Posted by: "Zakira Hibatullah" zakirahibatullah@gmail.com
Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:36 pm (PST)
al-Walaa` wal-Baraa` as Revealed in Surat aal-'Imraan (1/2)
*In the Name of AllАажтh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful *
*by Khaalid al-Ghareeb *
**
The legal meaning of Al-Wala' (love, support, help, follow, etc.) is to
totally agree with the sayings, deeds and beliefs which please Allah and
the persons whom He likes.
In an age where truth is presented as falsehood, righteousness is
translated to rebelliance and the preserving of ones land and dignity is
called terrorism, there will naturally arise many confusions about the
pillars of Iman and the facts of Islam. Those in whose hearts there is a
deviation find it expedient to twist the meaning of many sacred texts
because it does not conform with their desires and motives. Not even the
principles of Al-Aqeedah can escape their ploys. Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara' is
the creed that guides all the actions and sayings of a Muslim and it is by
its practice and application that the ranks of the believers vary. It is
imperative that this creed be unambiguous to the Muslim's mentality in
order that it manifests and materialises correctly in his actions.
*28. Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Awliya' (supporters,
helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never
be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from
them. And Allah warns you against Himself (ie. His Punishment), and to
Allah is the final return.
29. Say [O Muhammad (s.a.w.)]: "Whether you hide what is in your breasts or
reveal it, Allah knows it, and He knows what is in the heavens and what is
in the earth. And Allah is Able to do all things".*
*The Occasion of Revelation*
The *Ayah *(verse)* *was revealed concerning a group of believers who had
Jewish friends. Those believers were giving *Muwalat *(support, help, etc.)
to these Jews. Some of the *Sahabah* (r.a.a.) said to those believers:
"Keep away from those Jews and beware of their friendship for they could
seduce you away from your religion and guide you astray after you have
believed". However this group of believers disobeyed the advice and
remained loyal to their Jewish friends; and so Allah (s.w.t.) revealed "Let
not the believers take the disbelievers as *Awliya'*".
Al-Qurtubi also reports in his *Tafseer*, narrated by Ibn Abbas (r.a.a.)
that the *Ayat* was revealed with respect to 'Ubadah bin us-Saamet
Al-Ansari Al-Badri who had a coalition of Jews. On the day of Al-Ahzaab,
'Ubadah said to the Prophet (s.a.w.): "O Prophet of Allah, I have a fellow
of five hundred Jews; I see that they should come with me for support
against the enemy". In this incidence, Allah (s.w.t.) revealed the
aforementioned *Ayat.*
*The General Meaning of the Ayah*
Allah (s.w.t.) forbids His Believers from exhibiting any form of *Muwalat *to
the disbelievers. This includes the manifestation of love and compassion to
strengthen the ties with them or to regard them as companions and friends
because of their kinship or acquaintance. The Believer can not be an ally
of Allah's enemies and it is impossible for a person to combine the love of
Allah (s.w.t.) and the love of his enemies because this is a combination of
opposites; therefore, he who loves Allah, must also hate His enemies.
It is forbidden upon the Muslim to give *Muwalat *to the disbelievers and
forsake the believers. There is no association or relationship whatsoever
between *Iman* and *Kufur*. The preceding noble *Ayat* forewarns us
from *Muwalat
Al-Kafireen* and alerts us to the consequences of such an action, with one
exception being in extreme necessity when one must avoid or protect oneself
from the harm or injury inflicted upon by disbelievers by presenting an
outer appearance that belies what one conceals inside. This is known as *
Taqiyyah*, and it is only permitted under such circumstances.
The noble *Ayat* concludes by strongly threatening those who disobey Allah
and show *Muwalat *to the disbelievers. This threat indicates the magnitude
of such a sin.
*The Definition of Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara' in the Islamic Belief*
The legal meaning of *Al-Wala'* (love, support, help, follow, etc.) is to
totally agree with the sayings, deeds and beliefs which please Allah and
the persons whom He likes. *Al-Bara'* (despise, desert, keep innocent of,
etc.) is the complete opposite of *Al-Wala'* and it is to disagree with
everything that Allah hates and condemns. Hence, there are four issues
related to the belief in *Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'*, those being: the sayings,
the deeds, the beliefs and the individual persons. Some of the things that
pleases Allah (s.w.t.) are the saying of *Dhikr*, the deed of *Jihad*, the
belief in His Oneness and the love of the believing person. Backbiting,
fornication, S*hirk* and disbelief are some of the things that are hated by
Allah (s.w.t.) and must also be hated by the Believer.
*The Rank of the Belief in Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'*
The belief in *Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'* occupies a meritorious rank in the
Islamic *Aqeedah*. This can be understood from the following reasons:
*Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'* is part of the *Shahadah* (testimony of faith)
that being *'La ilaha'* which is the portion from *'La ilaha illallah'*.
This means to be free and immune from all that is worshiped besides Allah
(s.w.t.) as He the Almighty states: "And verily, We have sent among every *
Ummah* (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming) : 'Worship Allah
(alone), and avoid (or keep away from) *Taghut* (all false deities, ie. do
not worship *Taghut* besides Allah)" (16:36).
The eminent creed of *Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'* is the strongest bond of *Iman*.
Al-Barra' bin A'aazeb (r.a.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
"The strongest bond of *Iman* is the love for Allah's sake and the hatred
for Allah's sake" (Reported by Imam Ahmad).
It is one of the basis by which the heart can experience the beauty of *Iman
* and absolute assurance. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "Whoever possesses the
following three (qualities) will have the sweetness (delight) of faith: The
one to whom Allah and His Messenger become dearer than anything else, who
loves a person and he loves him only for Allah's sake, and who hates to
revert to atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire".
[Bukhary and Muslim]
It is the foundation by which all relationships and dealings in a Muslim
community is built upon as described by the Prophet (s.a.w.): "None of you
will have faith till he likes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for
himself" (Bukhari), and by Wisdom of the Almighty: "The believers are
nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion)" (49:10).
The great and abundant reward is due to those who are characterised by the
love of each other for the sake of Allah (s.w.t.). The Prophet (s.a.w.)
articulates: "Those who love me will be (standing) upon pulpits made of
light on the day of Resurrection" . He (s.a.w.) also said: "There will be
seven (categories of people) for whom Allah will Shed (Protect) under His
Shade, when there will not be any shade except His", one of those
categories is "Two men who loved each other for Allah's sake. They
congregate for His Sake, and they separate for His Sake".
It is the most powerful tie or relationship that links between people.
Allah (s.w.t.) has given it the precedence and priority over all types of
ties by Asserting: "Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your
wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which
you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight ... are dearer
to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His
Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah
guides not the people who are *Fasiqun* (the rebellious, disobedient to
Allah)" (9:24).
It is by the means of the creed of *Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'* that Allah
grants His *Walayah* (the protection, power, authority and kingdom). Ibn
Jareer reports the saying of Ibn Abbas (r.a.a.): "He who loves for Allah's
sake and hates for Allah's sake, he who gives *Muwalat *(support, help,
etc.) for Allah's sake and exhibits enmity for Allah's sake, will attain
Allah's *Walayah*".
The relationship of *Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'* will be theonone to remain on
the Day of Reckoning as foretold by Allah the All-Knowing: "When those who
were followed, disown (declare themselves innocent of) those who followed
(them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off
from them" (2:166).
He who loves other than Allah and His Religion and hates Him (s.w.t.), His
Religion or followers is a definite disbeliever, "And if any amongst you
takes them (Jews and Christians) as *Awliya'*, then surely he is one of
them" (5:51). The *Al-Wala'u wa Al-Bara'* is an integral part of *Iman* and
is necessary for its perfection. In a Hadith: "He who loves for Allah's
pleasure, hates for Allah's pleasure, donates for Allah's sake and deprives
for Allah's sake, then that person has perfected his *Iman*" [Sound Hadith
related by Ahmad and Tirmithi] n *
References:
*
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