The doctrine of Al-Wala’ wa’l-Bara’ is built upon the foundation of love and hatred for the sake of Allah. This principle is the “real image” for the actual practice of faith, serving as a practical manifestation of Tawhid (Divine Unity) that dictates every aspect of a believer’s interaction with the world.

I. Categorizing Mankind in the Creed of the Salaf

In the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, people are divided into three distinct categories based on their adherence to Islamic law and the sincerity of their faith:

1. Those Entitled to Unconditional Loyalty (The Sincere Believers)

This category includes those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and fulfill the laws of Islam through knowledge, action, and creed.

  • Actions: They perform their deeds and words sincerely for Allah.
  • Submission: They submit to His commands and strictly avoid His prohibitions.
  • Loyalty: These individuals are granted full Wala’ as the “Party of Allah”.

2. Those Entitled to Loyalty from One Perspective and Disassociation from Another

This category represents the “Middle Path” of the Salaf, distinguishing them from extremist groups like the Kharijites and Mu’tazilites. It refers to the Muslim who mixes righteous deeds with evil ones. +1

  • The Principle of Proportionality: Such a person is loved to the extent of the good and faith they possess and hated to the extent of the evil and disobedience they possess.
  • Brotherhood Despite Sin: Allah designates even fighting believers as “brothers,” as seen in Surat al-Hujurat: 9-10, which mandates making peace between two factions of believers.
  • Ibn Taymiyyah’s Insights: He stated that the Salaf, despite internal conflicts, maintained religious loyalty (muwalat), accepted each other’s testimony, and intermarried, dealing with one another as Muslims.
  • The Case of Abdullah (Himār): Despite being lashed for drinking wine, the Prophet ﷺ forbade cursing him, stating: “Do not curse him, for by Allah—as far as I know—he loves Allah and His Messenger”.
  • The “Honor and Humiliation” Balance: Ibn Taymiyyah likened this to a poor thief whose hand is cut for his crime (an act of Bara’), yet who is given money from the public treasury to satisfy his needs (an act of Wala’).
  • Ibn Baz’s Summary: He described the believer’s heart as spacious enough for both; loving a person for their Islam while simultaneously hating them for their sins.

3. Those Entitled to Unconditional Disassociation (The Disbelievers)

This applies to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, including those who disbelieve in the pillars of faith or associate partners with Allah in worship.

  • Total Disassociation: Ahl al-Sunnah disassociate from such individuals even if they are the closest of kin.
  • Scriptural Evidence: Surat al-Mujadila: 22 notes that true believers do not have affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger.
  • The Danger of Obedience: Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh warned that obeying disbelievers will inevitably lead a Muslim back to disbelief, as they are never satisfied with anything less.
  • Shirk in Legislation: Al-Shinqiti noted that following Satan in making permissible what Allah has forbidden is a type of Shirk that takes one out of the fold of Islam.

II. The Seven Prerequisites of the Declaration of Faith

For the declaration of faith to be valid and to correctly facilitate loyalty and disassociation, al-Qahtani identifies seven essential “teeth” or prerequisites:

  1. Knowledge: Understanding what the declaration negates (polytheism) and confirms (Allah’s oneness).
  2. Certainty: The complete absence of doubt regarding the truth of Islam.
  3. Acceptance: Inward and outward embrace of the declaration’s requirements.
  4. Submission: Surrendering one’s purpose to Allah, ensuring desires accord with the Message.
  5. Sincerity: Perfect harmony between the heart and tongue to prevent hypocrisy.
  6. Singularity of Devotion: Purifying deeds from all traces of reverence for created things.
  7. Love: Loving the declaration, its requirements, and its people.

III. Disassociation from Innovators (Bid’ah) and Misleading Passions

Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah maintain a strict stance of Bara’ toward those who introduce misleading passions into the religion.

  • Enmity toward Innovation: An innovator whose path constitutes major disbelief (Bid’ah Mukaffirah) is shown the same enmity as an original disbeliever.
  • The Danger of Association: Ibn Abbas warned that sitting with “people of passions” makes the heart sick.
  • The Salafi Mandate: Al-Baghawi and Ibn Qudamah affirmed the consensus on boycotting and separating from people of innovation to protect the religion.
  • The Deterrent: Al-Nawawi noted that the boycott of Ka’b bin Malik serves as a means to humiliate manifest sins and act as a deterrent for the community.

IV. Modern Negations of Al-Wala’ wa’l-Bara’ and the “New Apostasy”

Al-Qahtani identifies contemporary issues that violate the doctrine of Al-Wala’ wa’l-Bara’:

  • Legal Substitution: Replacing the Shari’ah with secular, man-made laws is classified as “real disbelief” and compared to the Yasaq of the Tartars.
  • Nationalism: Ideologies that prioritize the bond of land or race over faith are described as a “new apostasy.
  • Alliance with Enemies: Helping disbelievers against Muslims is a direct nullifier of Islam based on Surat al-Ma’idah: 51.

Conclusion: As established by Muhammad Saeed al-Qahtani and the authorities of the Salaf, Al-Wala’ wa’l-Bara’ is the axis of Islamic identity. It is a nuanced system of love and hate for the sake of Allah that preserves the integrity of the faith against external corruption and internal deviation.

By Idris Ahmad