There is no honour except by Islam

The Leader of the Believers, Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “We are a nation whom Allah has honoured by Islam. Whenever we seek honour through other than it, Allah will humiliate us. There is no honour except by Islam, and there is no affiliation except to Islam.”

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said,

“My father is Islam, I have no father other than it,
When they pride themselves with Qais or Tameem”

Thus, to affiliate to and seek honour through other than Islam is from the acts of ignorance. When the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) heard some of the people saying, ‘we are with the Ansaar’ and others saying, ‘we are with the Muhaajiroon.’ He replied,

“Do they call with the Call of Ignorance, whilst I am among them?”

From the Hadeeth of Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullah, who said, “We were in the company of the Prophet in a battle. A large number of Muhaajiroon joined him. Amongst them was a person who used to play jokes so he (jokingly) poked an Ansaari man on the hip [with spears]. The Ansaari man became angry, this led to both of them calling their people.

The Ansaari said, “we are with the Ansaar!” and the Muhaajiroon said, “we are with the Muhaajiroon!”

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) came forward and said, “What is wrong with the people (as they are calling) this call of Ignorance?”

He then asked, “What is the matter with them?”

He was told about the poking of the Muhaajir to the Ansari.

The Prophet then said, “Stop this, for it is an evil call.””

To seek honour through one’s tribe, nation, Arabism or humanity, is in reality seeking honour and affiliating to the matters of ignorance. This is why, when a little while ago there appeared some people who propagated Arab Nationalism, the scholars severely disapproved and renounced them.

Shaykh Abdul-Azeez bin Baz refuted them in length, and he named his refutation: ‘A Criticism of Arab Nationalism’ and it has been published and is available.

This is because Islam is the religion of mercy,

“And We have sent you (O Muhammad (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam)) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).“ [Quran, 21:107]

Islam is also the religion of humanity,

“Say (O Muhammad (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam)): “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah…” [Quran, 07:158]

Humanity is of no value without Islam. Before Islam, mankind was in a state of savagery, hostility, fighting, plundering, pillage and strife.

“…and remember Allah’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 Islamic Faith),…” [Quran, 03:103]

So every type of mercy and every type of goodness towards people has been established in Islam.

“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.“ [Quran, 60:08]

Even the animals and those from the children of Adam who deserve to be killed, [Such as those whom Islam has prescribed the punishment of death upon due to their crimes] Islam requires goodness to be shown to them at the time of the sacrifice [of the animals] or the killing of the Children of Adam.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) said,

“Verily Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.” [Narrated by Abu Ya’la Shaddad bin Aws; Collected by Muslim]

Similarly Allah forgave the prostitute who quenched the thirst of the dog, and He punished the woman who kept a cat in starvation until it died.

Mere humanity without Islam is of no value; it neither brings about any good nor does it repel any evil. Much blood has been spilled, people’s honour violated and people’s wealth taken in the name of humanity. Neither does the cause of ‘humanity’ preserve sanctity except if it is aided by Islam.

We hear nowadays those who champion the cause of ‘humanity’ and relate every type of goodness to it whilst forgetting, neglecting and even denying the effort Islam has placed [in preserving the rights of people].

May Allah guide us all to that which contains goodness, uprightness and rectification of Islam and the Muslims.

May the peace and blessing of Allaah be upon our Prophet Muhammad (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam).