Prelude: Friendship with one’s homeland, interest in it, and service to the homeland and fellow countrymen are some of the values that the religion of Islam encourages its followers to uphold. However, it should be noted that this friendship and love should not be exaggerated to the point of leading to ethnocentrism and nationalism. In this part of the research, we aim to explain nationalism from the perspective of Islam, explore the intellectual foundations of nationalism and nationalists, and examine the role of patriotism.
The religion of Islam is a complete and comprehensive faith that meets the needs of people at all times. It calls upon its followers to engage in good, worthy, and appropriate deeds while preventing them from inappropriate actions. Islam has established correct and precise criteria for determining the superiority of a person, country, or nation, enabling individuals to prove their superiority based on these criteria. In Islam, the basis for an individual’s superiority is not determined by color, race, nationality, or language; rather, it is grounded in piety and fear of Allah. The orientation towards Allah, commitment to His religion, adherence to the strong and unbreakable rope of Allah, and brotherhood among individuals are foundations that can grant one group an advantage over another.
In His Holy Word, Allah beautifully portrays the purpose of creating diverse people with different ethnicities, nations, and groups. He says: «يا أيها الناس إنا خلقناكم من ذكر وأنثى وجعلناكم شعوبا وقبائل لتعارفوا إن أكرمكم عند الله أتقاكم إن الله عليم خبير» Translation: “O people, we have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. The most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Aware.”
This verse underscores that Islam does not accept pride in lineage, nation, tribe, or group; instead, it views the creation of humans in diverse tribes and groups as a means for recognition and mutual understanding. Pride and boasting about one’s nation, group, race, or language have no place in Islam.
However, nationalism, which is rooted in ethnocentrism, racial superiority, and a specific national history or language, perceives human superiority in these contexts. In many situations, individuals or groups regard themselves as superior based on these shared characteristics.
The foundation of nationalism prioritizes national and racial identities. It divides human society into independent and limited units based on geographical boundaries, factors such as race, language, territory, history, and political institutions. This division forces individuals within a national unit to view those outside of it as aliens or foreigners, often leading to hostility. Unlike Islam, which addresses all of humanity and calls for a united nation, nationalism focuses on national units, seeking to establish and maintain national societies rather than promoting global peace and community.
Nationalism contradicts the principles of Islamic civilization and culture. Islam regards every Muslim—whether white or black, Arab or non-Arab—as a participant in the construction and flourishing of Islamic culture and civilization, as Islam relies on the unity of all Muslims. In contrast, nationalism presents a divisive approach.
Furthermore, nationalism legitimizes ethnic and national affiliations. Individuals often define themselves in relation to particular land, origins, or races, distinguishing themselves from others. In pursuit of national interests, they may even act in ways that harm others.
“Islam and nationalism are not compatible. Islam, by its own inherent logic, is in conflict with this belief. Islam and nationalism represent two opposite poles in spirit, essence, tendency, and goal.”
The reality is that these two ideologies are fundamentally contradictory. The author of the book “Contemporary Intellectual Schools and Their Roles in Societies and the Position of the Muslim from Them” articulates this contradiction: “It is evident that Islam and the claims of nationalism do not align; the source of Islam is Allah Almighty, while ethnocentrism and nationalism derive from the misguided words, habits, and actions of ignorance and the flawed intellects of humanity. Nationalism’s rejection of religion, its denial of necessity for faith, and its use of slogans of ignorance are incompatible with the teachings of Islam.”
By admin2
