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Khalid El-Gharib
INTRODUCTION: WHY CHOOSE THIS TOPIC?
The topic of Walaa' and Baraa' is of great importance for three main reasons:-
Firstly: that the concept of walaa' and baraa' is one of the greatest fundamentals of the Islaamic creed ('aqeedah).
Shaykh Ahmad ibn 'Ateeq, rahimahullaah, said:
"There isn't in the Book of Allaah the Exalted - after the issue concerning the obligation of tawheed and the forbiddance of its opposite - any issue which has as so many proofs, nor so clearly explained, than the issue of walaa' and baraa'."
As regards walaa' (allegience), it is manfesting sincere love and help for Allaah, and for His Prophets, and for the Believers. Whereas baraa' (enmity) is manifesting enmity and dissociation from falsehood and its people. And these matters are actually from the most fundamental issues of faith (eemaan).
Secondly: that the Muslim live in a very crucial time in which many of the basic and vital Islaamic concepts have either been forgotten, missunderstood or neglected; and from such basic concepts is the concept of walaa' and baraa'. The consequence of this is that many Muslims are no longer aware of those qualities that distinguish a believer from an unbeliever; which has in turn caused the faith of many Muslims to be severley weakened and has led many of them to take the unbelievers as intimate friends and allies - imitating their manners, ways and aspirations.
Thirdly: that because the concept of walaa' and baraa' is so central to the meaning of: laa ilaaha illallaah, then any errors concerning it, actually means an error in understanding the very kalimah itself.
SECTION ONE
Understanding the essentials of Walaa' and Baraa'
In order to understand the issue at hand, we need to discuss the following six matters:-
[1]: THE MEANING OF laa ilaaha illallaah
It means: "None has the right to be worshipped, except Allaah. So with this, the worship of all other deities has been negated; and worship has been affirmed for only Allaah alone."
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullaah, said:
"There is no happiness for the hearts, nor complete delight, except in loving Allaah and drawing close to Him with whatever He loves. And it is not possible to [truly] love Him, except by turning away from all that is loved besides Him. This is the reality of laa ilaaha illallaah and it is the Religion of the close friend (khaleel) of Allaah; Ibraaheem 'alayhis-salaam, as well as that of all the Prophets and Messengers."
So love of Allaah, and doing that which He loves and is pleased with, is the reality of laa ilaaha illallaah.
Al-Haafidh al-Hakamee, rahimahullaah, said:
"The signs that a person loves his Lord is: that he gives precedence to what He loves, even if it opposes the person's own desires; [ii] to hate what his Lord hates, even if his own desires incline towards it; [iii] to show sincere love and help (walaa') to those who ally themselves with Allaah and His Messenger; [iv] to show enmity to those who show enmity to Allaah and His Messenger; [v] to follow His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; and [vi] to accept his guidance."
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, rahimahullaah, said in poetry form:
"A condition for true love is that your love should agree with;
The love of the one whom you love, without there being disobedience.
If you claim to love Him, yet show opposition;
Then your love is but a false pretence.
Do you love the enemies of the Beloved, whilst claiming to love Him;
Yet still seek love in return.
And you fight and show enmity to those whom He loves;
Is this true love, O brother, or the following of Shaytaan.
There is no worship without singling Him out exclusively;
Along with submitting the heart and limbs to Him in humility."
[2]: THE IMPLICATIONS OF laa ilaaha illallaah
The declaration of laa ilaaha illallaah implies having walaa' and baraa' for certain matters.
The kalimah implies showing walaa' (sincere love and help) to Allaah, His Religion, His Book, His Prophets, and His righteous worshippers; as well as taking them as close allies and helpers:
"Indeed your helper and protecter is none other than Allaah, His Messenger, and the Believers." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:55].
It implies dissociation for those who worship other than Allaah and enmity towards all that is worshipped besides Him:
"Indeed there is for you an excellent example in the Prophet Ibraaheem and those with him, when they said to their people: Indeed we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allaah; we have rejected you, and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred, until you believe and worship Allaah alone." [Soorah al-Mumtahanah 60:4].
"Whosoever rejects at-taaghoot and believes in Allaah, has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:256].
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab, rahimahullaah, said:
"And know that a person will not be considered a Believer, except by rejecting all that is worshipped besides Allaah. The proof is this Verse."
It implies having love for what Allaah has prescribed:
"Follow that which has been revealed from your Lord, and do not follow any friends and helpers other than Him." [Soorah al-A'raaf 7:3].
It implies having enmity for those laws and judgements that oppose Islaam:
"Do they seek after a judgement from the times of ignorance. And who is better in judgement than Allaah, for a people who have certainty." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:5].
It implies dissociation from every religion other than Islaam:
"Whoever seeks after a Religion other than Islaam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafer he will be one of the loosers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:85].
[3]: WHAT laa ilaaha illallaah NEGATES AND AFFIRMS
The kalimah negates certain matters, and affirms certain matters.
It negates four matters:- aalihah, tawaagheet, andaad, and arbaab
AALIHAH: If a person directs his hopes and fears to something, believing that it can bring benefit or ward of harm in and of itself, then such things have been made into deities that are worshipped besides Allaah (aalihah). So the kalimah negates this for anything other than Allaah.
"If Allaah afflicts you with some harm, there is no one who can remove it except Allaah. And if He desires good for you, there is no one who can repel His favour." [Soorah Yoonus 10:107].
[ii] TAWAAGHEET: whoever is worshipped and is pleased with it, or claims having some qualities of divinity; such as claiming to have knowledge of the unseen, or deems it permissible to legislate laws in opposition to Allaah's Laws - then such people are transgreoors who have overstepped the limits (tawaagheet).
"To every nation We sent Prophets and Messengers, ordering: Worship Allaah alone, and turn away from the taaghoot." [Soorah an-Nahl 16:36].
[iii] ANDAAD: Whatever draws a person away from obedience to Allaah, whether family, chldren, wealth or dwelling, become rivals (andaad) to Allaah.
"And of mankind there are those who take others besides Allaah as rivals to Allaah. They love them as they should love Allaah." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:165].
[iv] ARBAAB: those who knowingly give verdicts in opposition to Allaah's Laws, and are then followed in this, have been made into lords (arbaab) besides Allaah.
"They took their rabbis and priests to be lords besides Allaah." [Soorah at-Tawbah 9:31].
The kalimah also affirms four matters:-
: SINCERITY: That the object of our worship should be Allaah, and that all worship should be exclusively directed to Him alone (ikhlaas):
"And they have not been commanded, except that they should sincerely and exclusively worship Allaah alone." [Soorah al-Bayyinah 98:5].
[ii]: LOVE: That Allaah should be loved more than anything and everything else.
"But those who believe are stronger in their love of Allaah." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:165].
[iii], [iv]: FEAR and HOPE: that reverential fear and hope should be for Allaah alone:
"So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are true believers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:175].
"So whoever hopes to see his Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and exclusively for Him; and let him not give any share of it to other than Him." [Soorah al-Kahf 18:110].
[4]: THE COMPANIONS AND laa ilaaha illallaah
How the Companions, radiallaahu 'anhum, understood and acted upon the requirements of this great kalimah, has been beautifuly explained to us by Imaam Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah, rahimahullaah.
Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Malik al-Musaysee said:
We were with Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah in the year one-hundred and seventy, and a person asked him about faith (eemaan), so he replied: "It is statement and action." The man asked: Does it increase and decrease? He replied: "It increases as Allaah wishes, and it decreases as Allaah wishes; to the extent that no more than the likes of this remains, [and he demonstrated with his hand]." The man asked: How should we deal with those who claim that it is statement without action?
Sufyaan replied: "This is what they used to say before the rulings and limits of eemaan were established. Indeed Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, sent our Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam to all of mankind to tell them that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that I am the Messenger of Allaah. So when they said that, there blood and wealth would be protected, except by right, and their reckoning would be with Allaah. When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam to order them to Pray; so he ordered them and they did it. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then their first act would not have benefited them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to migrate to Madeenah; so he ordered them and they did so. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Most Blessed, the Most High was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to return to Makkah, in order to fight their [disbelieving] fathers and sons; until they said the kalimah that they had said, prayed their Prayer, and joined them in their migration. So he ordered them and they did so. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer, nor their migration would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to migrate to perform tawaaf around the house in worship of Him, and to shave their heads out of humility; so he ordered them and they did so. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer, nor their migration, nor their fighting their fathers would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to migrate to give charity from their wealth in order that it may purify them; so he ordered them and they did so - giving a little and alot. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer, nor their migration, nor their fighting their fathers, nor their performing tawaaf would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts - which were no in harmony with the rulings and limits of eemaan, Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said:
"This day have I perfected your Religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen Islaam as your Religion." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:3].
Sufyaan then said: So whoever abandons any part of eemaan, then he is an unbeliever in our view. However, if he leaves it out of laziness or neglect, then we will discipline him, and he is - in our view - deficient in eemaan.. This is the Sunnah; relate it from me to whoever asks you about it."
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab said:
"If we have clearly understood this, then we will know that many of those who clain to follow the Religion really do not understand laa ilaaha illallaah. Since how are we to explain the patience that the [early] Muslims had to endure when under torture, captivity, beating, and migration to Ethiopia. And this, along with the fact the he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was the most merciful of people; had there been a way to spare his Companions [these hardships], then he would have done so."
INTRODUCTION: WHY CHOOSE THIS TOPIC?
The topic of Walaa' and Baraa' is of great importance for three main reasons:-
Firstly: that the concept of walaa' and baraa' is one of the greatest fundamentals of the Islaamic creed ('aqeedah).
Shaykh Ahmad ibn 'Ateeq, rahimahullaah, said:
"There isn't in the Book of Allaah the Exalted - after the issue concerning the obligation of tawheed and the forbiddance of its opposite - any issue which has as so many proofs, nor so clearly explained, than the issue of walaa' and baraa'."
As regards walaa' (allegience), it is manfesting sincere love and help for Allaah, and for His Prophets, and for the Believers. Whereas baraa' (enmity) is manifesting enmity and dissociation from falsehood and its people. And these matters are actually from the most fundamental issues of faith (eemaan).
Secondly: that the Muslim live in a very crucial time in which many of the basic and vital Islaamic concepts have either been forgotten, missunderstood or neglected; and from such basic concepts is the concept of walaa' and baraa'. The consequence of this is that many Muslims are no longer aware of those qualities that distinguish a believer from an unbeliever; which has in turn caused the faith of many Muslims to be severley weakened and has led many of them to take the unbelievers as intimate friends and allies - imitating their manners, ways and aspirations.
Thirdly: that because the concept of walaa' and baraa' is so central to the meaning of: laa ilaaha illallaah, then any errors concerning it, actually means an error in understanding the very kalimah itself.
SECTION ONE
Understanding the essentials of Walaa' and Baraa'
In order to understand the issue at hand, we need to discuss the following six matters:-
[1]: THE MEANING OF laa ilaaha illallaah
It means: "None has the right to be worshipped, except Allaah. So with this, the worship of all other deities has been negated; and worship has been affirmed for only Allaah alone."
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullaah, said:
"There is no happiness for the hearts, nor complete delight, except in loving Allaah and drawing close to Him with whatever He loves. And it is not possible to [truly] love Him, except by turning away from all that is loved besides Him. This is the reality of laa ilaaha illallaah and it is the Religion of the close friend (khaleel) of Allaah; Ibraaheem 'alayhis-salaam, as well as that of all the Prophets and Messengers."
So love of Allaah, and doing that which He loves and is pleased with, is the reality of laa ilaaha illallaah.
Al-Haafidh al-Hakamee, rahimahullaah, said:
"The signs that a person loves his Lord is: that he gives precedence to what He loves, even if it opposes the person's own desires; [ii] to hate what his Lord hates, even if his own desires incline towards it; [iii] to show sincere love and help (walaa') to those who ally themselves with Allaah and His Messenger; [iv] to show enmity to those who show enmity to Allaah and His Messenger; [v] to follow His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; and [vi] to accept his guidance."
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, rahimahullaah, said in poetry form:
"A condition for true love is that your love should agree with;
The love of the one whom you love, without there being disobedience.
If you claim to love Him, yet show opposition;
Then your love is but a false pretence.
Do you love the enemies of the Beloved, whilst claiming to love Him;
Yet still seek love in return.
And you fight and show enmity to those whom He loves;
Is this true love, O brother, or the following of Shaytaan.
There is no worship without singling Him out exclusively;
Along with submitting the heart and limbs to Him in humility."
[2]: THE IMPLICATIONS OF laa ilaaha illallaah
The declaration of laa ilaaha illallaah implies having walaa' and baraa' for certain matters.
The kalimah implies showing walaa' (sincere love and help) to Allaah, His Religion, His Book, His Prophets, and His righteous worshippers; as well as taking them as close allies and helpers:
"Indeed your helper and protecter is none other than Allaah, His Messenger, and the Believers." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:55].
It implies dissociation for those who worship other than Allaah and enmity towards all that is worshipped besides Him:
"Indeed there is for you an excellent example in the Prophet Ibraaheem and those with him, when they said to their people: Indeed we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allaah; we have rejected you, and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred, until you believe and worship Allaah alone." [Soorah al-Mumtahanah 60:4].
"Whosoever rejects at-taaghoot and believes in Allaah, has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:256].
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab, rahimahullaah, said:
"And know that a person will not be considered a Believer, except by rejecting all that is worshipped besides Allaah. The proof is this Verse."
It implies having love for what Allaah has prescribed:
"Follow that which has been revealed from your Lord, and do not follow any friends and helpers other than Him." [Soorah al-A'raaf 7:3].
It implies having enmity for those laws and judgements that oppose Islaam:
"Do they seek after a judgement from the times of ignorance. And who is better in judgement than Allaah, for a people who have certainty." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:5].
It implies dissociation from every religion other than Islaam:
"Whoever seeks after a Religion other than Islaam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafer he will be one of the loosers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:85].
[3]: WHAT laa ilaaha illallaah NEGATES AND AFFIRMS
The kalimah negates certain matters, and affirms certain matters.
It negates four matters:- aalihah, tawaagheet, andaad, and arbaab
AALIHAH: If a person directs his hopes and fears to something, believing that it can bring benefit or ward of harm in and of itself, then such things have been made into deities that are worshipped besides Allaah (aalihah). So the kalimah negates this for anything other than Allaah.
"If Allaah afflicts you with some harm, there is no one who can remove it except Allaah. And if He desires good for you, there is no one who can repel His favour." [Soorah Yoonus 10:107].
[ii] TAWAAGHEET: whoever is worshipped and is pleased with it, or claims having some qualities of divinity; such as claiming to have knowledge of the unseen, or deems it permissible to legislate laws in opposition to Allaah's Laws - then such people are transgreoors who have overstepped the limits (tawaagheet).
"To every nation We sent Prophets and Messengers, ordering: Worship Allaah alone, and turn away from the taaghoot." [Soorah an-Nahl 16:36].
[iii] ANDAAD: Whatever draws a person away from obedience to Allaah, whether family, chldren, wealth or dwelling, become rivals (andaad) to Allaah.
"And of mankind there are those who take others besides Allaah as rivals to Allaah. They love them as they should love Allaah." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:165].
[iv] ARBAAB: those who knowingly give verdicts in opposition to Allaah's Laws, and are then followed in this, have been made into lords (arbaab) besides Allaah.
"They took their rabbis and priests to be lords besides Allaah." [Soorah at-Tawbah 9:31].
The kalimah also affirms four matters:-
: SINCERITY: That the object of our worship should be Allaah, and that all worship should be exclusively directed to Him alone (ikhlaas):
"And they have not been commanded, except that they should sincerely and exclusively worship Allaah alone." [Soorah al-Bayyinah 98:5].
[ii]: LOVE: That Allaah should be loved more than anything and everything else.
"But those who believe are stronger in their love of Allaah." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:165].
[iii], [iv]: FEAR and HOPE: that reverential fear and hope should be for Allaah alone:
"So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are true believers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:175].
"So whoever hopes to see his Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and exclusively for Him; and let him not give any share of it to other than Him." [Soorah al-Kahf 18:110].
[4]: THE COMPANIONS AND laa ilaaha illallaah
How the Companions, radiallaahu 'anhum, understood and acted upon the requirements of this great kalimah, has been beautifuly explained to us by Imaam Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah, rahimahullaah.
Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Malik al-Musaysee said:
We were with Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah in the year one-hundred and seventy, and a person asked him about faith (eemaan), so he replied: "It is statement and action." The man asked: Does it increase and decrease? He replied: "It increases as Allaah wishes, and it decreases as Allaah wishes; to the extent that no more than the likes of this remains, [and he demonstrated with his hand]." The man asked: How should we deal with those who claim that it is statement without action?
Sufyaan replied: "This is what they used to say before the rulings and limits of eemaan were established. Indeed Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, sent our Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam to all of mankind to tell them that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that I am the Messenger of Allaah. So when they said that, there blood and wealth would be protected, except by right, and their reckoning would be with Allaah. When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam to order them to Pray; so he ordered them and they did it. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then their first act would not have benefited them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to migrate to Madeenah; so he ordered them and they did so. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Most Blessed, the Most High was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to return to Makkah, in order to fight their [disbelieving] fathers and sons; until they said the kalimah that they had said, prayed their Prayer, and joined them in their migration. So he ordered them and they did so. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer, nor their migration would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to migrate to perform tawaaf around the house in worship of Him, and to shave their heads out of humility; so he ordered them and they did so. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer, nor their migration, nor their fighting their fathers would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts, He commanded him to order them to migrate to give charity from their wealth in order that it may purify them; so he ordered them and they did so - giving a little and alot. By Allaah! Had they not done so, then neither their first act, nor the Prayer, nor their migration, nor their fighting their fathers, nor their performing tawaaf would have benefitted them.
When Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, was satisfied with the truthfulness of this from their hearts - which were no in harmony with the rulings and limits of eemaan, Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said:
"This day have I perfected your Religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen Islaam as your Religion." [Soorah al-Maa'idah 5:3].
Sufyaan then said: So whoever abandons any part of eemaan, then he is an unbeliever in our view. However, if he leaves it out of laziness or neglect, then we will discipline him, and he is - in our view - deficient in eemaan.. This is the Sunnah; relate it from me to whoever asks you about it."
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab said:
"If we have clearly understood this, then we will know that many of those who clain to follow the Religion really do not understand laa ilaaha illallaah. Since how are we to explain the patience that the [early] Muslims had to endure when under torture, captivity, beating, and migration to Ethiopia. And this, along with the fact the he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was the most merciful of people; had there been a way to spare his Companions [these hardships], then he would have done so."