PATRIOTISM & NATIONALISM IN ISLAM

Sheikh “Muhammad Abduh”(1849-1905) the grand Egyptian & most Islamic countries edict/Mufti in his time wrote on this matter as follows

• The perfection of human existence appears in his proper & good relation with himself & others , that is his relation with his family, relatives , neighbors, nation, state.. etc. In Islam there is a fine balance between the individual existence & social existence . Islam shows that each individual should be good to others thus establishing a well &good nation . Islam shows that the individual good behavior to others extends beyond his inner circle & kindred to reach all the relatives & the orphans & the needy persons & all the people Q 2;83

وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا

translation “and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good useful [words]” .Islam is keen to incite the community spirit in the individual by enacting Zakat & charity which establishes social solidarity

• The relation between the individual & the place & time & environment in which he lives ensues a certain mode or pattern that guides & controls his dealings & relations with others . Nationalism (Patriotism) is established through the relation between the human & the land he lives in & the religion has explicitly commanded to develop the land & earth which is a bounty from ALLAH giving us food , water, minerals , home.. etc , this is why the person who dies in defense of his land or wealth(which is a result of exploiting the land) is considered a martyr

The sheikh shows how Quran has clearly depicted the human connection to his nation as a covenant between Allah & the people that they should not horrify or attack or violate the security of   inhabitants or expel them from their land Q2;84

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ

translation “Do not shed each other’s blood or evict one another from your homes’——–. Islam has also commanded that those people living together in same nation should have good relations regardless of their different beliefs & it is proven from the Prophet Muhammad (saws) biography that he maintained good relations with the Jews living in Madinah Q 60;8

لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّـهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ

translation “Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.”———-

• The sheikh also swore to his nation love “Egypt” saying that it is a great swear . He says the nation is your home /dwelling & the relatives & friends . It is also the place for his rights & duties . It is also his honor . The sheikh also says that the relation between the people of the same nation regardless of their religions or beliefs is a contractual relation & agreement protecting the rights & enacting the duties . This national relation is different than the religious relation but this does not mean that the two relations collide because the nationalism does not mean sticking to the prejudiced intolerant bigotry or chauvinism & fanaticism which is denounced by Islam , because Islam instructs supporting your kindred & people only when they are on the right side & not supporting them in aggression or in the wrong . Islam also extends the concept of nationalism to encompass the entire humankind realm Q21;92

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ

translation “Indeed this, your nation (people) is one, and I am your Lord, so worship Me” . , thus the individual needs to be good to the entire human world community which is his overall comprehensive community