Islam & Nationalism As Two Opposite Poles—

Nationalism Is A Call To Something Other Than Islam And A Support For Something Other Than The Truth:

Islam Teaches Every Individual To Think For The Whole Humanity —

Even When a Muslim Conquers a Land, He Imposes the Rule And Order Of Allah (swt) on it. While Nationalism restricts the Muslim within the borders and then he fights for his country, land, and position.

Nationalism encourages one to serve one’s own society and to desire its greatness, and seek its interests, even to the extent of sacrificing the rights and interests of other nations.

Indeed, Islam Has Forbidden The Calls Of The Days Of Ignorance (Jahiliyah):

There are many textual pieces of evidence that Forbid all of the characteristics and deeds of these times of Ignorance, except for those (good) practices, that Islam has condoned.

And from that which there is no doubt of, is that the call to Nationalism is indeed one of these calls of Jahiliyah. This is because Nationalism is a call to something other than Islam and support for something other than the truth.

Islam is a Complete System — having its own Independent, Spiritual, Practical, Political, and Social system and comprising a particular set of Beliefs, it naturally comes into conflict with the school of Nationalism.

The term “Nationalism” refers to a process by which a Group (or Groups) of people who possess one or many real or imagined common characteristics—usually language, History, Culture, and Religion—join together, either seeking some form of autonomy within a state or striving to achieve Independence so that they may Establish their own state.

Nationalism is a Secular Ideology according to which Religion State, Politics, and Faith should be separated From one another. One of the mottos most often expressed by Egyptian nationalists was: "The religion belongs to Allah, but the country belongs to all."

Islam Is Not Confined To Religious Rites & Metaphysical Convictions:

Unlike other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism etc, Islam is not confined to religious rites and metaphysical convictions. Had Islam been only a religion of devotions, it might have agreed with nationalism.

But Islam is a religion with asocial and philosophical worldview, and provides for Economic and Political principles.

Nationalism, too, has its own social and political principles based however on different beliefs and criteria. Therefore, conflict between Islam and nationalism is inevitable.

Can There Be Any Comparison Between The Two Ideologies—

Islam & Nationalism:

The Islamic Ideology is not Compatible with any other Ideology on the question of Sovereignty over the Private and Social life of Muslims.

A Muslim cannot at the same time be a Muslim and a polytheist, or a Muslim and communist.

In Islam, there is no room for one to be a loyal and genuine Nationalist. It is a question of identity, and one negates the other. Undoubtedly this is the gravest insult to Islam and a denial of its principles and wise teachings.

How can any sound mind compare Nationalism and Islam when— if Abu Jahl, ‘Utbah ibn Rabee’ah, Shaybah ibn Rabee’ah and other enemies of Islam were alive, they would be among the most prominent supporters and greatest proponents of Nationalism —

Whereas the proponents and supporters of Islam in every time and place are Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (saw), Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib and other Sahaabah, the supporters and Heroes of Islam, and those righteous people who followed their path? No one would justify comparing the Nationalism of this ilk, with these men as its supporters, and a religion of such standing, with such supporters and proponents, except one who is deranged or is a blind follower, or a bitter enemy of Islam.

Islam says that all the Muslims in the world are members of the same body and all Islamic nations, Arab, non-Arab, Turk, Afghan, Indian, black, white, and yellow must belong to one Ummah in their belief — But Nationalism considers the Religious Solidarity of a country with other Nations as a danger for National and Tribal Identity.

Thus, Nationalism’s vision of society and politics is quite opposite to that of Islam, and these two cannot go together. That’s why the nationalists of other Islamic lands regard separation from Islam as a condition for nationalism to succeed, even if they do not utter it. Their acts reveal their hatred towards those who seek Islam.

Islam And Nationalism As Two Opposite Poles:

Nationalism is incompatible with Islam, both schools have two opposite ideologies. These two assume two totally opposite poles in their spirit, essence, direction, and goal.

Quran has explicitly rejected the basis of Nationalism and states that language, color, and race are no criteria for unity and privilege. The only criteria are belief and virtue. A Common Ideology is the basis of the Unity of the Muslim Ummah, not race, country, language, or even culture.

Tribe worship (Tribalism) and Tribalistic Sentiments have always been a threat to Islam. Nationalist Forces and tribal prejudices stood stubbornly against this revolutionary message of Islam and served as a barrier against its expansion. Those factors made the Quraish and other nations of the time take a posture against the Prophet of Islam. They protested why the Quran did not descend upon a selectman of Mecca and Tayef.

As the Quran says: "And they say: Why was not this Quran revealed to a man of importance in the two towns?" (43:31).

Arab Tribes with their limited tribal vision wondered why the Prophet (saw) did not belong to their tribes and whether he intended to establish the superiority of his own Tribe.

Abu-Jahl said openly: “We are the equals of the family of Abd-Manaf. In horsemanship, we are their rival and in generosity their equal. How is it now that they claim Prophethood and Revelation? By God, we will not accept Muhammad as a Prophet.

The same racial and tribal prejudice made the Jews who had long been waiting for the advent of such a Prophet, stand against Muhammad(saw).

Thus they refused to accept the truth and were worried about why the Prophet (saw) was a descendant of Ismail and not of the Israelites. So they united the pagans and polytheists against the believers in God.

Kindling the Flame of National Feeling was the wickedest weapon of the Medinan hypocrites against Islam.

In one case, one of their leaders, by bringing up the question of the Battle of Beghath, managed to get the two great Muslim tribes of Owss and Khazraj into conflict, when the following verse was revealed:

"O you who believe: If you obey a party from among those who have been given the Book, they will turn you back as unbelievers after you believed." (3: 100).

Abdullah bin Abi, a Leader of the Medinan hypocrites was a loyal Nationalist, and constantly instigated the people of Medina, in Favour of Nationalism, saying:

"A few beggars have come to our country from other lands and have become bullies. They are like dogs which are fattened to assault us.”

He told the Medinans:

“It is wrong of you to have made those foreigners partners in your wealth and country. If you stop helping them today, they will flee."

In answer to these Futile words, the following verse was revealed:

"They it is who say: Do not spend upon those who are with the Apostle of God until they break up. And God’s the treasure of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand. They say: If we return to Medina, the mighty will surely drive out the meaner therefrom; and to God belongs the might and to His apostate and to the believers but the hypocrites do not know." (63:7-8)

Thus, one sees the Dangerous dimensions of the opposition to Islam based on Tribal and National Sentiments. It becomes clear from what has been said so far, that next to paganism and polytheism, the prejudice of blood, land, ancestors, and Tribe is the greatest enemy of Islam.

Prophet (saw) said: "indeed Allah (swt) has revealed to me that you should have humility, and that no one should act proudly and oppressively over anyone else, nor should anyone boast over anyone else."(Saheeh Muslim:8/120)

Call To Nationalism Is A Call To 'Asabiyyah — Partisanship & Party Spirit:

The goal Of Nationalism Is To Create National Units. And there is no doubt that the call to Nationalism is a call to 'asabiyyah (partisanship and party spirit) and it is a call to becoming angry for the sake of 'asabiyyah and fighting for 'asabiyyah.

And there is no doubt also, that the call to Nationalism is a call to transgression, pride, and arrogance since nationalism is not a divinely revealed way of life that prevents its people from oppression and proud boasting.

Rather it is an Ideology from the time of jaahiliyyah which leads its people to boast about it and have 'asabiyyah for it even if they are the oppressors and the others are the oppressed. So O noble reader consider this and the truth will be clear to you.

Allah the Most High’s saying:

"O mankind! We have created you from male and female and have made you into Nations and Tribes, so that you may know one another. Indeed the noblest of you with Allah is the one who has the most Taqwaa." (Surah al-Hujuraat 49:13).

So Allah the One free from all defects- made clear in this Noble Ayah (verse) that people have been made into Nations and Tribes so that they may come to know each other, not that they should boast and have pride over one another. And Allah(swt) considered the noblest of them to be the one with the most Piety and Taqwaa.

Prophet (saw) said: "I order you with five things which Allah ordered me with: The Jamaa’ah, hearing, obeying, hijrah (migration) and jihaad in the way of Allah the Mighty and Majestic. So whosoever separates from the Jamaah by a handspan, throws the yoke o Islam from his neck, unless he repents.

And whosoever calls with the call of jaahiliyyah (the days of ignorance), then he is from the hoarded heap of Hell Fire" It was said: Even if he fasts and prays? He said: "Even if he fasts and prays. So call with the call of Allah which Allah gave: The Muslims, the Believers, Worshippers of Allah”. (Saheeh: Related by at-Tirmidhee :2863).

This Hadeeth is absolutely clear with regards to rendering futile the calls to nationalism. Its callers deserve that they should be from the heap of Hell Fire, even if they fast and they Pray and claim that they are Muslims.

So what a severe threat and severe warning is given here — Warning every Muslim from the Calls of jaahiliyyah and warning them from entering into this even if such calls are adorned with false talks and enchanting speeches.

Rather it is a Deception and a Blind Following which leads its people to the worst and most despicable of ends. And we ask Allah(swt) for Safety and Freedom from that.

JazakAllah (May Allah reward you [with] goodness)for reading.

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