Nationalism
01-04-2008
Amongst the many trials and tribulations faced by Muslims today, there is the
disease of Nationalism. This is to believe that one is superior just by the mere
fact that they reside in a certain part of the world, to see their race, culture
and traditions to be far better with no basis from the Shari'ah. Allah (swt)
tells us why He created us different, so we can recognise each other.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ
شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into
nations and tribes, that you may know one another [Qur'an 49:13]
People are elevated by Islam
The verse continues to say that only those who have taqwa (fear of Allah) which
is a sign of belief are elevated in the yes of Allah (swt).
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa.
Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. [Qur'an 49:13]
The Messenger (saw) said on his farewell sermon.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor
a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority
over a black nor does a black have any superiority over a white - except by
piety and good action.
The piety and good action referred to here is Islam, as any other action or way
of life will be rejected, as Allah (swt) says,
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ
And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of
him [Qur'an 3:85]
Umar al Khattab said "we are people elevated by Islam, if we chose another way
it will only bring disgrace"
Unity amongst Muslims is obligatory
The Muslims are united as one nation, not by blood, nor colour nor race but by
following the same deen (religion). This bond of faith is what causes the
brotherhood between the believers, as Allah (swt) says,
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ
Verily the believers are a brotherhood [Qur'an 49:10]
Mujahid, the student of Ibn Abbas (ra) said this verse is referring exclusively
to the Muslims. The Messenger (saw) said
A Muslim to another Muslim is a brother; he does not forsake him nor oppress
him. The similitude of the Muslims is like one body, if one part suffers the
other feels the pain. "The Muslim Ummah is one at the exclusion of all others,
their land is one, their war is one and their peace is one"
With such clear cut evidences dispraising and forbidding the division of the
Muslim based upon jahiliyyah (ignorance), one has to think why the Muslim Ummah
is in the situation it is today. It is easy just to blame the Muslims and say
why they don't practice Islam and why do they allow this to happen. However we
also need to look further.
Divide and Rule
Since the advent of Islam there have been many plots to destroy this deen of
Allah (swt). Even in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) the Mushrikeen
(polytheists) of Quraish tried several times to quash the Islamic State in
Madinah. Even those residing within Madinah such as the hypocrites and the Jews
betrayed the covenant they had with the Prophet (saw) in siding with the enemies
of Islam. We should therefore not be surprised that those outside of this
brotherhood of Islam will do all they can to destroy it. Allah (swt) says,
وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ
Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you till you follow
their religion. [Qur'an 2:120]
مَّا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَلاَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن
يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
Neither those who disbelieve among the people of the Scripture nor Al-Mushrikoun
like that there should be sent down unto you any good from your Lord. [Qur'an
2:105]
The strategy of Divide and Rule is constantly used by the disbelievers to
disunite the Muslims. We need only look into history and see how Andulus (Spain)
was taken from the Muslims, by the Christians who came in pretending to aid the
Muslim governors against each other, only finally to oust the Muslims all
together. Even recently the plot to pit Arabs against Turks was successful in
destroying the last remnants of the Islamic State in Turkey. This situation
continues further with places like Kashmir, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan, where
the media always make reference to ethnicity rather than Islam or Muslims. Even
Palestine which is a concern for all Muslims is reported as an Arab Israeli
Conflict.
Leave Nationalism
We should take lessons from the sayings of the Prophet (saw) who severely warned
us against nationalism. He (saw) said,
"He is not one us who calls for Asabiyyah, (nationalism/tribalism) or who fights
for Asabiyyah or who dies for Asabiyyah."
And in another Hadith, also referring to nationalism, racism, and patriotism He
(saw) said:
"Leave it, it is rotten."
Only through unity can the Ummah return to its former glory, and be as Allah (swt)
called it a leading nation.
Submitted by a Mujahid