Islam and Nationalism

no-nationalism-in-islamThe prophet Muhammad said: “He is not one of us who calls for asabiyyah, (tribalism/nationalism) or who fights for asabiyyah, or who dies for asabiyyah.” [Abu Dawud]

On one occasion during the time of the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam), a party of Jews conspired to bring about disunity in the ranks of the Muslims after seeing the Aus and Khazraj harmonious with each other within Islam. A youth from among them was sent to incite remembrance of the battle of Bu’ath, where the Aus had been victorious over the Khazraj. He recited poetry to stir their feelings, remind them of their past differences, and bring about division between them. As a result there was a call to arms.

When the news reached the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) he said, “O Muslims, remember Allah, remember Allah. Will you act as pagans while I am present among you, after Allah has guided you to Islam, and honoured 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.

Islam is a religion that abhors racism, ethnicism, tribalism, and its newer version, nationalism. Differences of language, colour, cuisine and accent were meant to add flavour to life, not to be used to ridicule or fight each other. The past couple of centuries have seen wars between different ethnic groups on a scale unprecedented before. The rise of nationalism has resulted in bitter conflict between groups that had lived for centuries in harmony. It has set the world on fire and resulted in pandaemonium.

While Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has prohibited nationalism, Muslims are killing one another and aiding non-Muslims to kill their brothers and sisters in Islam, in the name of serving their own “country”. This is despite the fact that such “countries” have no legitimacy in Allah’s eyes because:

1) in none of these is Allah’s law held wholly superior to man made law, and

2) there is only one country to which all Muslims belong, i.e. Dar-ul-Islam. Muslims, for thirteen centuries were one bloc, under one leadership, in the name of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). When you cut an elephant into 100 pieces you don’t get one hundred elephants, instead you get a bloody mess. Incited against each other using nationalism, this is what the Muslim Ummah has become.

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8 comments

  1. Reblogged this on ? The Tale Of My Heart ? and commented:
    Islam and Nationalism
    The prophet Muhammad said: “He is not one of us who calls for asabiyyah, (tribalism/nationalism) or who fights for asabiyyah, or who dies for asabiyyah.” [Abu Dawud]

    On one occasion during the time of the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam), a party of Jews conspired to bring about disunity in the ranks of the Muslims after seeing the Aus and Khazraj harmonious with each other within Islam. A youth from among them was sent to incite remembrance of the battle of Bu’ath, where the Aus had been victorious over the Khazraj. He recited poetry to stir their feelings, remind them of their past differences, and bring about division between them. As a result there was a call to arms.

    When the news reached the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) he said, “O Muslims, remember Allah, remember Allah. Will you act as pagans while I am present among you, after Allah has guided you to Islam, and honoured 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.

    Islam is a religion that abhors racism, ethnicism, tribalism, and its newer version, nationalism. Differences of language, colour, cuisine and accent were meant to add flavour to life, not to be used to ridicule or fight each other. The past couple of centuries have seen wars between different ethnic groups on a scale unprecedented before. The rise of nationalism has resulted in bitter conflict between groups that had lived for centuries in harmony. It has set the world on fire and resulted in pandaemonium.

    While Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has prohibited nationalism, Muslims are killing one another and aiding non-Muslims to kill their brothers and sisters in Islam, in the name of serving their own “country”. This is despite the fact that such “countries” have no legitimacy in Allah’s eyes because:

    1) in none of these is Allah’s law held wholly superior to man made law, and

    2) there is only one country to which all Muslims belong, i.e. Dar-ul-Islam. Muslims, for thirteen centuries were one bloc, under one leadership, in the name of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). When you cut an elephant into 100 pieces you don’t get one hundred elephants, instead you get a bloody mess. Incited against each other using nationalism, this is what the Muslim Ummah has become.

  2. Eloquently put Sir,

    All Americans should read these words. Perhaps they would then stop blaming Islam and Allah for the wars and hatred they themselves cause.
    Fighting for Islam; fighting for Yeshua; fighting for Ibrahim; fighting to free the rest of the world as the Americans claim to be doing.
    God; Allah; Jesus; all are about love and peace. Militants of any nation; who claim any religion; are false believers. Hatred is their policy and hatred is what they believe in.
    Nationalism is just another tool of Satan used to create disruption; killing; misery; grief and hatred between people who should be able to live in harmony.
    Wa `alaykumu s-sal?mu wa rahmatu l-l?hi wa barak?tuh my friend. If we work as one; perhaps we will one day learn to live as one.
    I hope so.

  3. Pearls of Wisdom for those who care to ponder. God will not ask on the Day of Judgment your Caste, Colour or Creed. He (SWT) will only Ask: What have you done on the surface of My (SWT) Earth.

  4. if that hadith was used, no arab will treat africans muslims as bad/ kafir people

    On 12/11/2012, Words of love.. words for love…

  5. allah bless us all in the right path and keep us away from such SINS.

  6. Reblogged this on Usamaism and commented:
    Worth to read !

  7. MashALLAH ! Great post