MUSLIMS FOR
PEACE
لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (Surah Mumtahna verse 8)
AL WALA WAL BARA
DEFINITION
The Arabic word wala’ indicates closeness deriving from Ibn Faris Arabic dictionary, Mu’jam Maqayis Al-Lughah. Wala’ denotes love, loyalty, allegiance and guardianship or ownership.
The word bara’ means ‘to be free from something’. It also carries different meanings such as severance, creation, freedom, to overcome and the basic meaning is to sever the relationship with something or someone.
In the Islamic context, the term Al-wala' wal-bara' refers to the Muslims’ belief, actions and words that is pleasing to God, and withdrawing from and opposing all that is displeasing to God; known as disavowal for the sake of God.
CORRECT INTERPRETATION
Islam relates al Wala’ to love for the sake of Allah, His Messenger, fellow believers and those worthy of Allah’s pleasure. Al Bara’ is interpreted as devoid of infidelity, transgression, paganism or anything that is destructive. All human beings are creation of God, so we should practise ta’awun (getting to know and respect one another).
Islam teaches peace and love – not “Us and Them” – and rejects the idea that everyone is either a friend or an enemy. In fact, Allah s.w.t. says in Surah Al-Mumtahinah, verse 8:
لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
Which means: “Allah (does) not forbid you from those who (do) not fight you in the religion and (do) not drive you out of your homes that you deal kindly and deal justly with them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly”.
MISINTERPRETATIONS
Extremists believe that Al Wala’ wal bara’ means that Muslims must befriend and care for other Muslims only. They believe that all non-Muslims must be subjugated. The extremists also divide the world into two groups of people – Muslims who agree with their worldview, and enemies who oppose them, including other Muslims.