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Questions from the correspondent of Al-Bilad newspaper on issues, some of which relate to Arab nationalism
Original (Arabic): https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/25/اسىلة-مندوب-صحيفة-البلاد-عن-مساىل-بعضها-يتعلق-بالقومية-العربية
Question: Completion:
In Muharram of last year, meaning: the year 1380 AH, a correspondent of al-Bilad newspaper asked me about some matters, some of which related to nationalism, and I answered him with what was published in al-Bilad newspaper.
And to complete the benefit for readers, I saw fit to mention the questions and answers here, and this is their text: The first question: What is your excellency's opinion on the call being made by certain external circles that Arab nationalism alone is the primary bond among Arabs?
The second question: What is your view, may God preserve you, regarding the trend that has become apparent these days of comparing nationalism with Islam, which appears in some newspapers and magazines in the Kingdom?
The third question: Some sincere preachers, in their exhortations, deal with matters that are simple and secondary in the religion, such as the manner of shaving the head, or the form of clothing, while there are important matters connected to aqidah that require special attention from these sincere callers because they are important, fundamental matters. What is your eminence's opinion on this?
The fourth question: Al-Bilad newspaper would like to convey from Your Eminence some advice to its readers from various classes of society, so what is it?
In Muharram of last year, meaning: the year 1380 AH, a correspondent of al-Bilad newspaper asked me about some matters, some of which related to nationalism, and I answered him with what was published in al-Bilad newspaper.
And to complete the benefit for readers, I saw fit to mention the questions and answers here, and this is their text: The first question: What is your excellency's opinion on the call being made by certain external circles that Arab nationalism alone is the primary bond among Arabs?
The second question: What is your view, may God preserve you, regarding the trend that has become apparent these days of comparing nationalism with Islam, which appears in some newspapers and magazines in the Kingdom?
The third question: Some sincere preachers, in their exhortations, deal with matters that are simple and secondary in the religion, such as the manner of shaving the head, or the form of clothing, while there are important matters connected to aqidah that require special attention from these sincere callers because they are important, fundamental matters. What is your eminence's opinion on this?
The fourth question: Al-Bilad newspaper would like to convey from Your Eminence some advice to its readers from various classes of society, so what is it?
Answer to the first question: It should be said that there is no doubt that the call for Arab nationalism to be the primary bond among Arabs is a false call with no foundation supporting it, neither from reason nor from revealed text. Rather, it is a call rooted in jahiliyyah and atheistic in nature, whose proponents aim to fight Islam and to shed its rulings and teachings. Some may call to it without intending this meaning, but rather call to it out of imitation of others and good opinion of them; had they known the true purpose behind it, they would have fought against it and kept away from it. Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of the history of the Arabs, before and after Islam, knows that the Arabs had no significant worth and no banner that inspired awe except through Islam. Through it they conquered lands and ruled over peoples; through it they became a nation feared by others, whose rights were respected and whose head was held high, until they changed, and so it was changed against them, as God, the Exalted, said: the verse. I do not wish to prolong discussion in this field, because the newspaper cannot accommodate that, and the truth in this matter is clearer than the sun; none doubts it who has even the slightest acquaintance with the condition of the Arabs and of Islam. How excellent is the saying of Allah, the Exalted, to His Prophet ﷺ: And His saying, the Most High:.
If the goal behind the call to Arab nationalism is that the Arabs should unite, share in their common interests, obtain redress from their enemy, and drive him out of their lands, then this is not the way to that noble aim. Rather, the only way is to return to their true religion, by which they attained honor, recognition, and prominence in the field, and by which they came to lead the nations; and to hold fast to its tolerant teachings and wise rulings, to make it the arbiter in all matters, to base loyalty and enmity upon it. Through that, unity will be achieved, interests will be secured, redress will be obtained from the enemies, victory over them will be assured, and the outcome will be praiseworthy in this world and the Hereafter, as Allah, the Exalted, says in His decisive Revelation:And He, the Exalted, said:And He, the Exalted, said: the verse.
And the verses on this subject are many and well known. How excellent is what Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, said on this subject: "The latter part of this ummah will not be set right except by that which set right its first part." This Imam spoke truly in this short, momentous statement.
O Allah, set us right, and our rulers, and all the Muslims; indeed You are All-Hearing, Near.
As for the second question, the answer is as follows: it must be said that it is among the greatest wrongdoing and the most foolish of foolishness to compare Islam with Arab nationalism, and does mere nationalism, stripped of Islam, possess any merits that would qualify it to be placed alongside Islam and compared with it? There is no doubt that this constitutes an enormous belittlement of Islam and a repudiation of its sound principles and teachings. How could it be fitting, in the mind of any sensible person, to compare a nationalism which, were Abu Jahl, Utbah ibn Rabi'ah, Shaybah ibn Rabi'ah, and their like among the enemies of Islam alive, they would be its champions and its greatest callers, with a noble religion suited for every time and place, whose callers and supporters are Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and Umar ibn al-Khattab, and Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib, and others among the Companions, the champions of Islam and its heroic defenders, and those righteous ones who followed their path — no one would accept a comparison between a nationalism whose standing is such and whose men are these, and a religion whose standing is such and whose supporters and callers are these, except one afflicted in his mind, or a blind follower, or a bitter enemy of Islam and of the one who brought it.
The likeness of such people in this comparison is only like the likeness of one who compares dung to pearls, or the messengers to devils. Whoever among the people of insight reflects upon this matter, and examines the realities and consequences, it will become clear to him that the comparison between nationalism and Islam is more dangerous to Islam than the comparison between what was mentioned earlier. Then how can it be correct to compare a nationalism whose end for one who dies upon it is the Fire, with a religion whose end for one who dies upon it is triumph in the proximity of the Noble Lord, in the abode of honor and the secure station?
The answer to the third question: There is no doubt that guides are the physicians of society, and it is the nature of the physician to concern himself with knowing the ailments, then to work to treat them, beginning with the most important, then the next most important. This is the method of the most sincere physicians, the most knowledgeable of them concerning Allah, and the most upright of them in fulfilling His right and the right of His servants, the master of the children of Adam, upon him from his Lord be the most excellent salah and salutation, for indeed he ﷺ When Allah sent him, he began by forbidding the greatest of the ailments of society, which is shirk against Allah, glorified is He, and he continued to ﷺ from the time Allah sent him, warning the ummah against shirk and calling them to tawhid, until ten years had passed over him, then he was commanded with salah, then with the rest of the laws. Likewise those who call to Allah after him: they must follow his path and trace his footsteps, beginning with the most important then the next most important. But if the society is Muslim, it is permissible for the caller to call to the most important matter and to other matters as well; rather, it is obligatory upon him to do so according to his capacity, because what is sought is the reform of the Muslim society and the exertion of effort in purifying its aqidah from the impurities of shirk and its means, and purifying its morals from what harms the society and weakens its iman.
There is no objection to his beginning at times with what is not the most important, if speaking about the most important is not feasible, nor is there any objection to his occupying himself with the most important and turning away from what is not the most important, if he sees the benefit in that and fears that if he occupies himself with both together he will fail in both. Such is likewise the way of reformers and eminent physicians: they concern themselves with the methods of reform and follow the most effective and nearest of them to a satisfactory result, and if they are unable to attain both benefits, or all the benefits, or to prevent both harms, they concern themselves with whichever is most important and occupy themselves with it rather than the rest. Whoever reflects upon the principles of the Sharia and the biography of the Messenger ﷺ, and the conduct of his rightly-guided caliphs and the righteous imams, will come to know what has been mentioned, and will learn how to guide people and how to draw them out of their afflictions to the shore of safety. And whoever has a sound intention, exerts his effort in seeking to know the truth, asks his Lord for guidance to the best of ways and the most effective of them in calling to Him, and consults the people of knowledge and experience in what is unclear to him, will attain success and be guided to what is correct, as He, Glorified is He, said:.
The fourth answer: my advice to all readers is that they take the commandment of God, glory be to Him, which He commanded in His noble Book, where He says: And taqwa - as the honorable reader knows - is a comprehensive term, whose reality is: that the servant guards himself against the anger of the Lord and His punishment, by doing what Allah and His Messenger have commanded, and abandoning what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, out of knowledge, iman, sincerity, love, desire, and fear, and thereby he attains happiness and a good outcome in this world and the Hereafter.
Among what I advise readers to do, and it is part of taqwa, is to verify matters and to be deliberate in passing judgment on them, not doing so except after studying them from all their aspects, and after ascertaining their meaning and knowing it fully by measuring that meaning against the Sharia standard, which is the Book of Allah and what is authentically established from the sunnah. Whatever agrees with that standard is accepted, and whatever contradicts it is left aside. The reader, in studying matters and measuring them against the aforementioned standard, must be entirely far removed from excess and negligence, stripped of the two garments of partisanship and desire. Whenever he is safe from these things and studies matters as they truly deserve to be studied, with sincerity and good intent, he is granted success in reaching the truth, attains what is correct, and is praised for the outcome. How much hastiness has brought upon its perpetrators and others calamities and problems, whose days and nights pass away while their effects and consequences remain! And how much corruption, destruction, and blameworthy consequences have resulted from partisanship and desire? We ask Allah for safety from that.
Among what I also advise readers to do, and it is among the most important aspects of taqwa, is calling servants to Allah, glory be to Him, enjoining one another to truth and patience upon it, cooperating in righteousness and taqwa, and commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil with wisdom and good exhortation, and effecting change according to one's ability, as stated in the authentic hadith: Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; if he is not able, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of iman..
I ask Allah to grant everyone steadfastness upon the truth and safety from misleading trials, for He is the best to be asked and the most generous to respond. And Allah knows best.
And may Allah's peace and blessings be upon His servant and messenger Muhammad ﷺ, and upon his family and companions.[1].
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَٰتٞ مِّنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦ يَحۡفَظُونَهُۥ مِنۡ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمۡۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوۡمٖ سُوٓءٗا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ
For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.
Qur'an 13:11 — trans. Hilali & Khan
(43) فَٱسۡتَمۡسِكۡ بِٱلَّذِيٓ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ (44) وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذِكۡرٞ لَّكَ وَلِقَوۡمِكَۖ وَسَوۡفَ تُسۡـَٔلُونَ
(43) So hold you (O Muhammad) fast to that which is inspired in you. Verily, you are on a Straight Path. (44) And verily, this (the Quran) is indeed a Reminder for you (O Muhammad) and your people (Quraish people, or your followers), and you will be questioned (about it).
Qur'an 43:43-44 — trans. Hilali & Khan
لَقَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكُمۡ كِتَٰبٗا فِيهِ ذِكۡرُكُمۡۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ
Indeed, We have sent down for you (O mankind) a Book, (the Quran) in which there is Dhikrukum, (your Reminder or an honour for you i.e. honour for the one who follows the teaching of the Quran and acts on its orders). Will you not then understand?
Qur'an 21:10 — trans. Hilali & Khan
If the goal behind the call to Arab nationalism is that the Arabs should unite, share in their common interests, obtain redress from their enemy, and drive him out of their lands, then this is not the way to that noble aim. Rather, the only way is to return to their true religion, by which they attained honor, recognition, and prominence in the field, and by which they came to lead the nations; and to hold fast to its tolerant teachings and wise rulings, to make it the arbiter in all matters, to base loyalty and enmity upon it. Through that, unity will be achieved, interests will be secured, redress will be obtained from the enemies, victory over them will be assured, and the outcome will be praiseworthy in this world and the Hereafter, as Allah, the Exalted, says in His decisive Revelation:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَيُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ
O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.
Qur'an 47:7 — trans. Hilali & Khan
(40) ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِم بِغَيۡرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضٖ لَّهُدِّمَتۡ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٞ وَصَلَوَٰتٞ وَمَسَٰجِدُ يُذۡكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرٗاۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ (41) ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُواْ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَنَهَوۡاْ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ
(40) Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they said: "Our Lord is Allah." - For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much would surely have been pulled down. Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. (41) Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order for Iqamat-as-Salat. [i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salat (prayers) (the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakat and they enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islam has forbidden) [i.e. they make the Quran as the law of their country in all the spheres of life]. And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).
Qur'an 22:40-41 — trans. Hilali & Khan
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَيَسۡتَخۡلِفَنَّهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَمَا ٱسۡتَخۡلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ دِينَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي ٱرۡتَضَىٰ لَهُمۡ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِهِمۡ أَمۡنٗاۚ يَعۡبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشۡرِكُونَ بِي شَيۡـٔٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ
Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
Qur'an 24:55 — trans. Hilali & Khan
And the verses on this subject are many and well known. How excellent is what Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, said on this subject: "The latter part of this ummah will not be set right except by that which set right its first part." This Imam spoke truly in this short, momentous statement.
O Allah, set us right, and our rulers, and all the Muslims; indeed You are All-Hearing, Near.
As for the second question, the answer is as follows: it must be said that it is among the greatest wrongdoing and the most foolish of foolishness to compare Islam with Arab nationalism, and does mere nationalism, stripped of Islam, possess any merits that would qualify it to be placed alongside Islam and compared with it? There is no doubt that this constitutes an enormous belittlement of Islam and a repudiation of its sound principles and teachings. How could it be fitting, in the mind of any sensible person, to compare a nationalism which, were Abu Jahl, Utbah ibn Rabi'ah, Shaybah ibn Rabi'ah, and their like among the enemies of Islam alive, they would be its champions and its greatest callers, with a noble religion suited for every time and place, whose callers and supporters are Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and Umar ibn al-Khattab, and Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib, and others among the Companions, the champions of Islam and its heroic defenders, and those righteous ones who followed their path — no one would accept a comparison between a nationalism whose standing is such and whose men are these, and a religion whose standing is such and whose supporters and callers are these, except one afflicted in his mind, or a blind follower, or a bitter enemy of Islam and of the one who brought it.
The likeness of such people in this comparison is only like the likeness of one who compares dung to pearls, or the messengers to devils. Whoever among the people of insight reflects upon this matter, and examines the realities and consequences, it will become clear to him that the comparison between nationalism and Islam is more dangerous to Islam than the comparison between what was mentioned earlier. Then how can it be correct to compare a nationalism whose end for one who dies upon it is the Fire, with a religion whose end for one who dies upon it is triumph in the proximity of the Noble Lord, in the abode of honor and the secure station?
اللهم اهدنا وقومنا سواء السبيل، إنك علي كل شيء قدير.
Allahumma ihdina wa qawwimna sawaa as-sabil, innaka ala kulli shay'in qadir.
O Allah, guide us and our people to the straight path; indeed You are able to do all things.
The answer to the third question: There is no doubt that guides are the physicians of society, and it is the nature of the physician to concern himself with knowing the ailments, then to work to treat them, beginning with the most important, then the next most important. This is the method of the most sincere physicians, the most knowledgeable of them concerning Allah, and the most upright of them in fulfilling His right and the right of His servants, the master of the children of Adam, upon him from his Lord be the most excellent salah and salutation, for indeed he ﷺ When Allah sent him, he began by forbidding the greatest of the ailments of society, which is shirk against Allah, glorified is He, and he continued to ﷺ from the time Allah sent him, warning the ummah against shirk and calling them to tawhid, until ten years had passed over him, then he was commanded with salah, then with the rest of the laws. Likewise those who call to Allah after him: they must follow his path and trace his footsteps, beginning with the most important then the next most important. But if the society is Muslim, it is permissible for the caller to call to the most important matter and to other matters as well; rather, it is obligatory upon him to do so according to his capacity, because what is sought is the reform of the Muslim society and the exertion of effort in purifying its aqidah from the impurities of shirk and its means, and purifying its morals from what harms the society and weakens its iman.
There is no objection to his beginning at times with what is not the most important, if speaking about the most important is not feasible, nor is there any objection to his occupying himself with the most important and turning away from what is not the most important, if he sees the benefit in that and fears that if he occupies himself with both together he will fail in both. Such is likewise the way of reformers and eminent physicians: they concern themselves with the methods of reform and follow the most effective and nearest of them to a satisfactory result, and if they are unable to attain both benefits, or all the benefits, or to prevent both harms, they concern themselves with whichever is most important and occupy themselves with it rather than the rest. Whoever reflects upon the principles of the Sharia and the biography of the Messenger ﷺ, and the conduct of his rightly-guided caliphs and the righteous imams, will come to know what has been mentioned, and will learn how to guide people and how to draw them out of their afflictions to the shore of safety. And whoever has a sound intention, exerts his effort in seeking to know the truth, asks his Lord for guidance to the best of ways and the most effective of them in calling to Him, and consults the people of knowledge and experience in what is unclear to him, will attain success and be guided to what is correct, as He, Glorified is He, said:
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah's Religion - Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers)."
Qur'an 29:69 — trans. Hilali & Khan
The fourth answer: my advice to all readers is that they take the commandment of God, glory be to Him, which He commanded in His noble Book, where He says:
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ وَلَقَدۡ وَصَّيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ وَإِيَّاكُمۡ أَنِ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ وَإِن تَكۡفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدٗا
And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allah, and keep your duty to Him, But if you disbelieve, then unto Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and Allah is Ever Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise.
Qur'an 4:131 — trans. Hilali & Khan
Among what I advise readers to do, and it is part of taqwa, is to verify matters and to be deliberate in passing judgment on them, not doing so except after studying them from all their aspects, and after ascertaining their meaning and knowing it fully by measuring that meaning against the Sharia standard, which is the Book of Allah and what is authentically established from the sunnah. Whatever agrees with that standard is accepted, and whatever contradicts it is left aside. The reader, in studying matters and measuring them against the aforementioned standard, must be entirely far removed from excess and negligence, stripped of the two garments of partisanship and desire. Whenever he is safe from these things and studies matters as they truly deserve to be studied, with sincerity and good intent, he is granted success in reaching the truth, attains what is correct, and is praised for the outcome. How much hastiness has brought upon its perpetrators and others calamities and problems, whose days and nights pass away while their effects and consequences remain! And how much corruption, destruction, and blameworthy consequences have resulted from partisanship and desire? We ask Allah for safety from that.
Among what I also advise readers to do, and it is among the most important aspects of taqwa, is calling servants to Allah, glory be to Him, enjoining one another to truth and patience upon it, cooperating in righteousness and taqwa, and commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil with wisdom and good exhortation, and effecting change according to one's ability, as stated in the authentic hadith: Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; if he is not able, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of iman..
I ask Allah to grant everyone steadfastness upon the truth and safety from misleading trials, for He is the best to be asked and the most generous to respond. And Allah knows best.
And may Allah's peace and blessings be upon His servant and messenger Muhammad ﷺ, and upon his family and companions.[1].
- Majmu' Fatawa wa Maqalat Mutanawwi'ah, by Ibn Baz (1/318)