One of the most dangerous consequences of nationalism is the separation of religion from politics and the state. Nationalist thinking and tendencies are fundamentally based on this separation. This viewpoint emphasizes the interests and will of the nation over Islamic values, leading to a conflict where Islamic values are often ignored.
The emergence of nation and nationality in the modern era, which forms the foundation of nationalism, has consistently been accompanied by a rejection of religion. The authority of the church diminished with the formation of local governments, and participation in Sharia was supplanted by engagement in secular knowledge and new politics. Initially, nationalism represented a turning away from the power of the church and the establishment of national governments founded on human laws. This process included the complete dissociation of politics from religion. In nationalism, government and its laws become purely worldly, as the people create these laws. However, in Islam, the axis is religion and belief in Allah, with governance based on divine principles. In Islam, all rules, laws, and ordinances are established by Allah Almighty and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Harm to Small Countries and Minorities
Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi (MABH) comments on the harm that nationalists inflict upon small nations:
“Nationalists, both within and outside the country, perpetually glorify ethnicity, and nationalism appears attractive to small nations. They extol the language, literature, culture, and history of these nations until the nation becomes enamored with nationalistic feelings, believing it possesses impregnable fortresses and unmatched power. Consequently, it isolates itself from the world and occasionally challenges great powers out of pride. Such a nation often becomes a victim of nationalism confined to a narrow circle.”
The proliferation of nationalism in various countries will not resolve the issues faced by minorities. The author of the book Nationalism from the Perspective of Islam states: “Since the system based on nationalism is closed, the issues of minorities in independent countries remain unaddressed. Minorities develop a sense of identity and feel excluded from society. This exclusion pushes them to rebel and confront the prevailing national identity.”
Consequently, in many countries that champion the slogan of nationalism, minorities are deprived of their basic rights, leading them to seek various means to attain those rights.
Lowering the Value of Man and Limiting Intellectual Horizons
Another significant consequence of nationalism is the devaluation of humanity and the restriction of intellectual horizons. If a Muslim becomes entwined in this phenomenon, he may become indifferent to the pain and suffering of Muslims worldwide, as his focus narrows to his homeland, land, race, and people.
Nationalism constrains a person’s intellectual capacity to a narrow framework, binding him to two main axes:
1. Nationalist ideology limits individuals’ thoughts to “his fellow countrymen” and hinders broader considerations of humanity and fellow human beings.
2. Nationalistic thought restricts a person’s perspective to “soil, blood, homeland, and race” rather than “belief, spirituality, and deep values,” preventing consideration beyond these dimensions.
As a result, nationalists are often swayed by emotions and feelings, steering clear of beliefs founded on reason, thought, and awareness. While belief utilizes feelings and emotions to serve rationality, fostering a sense of “commitment and responsibility” in individuals, nationalist ideology subordinates’ reason to emotions and sentiments.
“Although everyone acknowledges that the value of a person lies in his thoughts, nationalism reduces this value to superficial and low-value factors such as soil, race, blood, and language. These factors become criteria for evaluating individuals, encouraging sacrifices for these elements. Therefore, it can be stated that nationalism prioritizes feelings over reason and promotes ‘national morality’ instead of imparting universal morality. This perspective confines human thought within geographical boundaries, perceiving justice and righteousness only within that limited scope. Consequently, nationalists focus primarily on national interests, national security, and the national economy instead of addressing the welfare of all humanity.”
Loyalty and Friendship with Non-Muslims
Another detrimental consequence of nationalism is the promotion of loyalty and friendship with non-Muslims, an action explicitly forbidden by Islam. The author of Contemporary Intellectual Trends and Islam’s Position on Them discusses Arab nationalism: “Arab nationalism leads individuals to forge friendships and loyalty with non-Muslim and atheist Arabs. This trend prompts nationalists to choose infidel and atheist Arabs as close allies and solicit their assistance against adversaries of nationalism, regardless of whether those adversaries are Muslims or non-Muslims. Such behavior harbors significant corruption, contradicting the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. The Quran and Sunnah highlight the necessity of harboring enmity toward non-Muslims, prohibiting friendship with them, and forbidding their selection as personal companions.”
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