Islam and Patriotism

We understand that loyalty to a given country does not contradict with loyalty to Islam. This is true so long as this loyalty is constrained with the laws of Islam. It is worth mentioning that loyalty to Islam fans the fires of loyalty to man's homeland.

Islam never denies patriotism:

Islam never condemned man’s attempt to develop, strengthen and defend his own country and protect its sanctities. Islam, rather, overemphasizes these notions and supports them. This is done only through a noble and classy understanding and in a way that conforms to the Islamic approach with all its constituents.

people get used to their homeland, where they were born and raised, even if this homeland of them was a barren desert or a poor land. This is an innate and natural disposition of all normal human beings. The Islamic Law goes in conformity with this natural disposition and commendable behavior without repugnant exaggeration or irresponsible facilitation.

If void of fanaticism and extremism and if held as an evidence of man’s faith or disbelief, patriotism goes in harmony with the Islamic notion and never contradicts it.

The contradiction arises when man's fanatic loyalty for his homeland, community or kin and kindred comes at the expense of his loyalty to the bond of Islam. This is not accepted by one's logic or heart. It is also rejected by religion, for no matter how precious man's homeland is, it is never more precious than the believer's religion and holding to the strong relation Allah established among Muslims. This is the case, no loyalty should be sworn on the basis of patriotism but rather on the basis of faith fraternity and the religious bonds.

We believe that those loyal to their religion are the best of patriots. They are the ones that sacrifice their souls for their homelands. They are also the ones who work for the best interest of their homelands while many of those bragging about patriotism never do more than talking and paying lip services.

Islam commends religious positivism that spares the Muslim the trouble of prattling and distances him from verbosity. Islam spurs Muslims into making their deeds speak louder than their words. They should not surrender to daydreams, but rather face realities. They should abandon recreation and slackness only to embark on working actively. Allah almighty says, "And say (what means): (Work (righteousness): soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers)" (Al tawba: 105.(

Out of all the Divine Messages and other man-designed doctrines, Islam is the only one that gives a lot of attention to the Muslims' homelands and protecting them. Before this attention, one cannot but stand deeply impressed and astounded.

Islam lauds shedding blood, sacrificing Muslims' souls and spending money to fend off any attack targeting one inch of the Muslims' homelands.  Jihad (the fight in Allah's Cause) is an obligatory act of worship imposed on each one capable of fighting once the enemy sweeps into the lands of Islam.

Muslims whether equipped lightly or heavily must go out for war and fight till each inch of their homeland is regained. True patriotism is that stemming from religion and controlled in men's hearts by its teachings.

Patriotism is not a commodity of verbosity imported – among others - and then translated literally and stuffed into minds without any refining or polishing processes.

We renounce overrating patriotism to the extent of holding it prior to religion and faith bond.

We also condemn the dereliction of some Muslims concerning patriotism on the pretext that it is anti-religious likening it to unjust fanaticism.

Both attitudes are out of normal and overruled, and religion is somewhere on the scale between the two extremes