Al-Wala and Al-Bara in Islam (Part 1)

Compiled by Sheikh Dr. Saleh Al Fozan

One of the major aspects of Islamic Creed is that every Muslim must love and loyalty to all Muslims (this is called Al-wala) and dislike/hate every non-believer (this is called Al-Bara). This is the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his followers whom we were ordered to have as an example for us. The Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: �Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone�� (60:4)

And it is the religion of Mohammed (peace be upon him). The Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians as �Auliya� (friends, protectors, helpers etc). They are but �Auliya� to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as �Auliya�, then surely he is one of them. Veruly, Allah guides not those people who are the �Zalimun� (polytheists and wrong doers).� (5:51)

This verse is to forbid and prohibit making the people of the Book (Christians and Jews) as friends or protectors. But in this coming verse, Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala made it forbidden to make all of the non-believers as friends. The Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�O you who believe! Take not my enemies and your enemies (disbelievers and polytheists) as friends.� (60:1)

Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala has made it forbidden on the believers to have the non-believers as friends even if they are very close relatives to them. The Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�O you who believer! Take not for �Auliya� (supporters, helpers and friends) your fathers and your brothers if they prefer disbelief to belief. And whoever of you does so, then he is one of the �Zalimun� (wrongdoers etc).� (9:23)

Also the Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�You (O Mohammed (pbuh)) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendhip with those who oppose Allah and His messenger (Mohammed (pbuh)), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their borthers or their kindred.� (58:22)

So a lot of people do not know about this major concept. You even hear a lot of people, who are counted as preachers of Islam, call the non-believers brothers � a very dangerous word.

As Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala made it forbidden to like and make friendhip with non-believers, He made it obligatory to love and make freidnship with all believers. The Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�Verily, your �wali� (protector of helper) is Allah, His Messenger, and the believers- those who perform prayer, give in charity, and they bow down in submission to Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala. And whomsoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed as protectors then the party of Allah will be the victorious.� (5:55-56)

Also the Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�Mohammed (pbuh) is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves�� (48:29)

Also the Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as:

�The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion).� (49:10)

So believers are brothers in Islamic religion and in the right creed even if they are not related to each other and they live in different countries and in different times. The Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of of it translated as:

�And those who came after them say: �O Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put no in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful.� (59:10)

So believers from the beginning of creation until the end of it, regardless of the distance betweentheir land or time, are brothers. They love each other and the latter generation follows the early generation and they supplicate Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala for each other.

The following are signs which point out Al-Wala and Al-Bara (like and dislike)

Signs (indications) of loving the non-believers

1)       Imitating them in their clothes and speech, because imitating them with their clothes (the way they dress) and speech (the way they talk) means that the one imitating them likes them,s o the Prophet (peace be upon him) said which  the meaning of it is translated as: �Whoever imitates a group (of people), then he is one of them.� (Reported by Abu Dawud). So it is forbidden to imitate then non-believers in their specific traditions, their worshipping, their morals (such as shaving their beards), speaking their language except for necessary purposes, wearing their clothes and eating and drinking like them or any other way of imitating them.

2)       Living in their countries:- Migrating from the land of the non-believers is obligatory on every Muslim if he or she can do so, the Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as: �Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while wrongdoing themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): �In what (condition) were you?� They reply: �We were weak and oppressed on earth�. They (angels) will say: �Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?� Such men will find their abode in Hell � what an evil destination! Except the weak ones among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way�. (4:97-98). So Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala does not excuse anyone to stay and live in the land of non-believers except the weak ones who are not capable of migrating from the land of the non-believers, and also the ones who are staying for Dawa (preaching Islam) purposes.

3)       Travelling to their land for vacations:- Travelling to the land of non-believers is forbidden except for necessity such as seeking medical treatment, commerce, or seeking knowledge in subjects which can only be taught in their countries. So it is permitted to travel to their land for these purposes, but as soon as the purpose is over, the person must leave their land. Also one can only travel to the non-believers country if he or she can practice his or her Islamic duties with pride. Also it is permitted and even obligatory sometimes to travel to their land for Dawa (preaching Islam) purposes.

4)       Helping them against Muslims and defending them :- This is a nullifier in ISLAM.

5)       Seeking their help, taking them as consultants, trusting and assigning them to a high management position which will give them access to confidential matters of Muslims :- The Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as: �O you who believe! Take not as (your) �Bitanah� (advisors, consultants, helpers, friends etc) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed we have made plain to you the �Ayat� (proofs) if you understand. Lo! You are the ones who love them but they love you not, and you believe in all scriptures (ie. You believe in the Torah and the Gospel while they disbelieve in your Book the Holy Qur�an. And when they meet you, they say �We believe�. But when they are alone, they bite the tips of their fingers at you in rage. Say �Perish in your rage�. Certainly, Allah knows what is in the breasts (all the secrets). If a good deed befalls you, it grieves them, but if some evil overtakes you, they rejoice at it�� (3:118-120). So these verses explain the feelings of the non-believers towards Muslims and also their hatred of Muslims and their planning to harm Muslims in any way they can. Imam Ahmed reported that Abi Musa Al Ashari said �I told Umar Ibn Al Khattab that I have a Christian writer, so Umar said �Allah�s curse be upon you, did not you hear what Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said (which the meaning of it is translated as) �O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians as Auliya (friends, helpers) they are but Auliya to one another�. (5:51) Why don�t you hire a Muslim? Abi Musa said � O leader of the believers, his writing is for me and his religion is for him�. Umar said �I don�t honour them when Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala disgraced them, nor will I honour them when Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala have humiliated them nor do I bring them close to me after Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala have kept them away�. Also Muslim reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was going for the Battle of Badr and a non-believer was following him until he caught up with him at Al Hurah and the man said �I wanted to follow you and fight with you.� So the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him �do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?� The man said �No� So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said �go back. I will not seek help from a non-believer.�  So from these verses and Ahadiths we find it forbidden to let non-believers be on charge of the Muslim�s duties where they have access to the secrets of Muslims then they could harm the Muslims. For example, living with Muslims in their houses for working for a Muslim will give them a chance to harm the Muslims.

6)       Using their date (calendar) as it represents their religion marking the birth of Jesus in remembrance of Jesus� birthday. This is not from the religion of Jesus but they innovated it. So using this date is joining them in their religion and belief. To avoid using this date (calendar), the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) decided to have a calendar for Muslims at the Caliphate of Umar. They avoided the calendar of the the non-believers and established the Hegira calendar which starts at the time of the Hijra or migration from Mecca to Medina. This shows us that we must always avoid following the way (path) of the non-believers and we must contradict them.

7)       Joining them in their holidays, helping them celebrate their holidays or greeting them for their holidays. Some scholars said that the meaning of the following verse in the Holy Qur�an refers to the believers who do not attend the non-believers holidays. �And those who do not witness falsehood�� (25:72).

8)       Praising them and talking about their civilization and morals without looking at their wrong deeds and incorrect beliefs. Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it is translated as: �And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them (polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala), the splendor of the life of this world that We may test them thereby. But the provision (good reward in the Hereafter) of your Lord is better and more lasting.� (20:131). This does not mean that Muslims are not allowed to be strong by learning from them about commercial manufacturing or industrialization and military planning. As a matter of fact, we should learn these strengthening factors. Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it translated as: �And make ready against them all you can of power�.� (8:60). These benefits were originally created for Muslims. Almighty Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala said in the Holy Qur�an which the meaning of it translated as: �Say (O Mohammed (peace be upon him)) �Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allah which He has produced for His slaves, and At Taiyibat (all kinds of lawful things) of food?� Say �They are in the life of this world, for those who believe, and exclusively for them (the believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them).�� (7:32). �And He has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that s in the earth, it is all as a favour and kindness from Him (Allah)�� (45:13). �He it is Who created for you all that is on earth.� (2:29). So it is the Muslims duty to be the first to take advantage of these benefits and they should prevent non-believers from getting to it or benefitting from them.

9)       Naming children by their names in lieu of the names of the Muslims� fathers, mothers, grandparents and the names used in the Muslim communities. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said �The best names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdulrahman.� (Reported by Muslim).

10)   Seeking forgiveness and mercy from Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala for them (non-believers) as this is tantamount to loving them and agreeing with them in their belief. Allah Subhana Wa Ta�ala has forbidden this. �It is not proper for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah�s forgiveness for the �Mushrikun� (polytheists, idolators, pagans and non-believers) even though they may be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).� (9:113).