Nationalism and Islam: A Comparative Overview
| Aspect | Nationalism | Islam |
|---|---|---|
| Source of identity | Nation | Religion |
| Source of loyalty | Homeland | God |
| Source of authority | State | Quran and Sunnah |
| Source of law | Constitution | Sharia |
| Source of unity | Culture | Faith |
| Scope of vision | Limited and exclusive | Universal and inclusive |
| Attitude towards diversity | Chauvinistic and intolerant | Respectful and tolerant |
| Attitude towards history | Selective and glorifying | Critical and learning |
| Attitude towards other nations | Competitive and hostile | Cooperative and peaceful |
| Attitude towards social justice | Relative and pragmatic | Absolute and idealistic |
The history of nationalism vs Islam is a complex and diverse topic that covers many regions, periods, and perspectives. However, a possible overview of some of the main themes and events is:
- Nationalism and Islam emerged as two distinct and sometimes competing ideologies in the modern era, especially after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of European colonialism in the Muslim world.
- Nationalism is based on the idea that a nation, defined by a common culture, history, language, and territory, has the right and duty to form a sovereign state. Islam is based on the idea that there is only one God, who revealed his final message to Muhammad, and that all Muslims are part of a global community that transcends national boundaries and racial distinctions.
- Nationalism and Islam have often clashed over issues such as identity, loyalty, authority, law, unity, vision, diversity, history, social justice, and relations with other nations. Nationalism tends to be limited, exclusive, chauvinistic, intolerant, selective, competitive, hostile, relative, and pragmatic. Islam tends to be universal, inclusive, respectful, tolerant, critical, cooperative, peaceful, absolute, and idealistic.
- However, nationalism and Islam have also interacted and influenced each other in various ways. Some Muslim nationalists have tried to combine their religious and national identities, such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Pakistan, Sukarno in Indonesia, Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey. Some Islamic movements have challenged or opposed nationalist regimes or ideologies, such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
- The relationship between nationalism and Islam is not static or uniform. It depends on various historical, political, social, and economic factors that shape the context and circumstances of each case. There is no simple or definitive answer to the question of nationalism vs Islam. Rather, there are multiple and diverse answers that reflect the complexity and diversity of the Muslim world.
According to the Quran and Sunnah, nationalism is a form of ignorance (jahiliyyah) and division that contradicts the teachings of Islam. Islam calls for the unity of all Muslims regardless of their race, language, or territory, and for their loyalty to Allah and His Messenger above any other allegiance. Nationalism, on the other hand, calls for loyalty to one's nation, culture, or homeland above anything else, and fosters chauvinism, intolerance, and hostility towards other nations. Nationalism also undermines the authority of Allah and His law (sharia) by giving preference to human-made laws and constitutions. Some of the evidences from the Quran and Sunnah that condemn nationalism are:
- Allah says:
وَٱعۡتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِیعࣰا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ۚ وَٱذۡكُرُوا۟ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَیۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَاۤءࣰ فَأَلَّفَ بَیۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦۤ إِخۡوَ ٰنࣰا وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةࣲ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡهَاۗ كَذَ ٰلِكَ یُبَیِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَایَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَAnd hold fast to the rope of Allah, all of you together, and do not be divided; and remember Allah’s favour on you, that when there was enmity between you, He created affection between your hearts, so due to His grace you became like brothers to each other; and you were on the edge of a pit of fire (hell), so He saved you from it; this is how Allah explains His verses to you, so that you may be guided.(3:103)
- Allah also says:
إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِۦۤ أُمَّتُكُمۡ أُمَّةࣰ وَ ٰحِدَةࣰ وَأَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ"Indeed, this Ummah of yours is one Ummah, and I am your Lord, so worship Me." (21:92)
Ummah is an Arabic word that means a community of believers who share a common faith, namely Islam. Ummah transcends the boundaries of race, language, and territory, and unites Muslims under the guidance and worship of Allah. Nation, on the other hand, is a political concept that refers to a group of people who share a common ancestry, culture, or geography, and form a sovereign state. Nation divides people on the basis of their worldly affiliations and loyalties, and may conflict with the teachings of Islam. Ummah is a spiritual and moral concept that reflects the unity and diversity of the Muslim world.
حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَازِمٍ - حَدَّثَنَا غَيْلاَنُ بْنُ، جَرِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي قَيْسِ بْنِ رِيَاحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ وَفَارَقَ الْجَمَاعَةَ فَمَاتَ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً وَمَنْ قَاتَلَ تَحْتَ رَايَةٍ عُمِّيَّةٍ يَغْضَبُ لِعَصَبَةٍ أَوْ يَدْعُو إِلَى عَصَبَةٍ أَوْ يَنْصُرُ عَصَبَةً فَقُتِلَ فَقِتْلَةٌ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ وَمَنْ خَرَجَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي يَضْرِبُ بَرَّهَا وَفَاجِرَهَا وَلاَ يَتَحَاشَ مِنْ مُؤْمِنِهَا وَلاَ يَفِي لِذِي عَهْدٍ عَهْدَهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَلَسْتُ مِنْهُ " .
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: One who defected from obedience (to the Amir) and separated from the main body of the Muslims - if he died in that state-would die the death of one belonging to the days of Jahiliyya (i.e. would not die as a Muslim). One who fights under the banner of a people who are blind (to the cause for which they are fighting, i.e. do not know whether their cause is just or otherwise), who gets flared up with family pride, calls (people) to fight for their family honour, and supports his kith and kin (i.e. fights not for the cause of Allah but for the sake of this family or tribe) - if he is killed (in this fight), he dies as one belonging to the days of Jahiliyya. Whoso attacks my Ummah (indiscriminately) killing the righteous and the wicked of them, sparing not (even) those staunch in faith and fulfilling not his promise made with those who have been given a pledge of security - he has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him.
The main points of the hadith are:
- A Muslim who disobeys the leader and separates from the Muslim community dies in a state of ignorance (jahiliyyah), which means he is deprived of the guidance and mercy of Islam.
- A Muslim who fights under a banner that does not represent the true cause of Islam, but rather his tribal or national pride, dies in a state of jahiliyyah as well.
- A Muslim who attacks other Muslims indiscriminately, without distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked, and without fulfilling his promises and treaties, has nothing to do with Islam or the Prophet.
- The hadith emphasizes the importance of unity and loyalty among Muslims, and warns against the dangers of division and discord. The hadith also shows that jihad is not a blind or indiscriminate violence, but rather a struggle for justice and truth in accordance with the teachings of Islam. ²
- The hadith reflects the historical context of the Prophet's time, when he faced many enemies and challenges from within and outside the Muslim community. The hadith also provides guidance for Muslims in later times who may face similar situations or dilemmas.
Muslim thinkers have different views on nationalism and its relation to Islam.
- Syed Qutb was an Egyptian Islamist who rejected nationalism as a form of ignorance (jahiliyyah) and division that contradicted the teachings of Islam. He called for a global Islamic revolution to overthrow the existing nationalist regimes and establish an Islamic state based on the Quran and Sunnah. He considered nationalism as a tool of Western imperialism and secularism that corrupted the Muslim world.
- Syed Nursi was a Turkish scholar who advocated for a synthesis of nationalism and Islam. He supported the Turkish nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, but also criticized its secularist policies. He argued that nationalism could be a means of preserving and reviving the Islamic identity and civilization of the Turks. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation with other nations and religions.
- Iqbal was a Pakistani poet and philosopher who envisioned a modern and dynamic Islam that could inspire the Muslims to achieve political and cultural independence. He supported the idea of a separate Muslim homeland in India, but also recognized the diversity and plurality of the Muslim world. He argued that nationalism could be compatible with Islam if it was based on ethical and spiritual values, rather than racial or territorial claims. He also advocated for a reconstruction of religious thought in Islam that would address the challenges of modernity.
- Maududi was an Indian-born Pakistani Islamist who founded the Jamaat-e-Islami party. He opposed nationalism as a Western concept that undermined the unity and loyalty of Muslims to Allah and His law (sharia). He called for the establishment of an Islamic state that would implement sharia in all aspects of Life.
There are a number of challenges to the creation of a single Islamic state. One challenge is the sheer size and diversity of the Muslim world. There are over 1.8 billion Muslims in the world, and they live in a wide variety of countries with different cultures, languages, and political systems. It would be a daunting task to unite all of these people under a single state.
Another challenge is the existence of existing nation-states. Most Muslim-majority countries are already independent nation-states, and they are unlikely to give up their sovereignty without a fight. Even if all of the Muslim-majority countries were to agree to unite, it would be a difficult and complex process.
Finally, there is the question of what form a single Islamic state would take. Would it be a theocracy, ruled by religious leaders? Or would it be a democracy, with elected representatives? There is no easy answer to this question, and it is likely to be a source of debate and disagreement.
Despite the challenges, the idea of a single Islamic state continues to appeal to many Muslims. They believe that it would be a way to unite the Muslim world and to promote Islamic values. However, it is important to remember that the creation of a single Islamic state is a complex and difficult task, and it is not clear if it is even possible in today's world.