THE EVIL OF NATIONALISM
By
the esteemed and revered scholar, Shaikh ‘Abd-ul-’Azeez Bin Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him
Indeed, Islaam has forbidden the calls of the Days of Ignorance (jaahiliyyah). There are many textual evidences that forbid all of the characteristics and deeds of these times of Ignorance, except for those (good) practices, which Islaam has condoned. And from that which there is no doubt of, is that the call to NATIONALISM is indeed one of these calls of Jaahiliyyah. This is because nationalism is a call to something other than Islaam and a support for something other than the truth. And how many crimes, evils and severe wars has such calls of Jaahiliyyah brought about upon the people, causing great harm to their souls, their wealth and their possessions. The consequences of such calls was a break in their (Muslim) unity, a harvesting of Enmity and Hatred for one another, in their hearts, and a splitting between them into tribes and nations!
Ibn Taimiyyah (ra) said: “Everything that is foreign to the call of Islaam and the Qur’aan, with regards to lineage, land, nationality, schools of thoughts and methodologies, then that is from the calls of the Days of Ignorance (jaahiliyyah). Once the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar argued, such that one of the Muhaajireen said:’O Muhaajireen!’ (meaning, come to assist me) And one of the Ansaar said: ‘O Ansaar!’ Upon hearing this, the Prophet r said: ‘Is it with the calls of Jaahiliyyah that you cry out, while l am still amongst you?!’And he became very angry at that.”
From the textual evidences concerning this issue, is Allaah the Most High’s saying: “When those who disbelieved placed in their hearts, pride and arrogance – the pride and arrogance of the Times of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah), then Allaah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger and upon the believers. ”
The Prophet r said: “Whosoever leaves off obedience and separates from the Jamaa’ah and then dies, he dies a death of (one in) the Days of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah). Whosoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for partisanship (‘asabiyyah), calling towards it, or supporting it and then dies, he dies a death of (one in) the Days of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah).”
In Saheeh Muslim (8/120) the Prophet r said: “lndeed, Allaah has revealed to me that you should have humbleness. And that no one should act proudly and oppressively over anyone else, nor should one boast over anyone else.”
Thus, there is no doubt that calling to nationalism is calling to partisanship (‘asabiyyah)! And it is a call towards becoming angry for the sake of this partisan group, and fighting for it. Also, there is no doubt that calling towards nationalism is a call towards transgression, pride and arrogance. This is since nationalism is NOT a way of life that was divinely revealed, which would prevent its people from oppression and proudful boasting. On the contrary, it is an ideology from the Days of (pre-Islaamic) Ignorance, which leads its adherents to bragging about their group and having fanaticism for it, even if they are oppressors and the others are the oppressed!! So O noble reader, consider this well, and the truth will be made clear to you!
Another evidence related to this, is what has been reported by At-Tirmidhee that the Messenger of Allaah r said: “Let the people stop boasting about their forefathers that have passed away – who are merely fuel for the Hellfire – or they will surely become more insignificant to Allaah than the beetle that rubs feces on its nose. Allaah has removed from you the party spirit of the Days of Ignorance and the bragging about one’s forefathers. Indeed, a person is either a pious believer or a wretched sinner. All of mankind are the children of Aadam, and Aadam was created from dirt.”.
And the Prophet r said: “Indeed there is no excellence that an Arab possesses OVER a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab. Nor is there (an excellence) of a white man over a black man, or a black man over a white man, except by TAQWAA (submissive obedience to Allaah).”
This is in accordance with Allaah the Most High’s saying: “O mankind! Truly, 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 most noblest amongst you, in the sight of Allaah, is he who has the most taqwaa.”
So Allaah, the One free from all defects, has made it clear in this noble verse that people have been made into nations and tribes so that they may come to know one other, NOT so that they could brag and be proud over one another! And Allaah, the Most High, considers the most noblest amongst them to be the one who has the most piety and taqwaa. Similarly, the hadeeth mentioned before it contains the same meaning, and it guides to the fact that it is from the customs of the Days of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah) to proudly boast and BRAG and to have FALSE PRIDE for one’s forefathers and ancestors. This is what the calls of Ignorance lead to, whereas Islaam is in opposition to all this. Rather, Islaam calls to being modest, humble, righteous and having love for the sake of Allaah. It also indicates that the true and sincere Muslims are only one of the branches of the children of Aadam, and that the Muslims are a single body and a single structure; each part supporting the other and each part feeling the pain that the other parts are suffering. This is as occurs in an authentic hadeeth where the Prophet r said: “A believer (in regards to) to another believer is like a solid building, one part supports the other.” – and then he interlaced his fingers to demonstrate this.
The Prophet r also said: “The example of the believers in their mutual love and mercy for one another is like the example of a body, if one part of the body feels pain, then all the body suffers in sleeplessness and fever.”
O people!! I call to you in the name of Allaah. Does your nationalism direct you to these noble manners of mercy and kindness for the Muslims – both Arabs and non-Arabs – and of having mutual sympathy and concern for them, and feeling pain when they experiance pain? NO, by Allaah!! Rather, it directs you to having devotion to those with evil manners and it calls you to breeding animosity and hatred for those who reject this false belief of nationalism. So beware, O Muslim who desires safety and salvation, and consider the reality of this matter with fair consideration, without being prejudiced by party spirit and desires!! Only then you will see the reality as it truly is. So may Allaah guide me and you to the means of safety and salvation.
And it is reported by Imaam Al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (8/137), that a young man from the Muhaajireen and a young man from the Ansaar once argued, so the Muhaajir said: “O Muhaajireen! (meaning, come help me)”, whereas the Ansaaree said: “O Ansaar!” When the Prophet r heard this, he said: “Is it with the calls of Jaahiliyyah that you cry out, while l am still amongst you??!!”
The terms Muhaajieen and Ansaar are ascriptions that Allaah, the One free from all defects, loves. And He has praised these two groups very highly, in His saying: “And the first to embrace Islaam from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar, and those who followed them in righteousness, belief and actions. Allaah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens of Paradise, beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever. That is the supreme achievement.”
However, in the above incident, this ascription to the Muhaajireen and seeking help from them, and ascription to the Ansaar and seeking help from them, was considered to be from the CALLS OF IGNORANCE (Jaahiliyyah)! So what about those who adhere to nationalism and look for support from that and become angry for the sake of it??!! Is it not more befitting that this be considered one of the calls of Ignorance?! This is a matter about which there is no doubt, and indeed it is one of the clearest of all matters.
And it has been established in the authentic hadeeth of Al-Haarith Al-Ash’aree t, that the Prophet r said: “I command you with five things that Allaah commanded me with: (Sticking to) the Jamaa’ah, hearing, obeying, Hijrah (migration) and Jihaad in the Way of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So whosoever separates from the Jamaa’ah by a handspan, he throws the yoke of Islaam from his neck, unless he repents. And whosoever calls with the call of the Days of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah), then he is from the hoarded heap of the HELLFIRE!” It was said: “Even if he fasts and prays?” So he r said: “Even if he fasts and prays. So call (one another) with the call of Allaah that Allaah gave: ‘the Muslims’, ‘the Believers’, ‘Slaves of Allaah. ‘”
This hadeeth is absolutely clear with regards to debasing the call to nationalism. Those who call towards it deserve to be amongst the hoarded heap of the Hellfire, even if they fast and pray and claim they are Muslims!! So look at what a harsh threat and severe warning is being given here! It is warning every Muslim from the calls of the Days of Ignorance and from ambarking on it, even though such calls may be beautified with false speech and enchanting words. Rather, NATIONALISM is a deception and a form of blind following which leads its afherents to the WORST and most DETESTABLE of consequences! And we ask Allaah to free us and save us from that.