don’t understand what is wrong with having a nationalistic attitude.  I have found an excellent article that will, inshaAllah,  bring to light the status of nationalism in Islam and its harms.

 

Nationalism is Haram (unlawful) According to Islam

 We must give up the idea of nationalism because it is exactly what is dividing us. Quran says not to be divided, and several hadeeth talk against the disease of nationalism. Is the word of Allah and the messenger of Allah not enough for us ? If we take a look at current problems of Ummah, among other problems, it is obvious that we’re divided, and therefore weak.

 “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur’ân), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allâh’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islâmic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from  it. Thus Allâh makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided.”

Q.3:105

 “And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for  whom there is an awful torment.”

Q.6:159

 “Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad SAW)  have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allâh, Who then will tell them what they used to do.”

Q.23:52

 “And verily this Ummah of yours IS A SINGLE UMMAH and I am your Lord and Cherisher: Therefore Fear Me  (and no other).”

Q.23:53

 “But people have cut off their affair (of unity), between them, into sects: Each party rejoices in that which is with itself.”

Q.30:32

 “Those who SPLIT up their religion, and become mere sects each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!”

Q.42:13: “.

 …..that ye should remain steadfast in religion and make no DIVISIONS therein….. “

Q.49:13

 “O Men, We created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may KNOW one another (NOT THAT YOU MAY DESPISE EACH OTHER).”

Q.30:22

 “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.”

 Lets analyze, and see what the Quran’s verses quoted above are all about.

 The verses above are ordering and warning us not to be divided, split up, or form sects out of the religion. We’re created into so many different beautiful races, and cultures so that we KNOW each other, NOT get divided into many different countries, etc.

 Nationalism is also a way of disuniting the UMMAH. As currently seen in the world, we are over FIFTY-FIVE MUSLIM COUNTRIES AND GROWING ! There should only be ONE Muslim country (Khilafah).

   Quraan CLEARLY orders us NOT to be Divided

 Quran CLEARLY orders us NOT to be divided and separated and yet we have REFUSED to do so and decided to live in over 55 countries.

 We are too busy being proud Palestinian, Jordanian, Yemeni, Turkish, Iranian, Iraqi, Saudi Arabian, Syrian, Pakistani, Kashmiri, Chechen, Bosnian, Algerian, Libyan, Egyptian, Moroccan, Lebanese, Bengali, etc. How many more nationalities are we going to see in the UMMAH ? How many more divisions? How many more separations ? The Kaffir are killing us one by one, as seen in the “New World Order”

 (Chechnya, Bosnia, Kashmir, etc). Divide-and-conquer is really working on the UMMAH. Lets all work together to put an end to this nonsense called Nationalism, a completely alien, and forbidden ideology in Islam.

   The Hadith Says:

 Resources From  Messenger of Allah (Salal Lahu Alehi Wasalam)

Nationalism is HARAM because the Prophet Mohammad (saw) said in the following Hadeeths:

“Leave it. It is Rotten ” [Bukhari & Muslim] refers to all forms of Asabiyah, nationalism, racism, and patriotism. 

 Grouping the Muslims on tribalistic lines is clearly forbidden. It is narrated by Abu Daud that the Messenger of Allah (Salal Lahu Alehi Wasalam) said, “He is not one us who calls for `Asabiyah, (nationalism/tribalism) or who fights for `Asabiyah or who dies for `Asabiyah.”

 ” …People should give up their pride in nations because this is a coal from the coals of hell-fire. If they do not give this up Allah (swt) will consider them lower than a lowly worm which pushes itself through khur (feces).” [abu Dawd and Tirmidhi].

 In the Hadith recorded in Mishkat al-Masabith, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “He who calls for `Asabiyyah is as if he bit his father’s genitals” Also, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, narrated by At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud, “There are indeed people who boast of their dead ancestors; but in the sight of Allah they are more contemptible than the black beetle that rolls a piece of dung with its nose. Behold, Allah has removed from you the arrogance of the Time of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) with its boast of ancestral glories. Man is but an Allah-fearing believer or an unfortunate sinner. All people are the children of Adam, and Adam was created out of dust.” 

 Also, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Undoubtedly Allah has removed from you the pride of arrogance of the age of Jahilliyah (ignorance) and the glorification of ancestors. Now people are of two kinds. Either believers who are aware or transgressors who do wrong. You are all the children of Adam and Adam was made of clay. People should give up their pride in nations because that is a coal from the coals of Hell-fire. If they do not give this up Allah (swt) will consider them lower than the lowly worm which pushes itself through Khara (dung).” [Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]

 When the news reached the Messenger of Allah (Salal Lahu Alehi Wasalam), he (saw) said, “O Muslims, remember Allah, remember Allah. Will you act as pagans while I am present with you after Allah has guided you to Islam, and honored you thereby and made a clean break with paganism; delivered you thereby from disbelief; and made you friends thereby?” When they heard this they wept, and embraced each other.

 This incident clearly highlights how the Messenger of Allah (Salal Lahu Alehi Wasalam) rebuked any forms of tribalism.

 It is narrated by Qatada that Ibnu Abi Hathim said that in the verses quoted above Allah (swt) has ordered the Muslims to hold fast to the book of Allah, His Deen, and to his covenant, and He has forbidden the Muslims to divide amongst themselves and to dispute with each other. In another incident, Jabir ibn `Abd Allah al Ansari, narrated what happened at the watering place of al Muraysi which led to the Munafiqun stirring up the traces of `Asabiyah and seeking to destroy the unity of the Muslims. He said: “We were on a raid when one of the Muhajirun kicked one of the Ansar.

 The Ansar said, `O Ansar! Help me! (calling his tribe) and the Muhajir said, `O Muhajirun! Help me! (calling his tribe). The Messenger of Allah (saw) heard them and said, “Why are you stirring up something which belongs to Jahilliyah?” The Messenger of Allah (saw) did not deal with the situation only by speaking to his men, but he walked with the men all that day until nightfall, and through the night until morning and during the following day until the sun distressed them. Then he halted them, and as soon as they touched the ground, they fell asleep. He did this to distract their minds from what had transpired. 

 It is transmitted by at-Tabarani and al-Hakim that in one incident some people spoke very lowly about Salman al-Farsi. They spoke of the inferiority of the Persian in relation to the Arabs, and upon hearing this the Messenger of Allah (saw) declared, “Salman is from us, the ahl al-bayt (the Prophet’s family).” This statement of the Messenger of Allah (saw) disassociates all links based on lineage and tribal considerations. 

 It was also transmitted, in two different versions, by Ibn al-Mubarak in his two books, Al-Birr and As-Salah, that some disagreement occurred between Abu Dharr and Bilal and Abu Dharr said to Bilal, “You son of a black woman.” The Messenger of Allah (Salal Lahu Alehi Wasalam) was extremely upset by Abu Dharr’s comment, so he (Salal Lahu Alehi Wasalam) rebuked him by saying, “That is too much, Abu Dharr. He who has a white mother has no advantage which makes him better than the son of a black mother.” This rebuke had a profound effect on Abu Dharr, who then put his head on the ground swearing that he would not raise it until Bilal had put his foot over it. These incidents demonstrate that tribal ties have no place in Islam. Muslims are commanded to stick together and not to disassociate themselves from each other just because they come from different tribes. 

 The Messenger of Allah (saw) also said, “The believers, in their love, mutual kindness, and close ties, are like one body; when any part complains, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.” [Muslim], “The faithful are like one man: if his eyes suffers, his whole body suffers.” [Muslim], “An Arab is no better than a non-Arab. In return, a non-Arab is no better than an Arab. A red raced man was not better than a black one except in piety. Mankind are all Adam’s children and Adam was created out of clay.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Musa] Meaning that the Muslims, whether they are of Chinese, African, European or Asian origin, are one Ummah and they cannot be separated from each other. 

 No tribalistic ties should ever break their unity. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The Faithful are to one another like [parts of] a building – each part strengthening the others” and “Every Muslim is a brother to a Muslim, neither wronging him nor allowing him to be wronged. And if anyone helps his brother in need, Allah will help him in his own need; and if anyone removes a calamity from [another] Muslim, Allah will remove from him some of the calamities of the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone shields [another] Muslim from disgrace, Allah will shield him from the disgrace on the Day of Resurrection.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of `Abd Allah ibn `Umar]. 

 Some people claim that the Messenger of Allah (saw) approved of nationalism because during the migration to Madinah, he (saw) said about Makkah with tears in his (saw) eyes, “You are the most beloved land of Allah to me.” However, this saying has nothing to do with nationalism, and this can be seen from the full saying which people often do not quote, “You are the most beloved land of Allah to me because you are the most beloved land of Allah to Allah.” The Messenger of Allah’s (saw) love for Makkah was based on the noble status that Allah (swt) has given to Makkah, and not because he (saw) was born there. All Muslims should have this love and affection for Makkah because it is the most beloved land in the sight of Allah (swt). After all, the Muslims pray towards Makkah and go there to perform Hajj there as it houses the Ka’ba. 

 The above saying of the Messenger of Allah (saw) therefore has nothing to do with nationalism. If Rasoolillah (saw) and the Muhajireen amongst the Sahabah (ra) were tied to the homeland (of Makkah), they would have settled in Makkah after it became part of the Islamic State. Not only does Islam forbid people from grouping on nationalistic ties, but it also prohibits the establishment of more than one state, whether these states are based on nationalism or otherwise. The only state that is allowed for the Muslims is the Islamic State, which is a state that is governed exclusively by Islam. Allah (swt) addressed the Messenger (saw), “And rule between them by that which Allah revealed to you, and do not follow their vain desires away from the truth which came to you” [Surah Al-Madinah (5): ayah 48] and, “And rule between them by that which Allah revealed to you and do not follow their whims, and beware (be on the alert) that they may deviate you away from even some part of what Allah revealed to you.” [Surah Al-Maidah (5): ayah 49].

Learning Arabic Is An Obligation (Fardh) On Every Muslim

Shaykh Ahmed Ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Baatilee

 

The Praise is for Allâh, the one who has honoured us with the Qur’ân, and chosen for us the noblest of languages, and the peace and the blessings be upon the best one of the ones who articulated themselves in Arabic, and the most-preferred from the servants of Allâh, Our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam), and his family and his distinguished companions.

 

The Arabic language is the language of the Noble Qur’ân, and with it, the Qur’ân was revealed upon the seal of the Messengers, so attention to the Arabic language is to have attention to the Book of Allâh the Most High and the studying and the practising of it helps in the understanding of the Noble Book of Allâh and the narration of the master of the Prophets, Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam). It is also the language of our esteemed Islaamic law (As-Sharee’ah), so when we defend it we are not proceeding on a path of nationalism or racism or culturalism, but in fact we are defending the language of our religion (way of life) and it is the cloak of our Islaamic Civilisation.

 

As such, Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: “The Arabic Language is from the Religion, and the knowledge of it is an obligation. For surely the understanding of the Qur’ân and the Sunnah is an obligation, and these two are not understood except with the understanding of the Arabic Language, and whatever obligation is not fulfilled except by certain steps then those steps themselves become obligatory (to fulfil the initial obligation)” [The Necessity Of The Straight Path by Ibn Taymiyyah ( 1/470)]

 

 

So then the knowledge of the Arabic language is essential for every Muslim so that he can perform his religious acts of worship and he can be proficient in the recitation of the Noble Qur’ân. Allâh says in His Book (which means):

 

“Verily we have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’ân in order that you may understand” (Soorah Yusuf: 2)

And likewise the Most-Glorious said (which means):

“And thus We have inspired unto you (O Muhammad) an Arabic Qur’ân that you may warn the mother of the towns (Makkah) and all around it” (Soorah ash-Shura: 7)

 

And The Exalted said (which means):

 

“And truly this (the Qur’ân) is a revelation from the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists), which the trustworthy Ruh (Jibreel) has brought down upon your heart (O Muhammad) that you may be (one) of the warners, in the plain Arabic language” (Soorah ash-Shura: 192-195)

 

And He the Most High also said (which means):

“A Book whereof the verses are explained in detail, a Qur’ân in Arabic for people who know” (Soorah Fussilat: 3)

So from these verses we see why the Arabic Language has reached its station due to the fact that Allâh has guaranteed its protection when He undertook upon Himself the preservation of this Noble Qur’ân since it is the language of that Book.

 

The Most Merciful said (which means):

“Verily! It is We who have sent down the Reminder (i.e. the Qur’ân) and surely We will guard it (from corruption)” (Soorah Hijr: 9)

 

 

 

Despite this, many of the Muslims are content by spending their whole lives reading a translation of the Qur’ân and so depriving themselves of the miracle of the Speech Of Allâh. Also a translation implies a human factor, which goes against the very essence of the Book of Allâh. Also, the person who does not know Arabic, will have added difficulty in his concentration during his prayers and also in his understanding of the Sunnah. This is because a language is just not a collection of words which can readily be translated into another language but is a whole way of thinking.

 

 

Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali (Translator of the Noble Qur’ân) writes: “It is a pity that many nations are only satisfied in the translated meaning of the Qur’ân and Prophet’s Sunnah instead of studying the (true) Arabic text of the Qur’ân and Prophet’s Sunnah. For this reason they are divided into various sects (due to the lack of knowledge about the religion of ) e.g. as regards to the ways of religious education, etc. so they are plunged in differences, which was prohibited by Allâh. If the translation of the meaning of the Qur’ân is meant for the above said purpose then it is a real mischief-doing, and an evil action and is against what was brought by Allâh’s Messenger (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) and also against the opinions of the early present day religious scholars. All the religious scholars unanimously agree that the Qur’ân and the Sunnah should be taught in the language of the Qur’ân (i.e. Arabic Language). So did the early religious scholars of the Muslim nation when they conquered different countries.

 

Translations are mainly meant for informing the people who have not yet embraced to make clear to them the principles of and the teachings of Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) and to know its exact facts. When they reach this state and Allâh has blessed them with , they must take the Qur’ânic and the Messenger’s Language (i.e. Arabic) as the only language to understand .

 

 

May Allâh’s mercy be on Shaykh ‘Umar Uzbak, a great Turkish man, who strove for in Uzbakistan under the Russian government, after his long fight against the enemies of wit  fire (iron) and tongue (speech), he took refuge in Afghanistan at Kabul, where the government honoured him. I met him there in 1352 A.H. (approx. 1932 CE) i.e. nearly 40 years ago, and he had vowed to Allâh that he will never speak to a relative or anybody else except in the Qur’ânic and Messenger’s (Arabic) language. His wife sent a man for me to intercede for her to him that he should speak with her and her children in the Turkish language even for an hour everyday. So when I spoke to him about it, he said: ‘Russians had compelled us to learn perfectly the Russian language (by force), so we learnt it. And unless they knew that the learning of the Russian language will make the person who learns it, follow their ways of thinking, characters, and their traditions, they would not have forced anybody to learn it.’ He further said to me, ‘I have vowed to Allâh long ago not to speak except in the language of the Qur’ân and Sunnah (i.e. Arabic) and I do that only for Allâh’s sake. If my wife and children desire to enjoy speaking with me, they should learn the language of the Qur’ân and of the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam ) (i.e. Arabic) and I am ready to teach them the Qur’ânic language whenever they desire that” [The Noble Quran in the english language by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al- Hilali & Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan , page xxiv ( 1994 edition )]

Do They Seek the Judgement of Jaahiliyyah?

 

“DO THEY THEN SEEK THE JUDGMENT OF JAAHILIYYAH?” [AL-MA’IDAH 5/50]

Imam Ibn Kathir said: “Allah criticizes those who ignore Allah’s commandments which include every type of righteous good thing and prohibit every type of evil, but they refer instead to opinions, desires and customs that people themselves invented, all of which have no basis in Allah’s religion. During the time of Jahiliyyah, the people used to abide by the misguidance and ignorance that they invented by sheer opinion and lusts. The Tatar (Mongols) abided by the law that they inherited from their king Genghis Khan who wrote al-Yaasiq for them. This book contains some rulings that were derived from various religions, such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Many of these rulings were derived from his own opinion and desires. Later on, these rulings became the followed law among his children, preferring them to the Law of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Therefore, whoever does this, he is a disbeliever who deserves to be fought against, until he reverts to Allah’s and His Messenger’s decisions, so that no law, minor or major, is referred to except by His Law. Allah said: “Do they then seek the judgment of (the days of) ignorance?” Meaning, they desire and want this and ignore Allah’s Judgment. “And who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm faith?” Who is more just in decision than Allah for those who comprehend Allah’s Law, believe in Him, who are certain that Allah is the best among those who give decisions and that He is more merciful with His creation than the mother with her own child? Allah has perfect knowledge of everything, is able to do all things, and He is just in all matters. Hafidh Abu al-Qasim Tabarani recorded that Ibn Abbas (ra) said that RasulAllah (saw) said: “The most hated person to Allah is the Muslim who seeks the ways of the days of ignorance and he who seeks to shed the blood of a person without justification.” (Tabarani 10/374) Bukhari recorded Abu al-Yaman narrating a similar hadith with some addition. [Fathu’l-Bari, 12/219]”

[Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

 

Sayyid Qutb said: “This statement defines the meaning of jaahiliyyah, rendered here as “pagan ignorance”, as the term is used in the Qur’an. Jaahiliyyah means that people are ruled by people, because this signifies that they submit to one another. They refuse to submit to Allah alone and reject His Godhead, acknowledging instead that some human beings have qualities of Godhead and hence they submit to their authority. As such, the term pagan ignorance, or jaahiliyyah, does not refer to a particular period of time, but to a certain situation which may come into existence at any time. Whenever it exists, it must be described as jaahiliyyah which is in contrast to Islam. In all ages and places, people may implement Allah’s law, yielding no part of it for any reason, submitting to it willingly. As such, they follow the religion chosen for them by Allah. Alternatively, they may acknowledge and implement a man-made law in any shape or form. As such they follow ignorance. In this latter situation, they submit to the one who gives them the law and they cannot be described as following Allah’s religion. Anyone who does not wish to be ruled by Allah’s law actually desires to be ruled by the law of pagan ignorance. It is at this point that the two ways part and people are left to their choices.

The final sentence is a rhetorical question which decries their pursuit of the law of jaahiliyyah and emphasizes the superiority of Allah’s law: “For those who are firm in their faith, who can be a better law-giver than Allah?” [al-Ma’idah 5/50]

Indeed, who can be? Who can claim that he can give people a better law than that of Allah? What argument can be given to prove this hollow claim? Can anyone say that he knows mankind’s nature better than their Creator? Can he say that he is more compassionate and sympathetic to mankind than Allah? Can he say that he knows their interests better than the Allah of mankind? Or can he say that when Allah promulgated the final version of His law and sent His last Messenger to all mankind, giving him the final and complete version of the Divine message, He might have been unaware of future circumstances and needs and as a result did not take them into account in His legislation? What can anyone say in justification of setting Allah’s law aside and substituting for it a law of jāhiliyyah, placing in the process his own desires, or those of a particular community or generation, above Allah’s law? What can he say if, in spite of this, he still claims to be a Muslim? What is his justification: circumstances, events, people’s unwillingness, or fear of the enemy? Were all these not known to Allah when He commanded Muslims to implement His law and follow His way of life and never be tempted away from any part of His revelations? Or does he justify his attitude by claiming that Allah’s law does not cater for new needs and new situations? Were these needs and situations not known to Allah when He made this very stern warning?

A non-Muslim may say anything he wants, but what can those who claim to be Muslims say of any of this and imagine that they continue to be within the fold of Islam? As we have said: this is the point where the ways part. It is either Islam or jaahiliyyah, faith or un-faith, the rule of Allah or the rule of pagan ignorance. Those who choose not to judge in accordance with what Allah has revealed are unbelievers, wrongdoers and transgressors. People who do not accept Allah’s law are not believers. This question must be absolutely clear in every Muslim’s mind. Unless it be so, a Muslim will not be able to differentiate between truth and falsehood and will not be able to take one step in the right direction. If it is still not that clear to some people, it cannot remain so in the minds of those who want to claim for themselves the most honorable title of being Muslim.”

[Sayyid Qutb, fi Dhilal al-Qur’an]

We judge not by the outcome, we do because Allah has commanded us to

“This is a significant flaw in the Ummah today; we judge everything according to the outcome. That is how Islamic Movements even function! It may have to do with Western influence. We are treating our Islam like a business; they judge their success based on the outcome. If they aren’t making much money at the end of the day, then something’s wrong and they have to look into it. We cannot treat our ‘Ibadah like this; we do things because Allah told us to do it whether it leads to a good outcome or a bad outcome; that is up to Allah. We cannot control the results.” 

 

~Priceless words from lips of our noble Sheikh, Anwar Al Awlaqi (Rahimullah)