One of the serious harms of nationalism is the authenticity of borders—borders that not only separate religious brothers from each other but also create deep divisions between them. Nationalism gives legitimacy to geographical borders, aiming to create national units that view the homeland as the main center of loyalty. In contrast, Islam gives authenticity to belief and religion, regards Allah as the main focus of attachment, and calls for the universal unity of mankind based on ideology. From an Islamic perspective, nationalism limits the intellectual horizon of humans and neglects human society. This, in turn, leads to racism, colonialism, and the exploitation of societies.
In nationalism, the emphasis is placed on natural distinctions such as language and race, with material factors shaping the nature of society. However, in Islam, the foundation of society is built on faith. In Islam, language, color, and race are not the criteria for unity and superiority. Nationalism is based on affirming the significance of national and racial units. The focus of nationalism is not humanity as a whole; rather, it targets national units and ultimately replaces national communities with a global society.
The author of the book Nationalism from the Perspective of Islam writes: “Although at first glance, nationalism seems to be a factor for creating unity among the masses, its consequences lead humanity to discord, conflict, and even war and bloodshed.”
Islam: The Messenger of Unity
Islam has always called its followers to unity, integrity, and adherence to the divine rope that will save them from hardships. In contrast, as mentioned, the criterion in nationalism is history, ethnicity, and tribe. In such a system, it is challenging for individuals from different social and economic classes or those of different races to coexist.
Islam has refuted these ideas. Throughout Islamic history, there are many examples of great leaders who lived alongside slaves, shared meals with them, and socialized with them.
Allama Iqbal Lahori (May Allah bless him) described this reality as follows, reflecting on a statement from Abu Jahl:
“His religion cuts ownership and lineage/ denies Quraysh and the virtue of the Arabs.
In his eyes, one is high and one is low/ sat on the same couch with his slave.
He has not known the value of the Arab freemen/ in relation to the menials of Abyssinia.
The reds mixed with the blacks/ they ruined the reputation of two worlds.
This equality, this brotherhood is from non-Arabs/ I know very well that Salman is Mazdaki.
Ibn Abdullah has been deceived by him/ and has brought prosperity to the Arabs.”
These verses stand as a testament to the egalitarian and unifying spirit of Islam, which is in complete contrast to the divisive principles of nationalism.
In Islam, the highest relationship is that of religious and Islamic brotherhood. This relationship transcends any blood or kinship ties. Almighty Allah says in this regard: «إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ» Translation: “Surely the believers are brothers to each other.”
The basis and criterion of superiority in Islam are not nation, tribe, color, race, or wealth; rather, superiority is measured solely on the basis of piety and fear of Allah.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH), fourteen centuries ago, clearly stated the truth of the bond of faith that connects Muslims and makes them brothers. In a Hadith from the Holy Prophet (PBUH), it is stated: «المسلم أخو المسلم لا یظلمه ولا یخذله ولا یحقره… بحسب امرئ من الشر أن یحقر أخاه المسلم، کل المسلم علی المسلم حرام: دمه، وماله، وعرضه…» Translation: “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim; he does not oppress him, does not abandon him, and does not humiliate him. It is enough for a person to be evil that he humiliates his Muslim brother. The blood, property, and honor of a Muslim are sacred to another Muslim.”
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also said: «مثل المؤمنین في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم مثل الجسد؛ إذا اشتکی منه عضو، تداعی له سائر الجسد بالسهر والحمی» Translation: “The example of Muslims in their friendship, kindness, and compassion towards each other is like that of a body; if one of its members is in pain, the other members also share in its suffering with vigilance and fever.”
This Hadith clearly shows that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) called upon Muslims to unity and solidarity, so they may be strong and powerful like a single body, thereby shielding themselves from the conspiracies and plots of their enemies.
One of Islam’s tools for expanding security at the international level is emphasizing harmony and unity among the members of human society, as well as between Islamic societies. Therefore, nationalism and the creation of racial and national divisions are completely rejected from the Islamic perspective. The reasons for Islam’s opposition to this phenomenon are rooted in the fundamental weaknesses of the foundations of this theory and the destructive effects it generates.
Unity of the word is the secret of the success of the Islamic Ummah. The source of this nation’s strength in the face of conspiracies is that all sections of the nation, regardless of ethnicity, language, or race, unite and stand against colonialists and opportunists. When the Islamic nation was united, no power dared to confront them with hostility. However, since the Islamic countries were divided by enemies and turned into small nations, all have allowed themselves to reach out to them with aggression.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Hassan Habanaka writes in his book The Three Wings of Deception about the enemies’ efforts to disrupt the unity of Muslims as follows: “The enemies of Islam made numerous efforts to disrupt the great unity of Muslims, but they did not succeed until they employed a dangerous weapon. This weapon was nationalism—an explosive and formidable tool that was able to fracture Muslims into different groups and nationalities, causing division and discord before they could return to Islamic unity. Following the divide among Muslims based on nationalism, factors of disunity grew, and historical events deepened this gap. The enemies of Islam took advantage of this opportunity and provoked Muslims against one another. The result of these efforts was the disintegration of the great Islamic Caliphate, which had safeguarded Muslims from division for centuries. The disparate parties and groups played a significant role in facilitating the enemies of Islam in this regard. Nationalism is one of the tools that the enemies of Islam used to distance Muslims from their religion.”
The Holy Quran has also unequivocally demonstrated the superiority of Islamic brotherhood over all other ties. The Quran’s aversion to Abu Lahab, who was an influential Arab and the uncle of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), serves only as a reminder of standing against the truth and rejecting divine guidance.
The emergence of nationalist sentiments such as Hinduism, Turkism, Afghanism, Arabism, and Iranism is a natural consequence of nationalism. This phenomenon has shattered Islamic unity and destroyed the sense of being a single Islamic nation. Experience has shown that since the rise of racial and national prejudices, Muslims have increasingly turned against each other. This is despite the fact that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) has explicitly forbidden such behavior and stated: «ألا لا ترجعوا بعدی کفارا یضرب بعضکم رقاب بعض» Translation: “Beware lest you become disbelievers after me, slaughtering one another.”
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