Towards Perfection of Faith -- Loving and Hating for the Sake of Allah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Love and hate for the sake of Allah alone (al wala wal bara) is one of the aspects of iman (Faith). This concept of loving and hating for the sake of Allah has pretty much vanished from our Muslim societies.

You will find if people don't forbid the good and enjoin the forbidden, they don't hate disobedient acts unless they are the direct recipients of the consequence of the disobedient act. Even your own family and friends may find it easier to sit back and watch disobedience being played out against you. Many Muslims imitate the disbelievers and choose them as their friends and trustees. They mock believers who oppose the ways of the disbelievers and hypocrites. They help to deviate people from the path of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam). They don't struggle in their worship but they work very hard in pursuits of the material world and entertainment. They have abandoned Shari'ah and virtues and adopted Jahiliyyah (ignorance) and customs. These people have strayed from the straight path and they have turned away from al wala wal bara, and as a result, have fallen into the trap of Shaytan.

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed". A man enquired: "O Messenger of Allah! I help him when he is oppressed, but how can I help him when he is an oppressor?" He sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "You can keep him from committing oppression. That will be your help to him". [Bukhari and Muslim].

Allah Almighty says about people who believe in Allah and the Last Day,

لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ‌ يُوَآدُّونَ مَنْ حَآدَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَ‌سُولَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَ‌ٰنَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَ‌تَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَتَبَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُ‌وحٍ مِّنْهُ ۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِ‌ى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ‌ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ رَ‌ضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَ‌ضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حِزْبُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٢٢

You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful. (22)

Ibn Abbas is reported to have said, "Who loves for the sake of Allah and despises for the sake of Allah, who takes both his friend and his enemy for the sake of Allah, indeed his desire in this is but for the alliance of Allah, but the mass of the people have come to choose their associates only out of their concern for the things of this world, and this none will benefit".

The scion of the Ummah had already mentioned that the people of his time had become excessively concerned with worldly affairs, and his was the best generation of all time, then believers today must be aware, must have an idea, of whom to love and whom to hate, with whom they should ally themselves and against whom they should be pitted. Everyone should measure himself up against the Qur'an and the Sunnah in order to get a clear view of himself, will he be amongst the ranks of Shaytan and his minions, the clear losers in this world and the next, or will he be amongst the ranks of the believers, the party of the faithful who are assured success. But if we are ruled by worldly concerns in the matter of choosing our friends/companions and associates, as Ibn Abbas said, then we will find these friends/companions and associates as fleeting and ephemeral as the world itself, and so the nation will find no defense against its enemies.

Even today we find that materialism and worldliness have come to dominate the hearts of most of the people but this will not benefit anyone. As for the Muslim Ummah, it will never rise except by returning to Allah, to the principle of love for His Sake and hate for His Sake; that we ally ourselves one to another for His Sake and that we free ourselves from all whom He has ordered us to be free of for His sake. Only then will the believers rejoice in the victory of Allah.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam explained that love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah are among the signs of faith. Abu Dawood (4681) narrated from Abu Umaamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah and withholds for the sake of Allah, will have perfected his faith.” [Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood]

Allah Most High says in the Qur'an:

لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِ‌ينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىْءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ تُقَىٰةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُ‌كُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ‌ ﴿٢٨

Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah, except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination. (28) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:28)

Love and hate are opposites. Since it is logically impossible to truly love something without hating what stands against it, Muslims both love and hate for the sake of Allah. How do we balance love and hate?

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam guided us to this balance and moderation in our emotions when he said:

إِنَّ أَوْثَقَ عُرَى الإِيْمَانِ أَنْ تُحِبَّ فِي اللهِ وَتُبْغِضَ فِي اللهِ

Verily the strongest handhold of faith is that you love for the sake of Allah and that you hate for the sake of Allah. [Ahmad 4/286, authentic]

Allah tells us in the Qur'an about how a believer should be in terms of love -- that believers are stronger in love for Allah (than anyone else).

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَ‌ى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِذْ يَرَ‌وْنَ ٱلْعَذَابَ أَنَّ ٱلْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعَذَابِ ﴿١٦٥

And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah (than anyone else). And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment. (165) [Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:165]

What does this love and hate exactly mean? Loving for the sake of Allah means to love Allah and to show loyalty to Him by following His Shari'ah. It means to love all that is good in the Qur'an and Sunnah. This type of love requires one to defend Allah's religion and to preserve it. It is to love those who are obedient to Allah and to defend and assist them. These are the party of Allah. Hate for the sake of Allah signifies showing anger towards those who oppose Allah, His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), His religion, and the believers. It is to struggle and fight against them in order to uphold and spread the way of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam). There is a brilliant example of this in Prophet Ibrahim (alayhis-salaam), as Allah mentions in His Book:

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِىٓ إِبْرَ‌ٰ‌هِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَ‌ءَ‌ٰٓؤُا۟ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَفَرْ‌نَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَ‌ٰوَةُ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَ‌ٰ‌هِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَ‌نَّ لَكَ وَمَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۖ رَّ‌بَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ‌ ﴿٤

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever, until you believe in Allah Alone," except the saying of Ibrahim (Abraham) to his father: "Verily, I will ask for forgiveness (from Allah) for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah ." Our Lord! In You (Alone) we put our trust, and to You (Alone) we turn in repentance, and to You (Alone) is (our) final Return, (4) [Qur'an, Mumtahanah 60:4]

Al wala wal bara requires one to ally oneself with Allah, His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), and the believers wherever they are found against the disbelievers even if it is against their own relatives. We see this in the example of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), who fought against his own relatives and his own clan, all for the sake of Allah.

Al wala wal bara aims to purify the society and rid the people of all vices. A Muslim who does not act upon al wala wal bara will imitate bad habits and therefore become neglectful of his duties to Allah. This will lead to a corrupt person, who will end up raising a corrupt family, which will corrupt the community and society in whole.

The great scholar, Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Azeez ibn Baaz (d.1420, may Allah have Mercy on him) was asked about love and hate for the sake of Allah, and he replied:

Loving for Allah is when you love (someone) for Allah’s sake, the Blessed and Exalted, because you believe him to be a person of taqwa (mindfulness of Allah’s orders) and iman (upright beliefs, statements, and actions). Because of these things you love such a person for the sake of Allah.

You also hate for the sake of Allah when you see a disobedient disbeliever. You hate such a person for the sake of Allah.

You also hate a disobedient person, even if he is a Muslim, based on the degree of his disobedience.

This is how a believer is – He allows his heart to react to both types of people, loving some of them for the sake of Allah. He loves the people of iman and taqwa for the sake of Allah, while he hates the people of disbelief, evil, and disobedience for the sake of Allah, allowing his heart to interact with both kinds.

In the case when there is good and bad in a person, like a disobedient Muslim, then he loves him for his Islam and hates him for his disobedience, combining both emotions of love and hatred for one person.

As for the people of iman and the people of upright Islamic practice, then he (a true believer) loves them wholeheartedly. Similarly, he hates the people of disbelief wholeheartedly.

But regarding someone who has both things (good and bad traits), a disobedient Muslim, he loves him based on the level of his iman and Islam, while he hates him according to the level of his disobedience and violations (of Islamic beliefs and practices).

The reason why al wala wal bara is so important in Islam is because, if it is taken into practice, it can remove all the characteristics of Jahiliyyah from the Muslim Ummah, it guarantees the preservation of the Ummah, and it distinguishes the believer from the disbeliever and the hypocrites. When one loves and hates for Allah's sake only, they are raised degrees higher than those who love, hate, and act based on their own desires or fake gods or for other meaningless things. Allah states in His Speech:

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا ﴿٧٦

Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut (Satan, etc.). So fight you against the friends of Satan; Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Satan. [Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:76]

This verse is speaking of al wala wal bara. Those who have iman and belief and act upon al wala wal bara fight for Allah's cause to preserve His Deen, while those who disbelieve fight for gods that don't even exist.

With these necessary emotions, Muslims are required to maintain an important balance, and they are not allowed to transgress against the rights of those they hate. Allah Almighty says:

ـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّ‌ٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِ‌مَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَ‌بُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ‌ۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (8) [Qur'an, al-Ma'idah 5:8]

On the day when those who were followed disown those who followed them, and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them. And those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us."

إِذْ تَبَرَّ‌أَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتُّبِعُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ وَرَ‌أَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَسْبَابُ ﴿١٦٦﴾ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّ‌ةً فَنَتَبَرَّ‌أَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّ‌ءُوا۟ مِنَّا ۗ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ يُرِ‌يهِمُ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ حَسَرَ‌ٰ‌تٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِ‌جِينَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ‌ ﴿١٦٧

[And they should consider that] when those who have been followed disassociate themselves from those who followed [them], and they [all] see the punishment, and cut off from them are the ties [of relationship], (166) Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire. (167) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:166-167]

There is no doubt but that this is the condition of whoever takes for his friend and ally anyone but Allah and His Messenger. Allying himself to him, seeking redress from him, pleasing himself with what they like, and despising what they dislike. His works are entirely in vain. He will see them cast down on the Day of Resurrection despite their number and despite the extreme effort and exertion which he had made, so long as he had failed to ally himself for the sake of Allah and His Messenger; to fight for this, to love for this and to hate for this; so long as all of his effort and all of his actions have not been for Allah and His Messenger.

On that Day all connections and all associations will be severed except for those which were for the sake of Allah. Good fortune is his whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), whose worship was for Allah alone, who loved for Allah and hated for Allah, who granted and forbade for His Sake, who sealed a friendship or declared animosity for His Sake, whose drawing near and whose staying clear was for His Sake, who followed the Messenger and who denounced and abandoned all who differed with his Sunnah and his guidance.

Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as You did lay on those before us; our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear. Pardon us, grant us forgiveness, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving people.

May Allah increase our iman and bestow upon us His love and enable us to love and hate for His sake. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam.