Nationalism, Race, Culture and Islam
 

All Praise and All Thanks are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) to whom we shall all return to be judged on The Last Day.

Since my conversion/reversion to Islam, I - because of my own past and previous political involvements - have been asked many times over the years for my views regarding nationalism, race and Islam. Is, some have enquired, Islam compatible with nationalism, and/or racial identity, while others have asked whether our own native or ancestral culture is important.

For years, I have striven to answer these questions, by asking the advice of those Muslims more learned than I, by studying the Quran and Sunnah, and by studying the works of Islamic scholars. Thus I have come to understand that, for Islam, there is only Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Kufr: the lands of Islam, and the lands of Ignorance where abide the Kafiroon. In addition, as Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:

 
"The most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the one who has At-Taqwa." [49:13 Interpretation of Meaning]
 

Muslim Identity and Culture

A Muslim - someone who submits only to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala - should define themselves in relation to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and His Messenger, Muhammad (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) - that is, seeking always to do what Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has commanded, and seeking always to be aware of the perfect example of the Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam):
 
"In the Messenger of Allah you have the perfect example to follow." [33:2 Interpretation of Meaning]

 
Thus, the primary distinction to be made, in Islam is between those who believe, and those who do not believe - between Haqq and Batil (Truth and Falsehood); between Ignorance and Islam; between the revealing of the truth (the Quran and Sunnah) and the concealment that is Kufr. Between the kuffar (the infidels) and those who are Muslim.

 
"The Prophet's hadith tell us to differ from the disbelievers. In fact, scholars have noted that to differ from the kuffar in their habits, dress, attitudes, practices, appearances, and so on is one of the most important parts of the Prophet's message."  Sheikh Ahmad al-Ghumari: "Al-Istinfar li-ghazw al-tashabbuh bi l-kuffaar"
 

For a Muslim, all Muslims are their brothers and sisters - they are not judged, or categorized, according to any other criteria, such as "race". Indeed, it is perhaps true to say that there is a specific Islamic culture: a Muslim identity, created by the revealing which is the Quran and Sunnah, and manifest in Adhab Al-Islam: in the customs, the ways, the manners of Muslims. For Muslims are enjoined to behave and live in certain ways; to follow the perfect example of the Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

Thus, we strive to follow the advice, the wisdom, contained in Ahadith such as the following:

 
"It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hariara that the Prophet (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Iman [faith] has over seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of Iman." (Muslim, Book1, 55)
 
"It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hariara that the Prophet (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should either speak honourably or be silent. He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should be noble toward his neighbour, and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should be a good host to his guests." (Muslim Book 1, 75)
 
Narrated by Abdullah bin 'Umar - Once, the Prophet of Islam (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) passed by one of the Ansar who was admonishing a man on account of his shyness. But the Prophet (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Let him be, for shyness is part of Iman." (Bukhari, Book 2, 23)
 
'Aayeshah (Radiyallahu 'Anha) reports, that: "It was not the nature of Rasulullah (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) to talk indecently, nor did he engage himself in the use of obscene language. Nor did he shout and talk in the bazaars (which is against dignity). He did not avenge a bad deed with a bad one, but forgave it, and thereafter did not even mention it".  Shamaa-il Tirmidhi Chapter 47, Number 5 (330).
 
What this means in respect of culture is that it is Islam which is our culture and which defines us, and it is the Quran, the Sunnah, and Shari'ah which defines our culture, which are our culture: from them we derive all we need, in terms of how we live, how we behave, in public and in private, what is lawful and prohibited, and how our communities should be. We belong to the Ummah, the community bound by submission to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala alone, and we, knowing our nature as Muslims, should strive to follow only the perfect and complete Way of  Al-Islam. Anything else is surely a moving-away from the Right Path which Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala in His Mercy and Compassion has bestowed upon us.

 
"This Book which We have revealed is a Blessing - therefore follow it and be honourable so that you may receive mercy." [6:155 Interpretation of Meaning]
 
"The genesis of truth is Allah alone, so do not be among those who do not believe." [3:60 Interpretation of Meaning]
 
"Correct guidance is the guidance of Allah." [3:73 Interpretation of meaning]

"And We have sent you (Muhammad) only as a mercy for the Alamin." [21:107 Interpretation of Meaning]
 
"Be loyal and do your duty to Allah; fear Him and always speak with honour. He will direct you to do honourable deeds and will forgive your mis-deeds. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will achieve the greatest achievement of all." [33:70-71]
 


Nationalism and Racialism are 'Asabiyyah

Expressed simply, for Muslims nationalism is 'asabiyyah. 'Asabiyyah is a loyalty to, or a feeling of kinship with and a belonging to, some group, or grouping, distinguished as that grouping is by some criteria established by some person, or idea, or non-Islamic way. 'Asabiyyah is a dividing or division of people according to limits, or boundaries, or standards which are not Islamic. Why are they not Islamic? Because these limits, boundaries or standards do not derive from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala but instead belong to Jahilliyah, the Ages of Ignorance. In addition, 'asabiyyah demands or implies two things: first, obedience and loyalty to other than Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and such loyalty obedience is at best ignorance, and at worst a setting up of some idea, or ideal, or way, or loyalty, or group to compete with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala; second, 'asabiyyah demands or implies judging others and ourselves by other than what Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has revealed:

 
"And whosoever does not judge by what All�h has revealed, such are the K�firoon." [5:44 Interpretation of meaning]
 

As Muslims, our standards are Quran and Sunnah, and these alone. Our examples are Muslim ones - that is, those who strive to adhere to the Quran and Sunnah, and who strive to follow the noble, the honourable example of the Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

In nationalism, a person is judged by their nationality, or their "race" (their outward appearance) and is supposed to give allegiance to their "nation" and its leaders, government (or rulers) and representatives, to obey or abide by the human-made and thus fallible laws made by such people and such national Institutions. In addition, such nationalism - and the racialism which often underlies it - is often said to define a person's identity and a person is mostly expected to feel some sense of pride in belonging to such a group, and to desire to defend it.

 
"It is known by necessity in the Deen of the Muslims and by the agreement of all the Muslims that whoever follows a Shari'ah other than the Shari'ah of Muhammad (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) then he is a Kaffir and it is like the Kufr of the one who believes in some of the Book and disbelieves in some of the Book." Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah: Al-Fataawaa, Vol. 28/524
 

In truth, 'asabiyyah divides Muslims, and takes them away from that simple submission to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala which is Islam. In Islam, loyalty - the essence of Shahadah - is only to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, and His Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and those, such as an Ameer or Khalifah, who are Muslim and who follow only the guidance of Quran, Sunnah and Shari'ah. Any other following, or loyalty (bay'ah), or adherence, is not Islamic: rather, it is a negation of one's Islam.
 

It is narrated by Abu Dawud that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "He is not one of us who calls for 'asabiyyah, or who fights for 'asabiyyah or who dies for 'asabiyyah."  (Hadith 4456)
 
"Do not be like those who were divided and who differed after those clear Signs were given to them." [3:105 Interpretation of Meaning]
 
"Do not follow anyone except he who adheres to your Way of Life." [3:73 Interpretation of Meaning]

"Because obedience is a form of worship, it is not allowed to obey anyone unless it conforms with obedience to Allah and His Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam)." Sheikh Muhammad Abdul-Wahhaab "Kitaab At-Tawheed"
 
Narrated By Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Allah, Tabarak wa'tala, has removed from you the pride of Jahilliyah and its boasting about ancestors. A person can be either an honourable believer or an ignoble sinner. You are sons of Adam, and Adam came from dust. Let the people cease to boast about their kin and kin-folk." Abu Dawud, Book 36, 5097
 

Furthermore, those who uphold nationalism, and/or such things as race, set themselves and their ways up as a Taghut. That is, they exceed the proper, honourable, limits, the bounds, set by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala - they follow where these ways of Ignorance lead them, and expect obedience and conformity to these ways.

 
"The one who judges without referring to the Quran is a taghut."  Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah: Majmo' al-Fataawaa, Part 28, 201.
 
"(A taghut is) every one who exceeds exceeded their limits (whether they are) worshipped, followed or obeyed. So, the taghut of any people is the one, or the thing, who or what they make as a judge besides Allah and His Prophet, or who or which they worship, ignoring Allah, or who or which they follow without taking any consideration of Allah, or who or which they obey in a matter where they do not know whether it is in obedience to Allah". Ibn al-Qayyim: E'lam Al- Muwaaqi'een, Part 1, 50.
 
"Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut. So therefore fight against those friends of Shaitaan." [ 4: 76 Interpretation of Meaning.]
 

We have been created by Allah that we might be tested, and earn the right to enter Paradise. He created us that we might know, discover, and find, His Signs on this Earth and in the Cosmos: through these Signs we will come to know ourselves, our Rabb, and our own Muslim nature.

 
"Among His Signs are the creation of the heavens and this Earth and the living beings He has scattered through both of them." [42:29 Interpretation of Meaning]
 
"This present life is only like water which We send down from the clouds so that the luxuriant herbage sustaining man and beast may grow; until when the Earth puts on its lovely garment and becomes adorned, and its people believe that they are its masters - down then comes Our scourge upon it by night or in broad day, laying it waste as though it had not blossomed yesterday. Thus We make plain our Signs to thoughtful men." [10: 24-25 (Interpretation of meaning]

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says: "We made you into diverse peoples and diverse cultures that you may discover one another."  [49:13 Interpretation of Meaning] Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala divided us initially into these groups not so we could ally ourselves with them to the exclusion of Islam, but so we might understand them as among His Signs - and so go beyond them to the simple submission of Islam, becoming one Ummah. For He also says in that Ayat: "The most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the one who has At-Taqwa."  That is - the one who submits wholly, without reservation, to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala alone; who follows the perfect example of the Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam); who avoids imitating the kuffar in thought, deed, appearance, behaviour and manner; and who understands nationalism and all forms of racialism - all things which divide the Ummah - as 'asabiyyah: as belonging to Jahilliyah, the Ages of Ignorance and thus a sign of the kuffar.


 

May Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) protect us from all forms of Al-asabiyyah Al-Jahiliyyah, forgive us for our mistakes, and guide us to and keep us on the Right Path.

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) knows best.


Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt
28 Jumaadi Al-Thaani 1425 1
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