Ofer Binshtok - Kafir - עופר בינשטוק@Ofer_binshtok
Loyalty and Disavowal: The Principle of Al-Wala' Wal-Bara'
The smile is just a mask, hatred is a duty: Why they are forbidden to love us, even if we are their family.
By: Ofer Binshtok
1.
The Islamic principle of Al-Wala' Wal-Bara' (Loyalty and Disavowal) forms a cornerstone of the declaration of faith (Shahada), fundamentally shaping a Muslim’s relationships and actions.
- Wala' (Loyalty): Arises from love for Allah. It drives believers to cultivate closeness, offer support, and provide protection to those who follow His path. This manifests in tangible acts such as defending the faith, aiding fellow Muslims, and honoring their shared commitment.
- Bara' (Disavowal): Stems from the rejection of disbelief. It leads to active opposition, distance, and enmity toward those who oppose Allah or His message.
This principle allows no gray area: anyone who is not a Muslim hates Allah and His Prophet and must therefore be the absolute enemy of every Muslim.
These principles are not mere sentiments but demand practical commitment in both speech and deeds.
2.
Quranic Evidence: Alliances and Relationships
The Quran provides explicit guidance on maintaining loyalty to believers while dissociating from disbelievers. It warns against prioritizing alliances with non-Muslims:
- Prohibition of Alliances: The Quran warns against prioritizing alliances with disbelievers over fellow believers, stating that such actions sever one’s connection with Allah, unless done cautiously for self-preservation (Taqiyya; Quran 3:28).
- Jews and Christians: The Quran leaves no loophole: true friendship or alliance with a Jew or Christian equals outright kufr that takes one out of Islam (Quran 5:51). Full stop.
- Defining True Love: True love for Allah is demonstrated by following Muhammad. Turning away aligns one with those Allah disapproves of (Quran 3:31-32).
- Condition for Contact: Believers are urged to avoid ties with those who desire Muslims to abandon their faith, unless the disbelievers embrace Allah’s path (Quran 4:89).
3.
Faith Over Family
The doctrine places religious loyalty above biological kinship:
- Betrayal of Faith: Believers are instructed not to take disbelievers as allies, even if they are close relatives, if they oppose Allah and Muhammad (Quran 60:1).
- Parental Ties: Muslims are commanded not to prioritize familial ties with disbelieving parents or siblings over their faith (Quran 9:23).
- The Reward: True believers do not harbor affection for those who oppose Allah, even if they are kin. In return, Allah strengthens their hearts with faith (Quran 58:22).
- The Obligation of Hatred: If your father or brother is a non-Muslim, you are obliged to hate him and sever all emotional ties with him as long as he persists in his disbelief. Any love toward him is a sin that nullifies faith.
4.
The Example of Ibrahim (Abraham)
The ultimate model for Bara' (Disavowal) is found in Prophet Ibrahim’s declaration to his people:
“We disassociate ourselves from you and what you worship besides Allah. Enmity and hatred have arisen between us until you believe in Allah alone.” (Quran 60:4)
5.
Clarifications from the Sunnah
The traditions of Prophet Muhammad reinforce these teachings with explicit instructions:
- The Strongest Bond: The Prophet explicitly defined the core of faith, stating: "The strongest bond to faith is to take the believers (Muslims) as allies and friends for the sake of Allah, to treat unbelievers as enemies for the sake of Allah, to love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah." (Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Sahih Al-Jami as-Saghir 2539).
- The Oath: Muhammad instructed a companion to swear an oath to offer sincere guidance to Muslims while refraining from forming close bonds with disbelievers.
- Active Solidarity: Scholars explain that Wala' entails defending Muslims and upholding their honor, while Bara' requires concrete opposition, rejecting false ideologies and avoiding cooperation with Islam's opponents.
6.
The Two Parties: Allah vs. Satan
The doctrine creates a binary worldview:
- The Party of Allah: Those guided from darkness to light (Quran 2:257). They strive for Allah’s cause and are promised victory in both intellectual debates and physical struggles (Quran 6:112, 37:173).
- The Party of Satan: Those who lead others into darkness. The Quran urges Muslims to confront the allies of Satan, describing their strategies as ultimately weak (Quran 4:76).
7.
Modern Application and Threats
Enemies of Islam, whether atheists, secularists, proponents of contradictory ideologies, or simply non-Muslims, are viewed as seeking to erode Muslim identity.
- Deceptive Concepts: Ideas such as "universal brotherhood" or the separation of religion from state are seen as tools to weaken the Muslim community.
- Equality vs. Hierarchy: Calls for equality that ignore religious differences are considered a direct challenge to Al-Wala' Wal-Bara'.
8.
Conclusion
Muslims are commanded to arm themselves with conviction to counter these threats. Adhering strictly to the explicit commands of the Quran and the Sunnah of Muhammad, this doctrine dictates absolute allegiance solely to fellow believers and active, unyielding enmity toward non-Muslims. This is not an interpretation by later scholars, but a fundamental divine obligation to reject any spiritual alignment with those outside the faith. Any Muslim who violates this principle, who shows mercy, sympathy, or cooperation with disbelievers, is himself a disbeliever, and according to classical Sharia his blood becomes permissible. This is not “extremism”; this is pure faith exactly as Allah and His Prophet commanded. By enforcing this clear separation, Muslims fulfill their complete submission to Allah, ensuring their identity remains distinct and uncontaminated by the influence of non-Muslims.
