Loyalty in Islam is defined as “loving believers for their
faith, supporting them, advising them, helping them, and fulfilling all the
rights of believers that are connected to this.”
Loyalty in Islam is a pillar of faith and a
fundamental principle of belief. True loyalty is loving God, His Messenger, the
Companions, and all monotheistic believers, and supporting them. One of the
requirements of loyalty is enjoining good and forbidding evil. Were it not for
your love for the one you are advising and your concern for their well-being
and benefit, you would not command them. Loyalty between believing men and
women is embodied in mutual love, compassion, empathy, sincere advice,
gentleness, kindness, and being approachable. They are like one body, each
loving for his brother what he loves for himself.
And loyalty is part of the meaning of the testimony of
faith, "There is no god but God," as God Almighty said: "Allah
is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out
from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya
(supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders, etc.];
they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the
Fire, and they will abide therein forever." (Surat Al-Baqarah: 257) And it
is a condition of faith, as in the words of God Almighty: “You see many of them
taking the disbelievers as their Auliya' (protectors and helpers). Evil indeed
is that which their own selves have sent forward before them, for that (reason)
Allah's Wrath fell upon them, and in torment they will abide. 80 And had they
believed in Allah and in the Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and in what has been
revealed to him, never would they have taken them (the disbelievers) as Auliya'
(protectors and helpers), but many of them are the Fasiqun (rebellious,
disobedient to Allah) 81” (Surat Al-Ma’idah: 80-81); and it is the bond on
which the Muslim community is based, as God Almighty said, “The believers are
nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation
between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.” (Surat
Al-Hujurat: 10). Loyalty to Jews, Christians, and disbelievers is forbidden by
Islamic law, and it is injustice itself, as God Almighty said: “O you who
believe! Take not the Jews and the 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. Verily, Allah guides not
those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust).” (Surat
Al-Ma’idah: 51) As He, the Exalted, said, “Let not believers take disbelievers
as allies rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing to
do with Allah, except when taking precautions against them in prudence. And
Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination.” (Surat Al
Imran: 28). And allegiance should be to God, His Messenger, and the believers,
as God, the Almighty, said: “Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His
Messenger and those who have believed—those who establish prayer and give
zakah, and they bow [in worship].55 And whoever is an ally of Allah and His
Messenger and those who have believed—indeed, the party of Allah—they will be
the predominant. 56” (Surat Al-Ma’idah: 55-56). And it is by following the Book
and the Sunnah and the way of the believers and imitating them, as the Almighty
said: “[Say (O Muhammad SAW) to these idolaters (pagan Arabs) of your folk:]
Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Quran and Prophet
Muhammad's Sunnah), and follow not any Auliya' (protectors and helpers, etc.,
who order you to associate partners in worship with Allah), besides Him
(Allah). Little do you remember!” (Surat Al-A’raf: 3); and it is by following
the path of the believers and their methodology, as the Almighty said, “And
whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) after the right
path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way.
We shall keep him in the path he has chosen and burn him in Hell—what an evil
destination.” (Surat An-Nisa: 115).
Loyalty is the strongest bond of faith, as narrated by
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may God be pleased with him), that the Messenger of God
(peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best of deeds is love for the sake
of God and hatred for the sake of God.” (Narrated by Abu Dharr al-Ghifari;
Source: Hidayat al-Ruwat). It is also a reason for tasting the sweetness of
faith and the pleasure of certainty, as stated in the words of the Messenger of
God (peace and blessings be upon him): “There are three qualities; whoever
possesses them will find the sweetness of faith: that God and His Messenger are
more beloved to him than anything else; that he loves a person only for the
sake of God; and that he hates to return to disbelief after God has saved him
from it, just as he hates to be thrown into the Fire.” (Narrated by Anas ibn
Malik; Source: Sahih al-Jami’). And that by achieving it, one attains God's
favor, as in the saying of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant
him peace: "Whoever loves for the sake of God, hates for the sake of God,
gives for the sake of God, and withholds for the sake of God has perfected
faith" (Narrated by: Abu Umamah al-Bahili; Source: Al-Silsilah
al-Sahihah).
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