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Solidarity
among Muslims is a Shari`ah-based obligation, enjoined by Allah
Almighty in the Qur’an and in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him). It is also urged by the sense of brotherhood
among Muslims, and the general welfare of the Muslim Ummah also
requires this. There are many forms of solidarity, according to
different circumstances, traditions, ages, and places.
Allah
(Exalted and Blessed be He) says:
[By the declining day, Lo! man is in
a state of loss, save those who believe and do good works, and exhort
one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance] (Al-`Asr
103:1–3).
In
this short Qur’anic surah, Allah Almighty declares that there is no
way for success, profit, good reward, and deliverance from all forms
of loss except in true faith in Allah, good deeds, and mutual advice
to truth and endurance in defending it. The reality of things from the
time Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) up
till now is the best witness to the message included in this noble
surah and a firm proof of it.
When,
after the Prophet’s death, Muslims started to violate the great
principles of Islam, they suffered from controversy, disunity, and
enmity, as we all know. In fact, there is no therapy for such
suffering except for Muslims to turn to the basics of Islam, stick
tightly to it, work in accordance to its tenets, and make it the guide
and reference in their conflicts. Allah Almighty says:
[But nay, by
thy lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge
of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no
dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission]
(An-Nisaa’ 4:65).
Allah
also says:
[O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and
those of you who are in authority; and if ye have a dispute concerning
any matter, refer it to Allah and the Messenger if ye are (in truth)
believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in
the end] (An-Nisaa’ 4:59).
Cooperation
in Piety and Goodness
There
are also many Prophetic hadiths concerning the issue of solidarity in
Islam, which means cooperation in the cause of piety and goodness. The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Indeed, the
religion is counseling.” The Companions asked, “To whom, Messenger
of Allah?” He said, “To Allah, His Messenger, the rulers from
among the Muslims, as well as their common folk.”
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said, “The relation
of a believer to his brother in faith is as strong as a building whose
parts support one another.” While saying so, the Prophet held his
fingers tight as a sign of solidarity.
Moreover,
the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said
“The solidarity of Muslims in their mutual love, mercy, and
sympathy, is that of a body; if an organ aches, the whole body
sympathizes with it with sleeplessness and fever” (Al-Bukhari and
Muslim).
These
hadiths and others with the same content explicitly indicate the
obligation of mutual solidarity, mercy, sympathy, and cooperation
among Muslims in the cause of goodness. The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) compared the Muslims once to a building and
once to the body. Such images indicate that mutual solidarity, mercy,
and cooperation will gather the Muslims on the same word and the same
principles, and thus they will unite in their stance against the
enemies of Islam.
The
imam and guide of the Muslim Ummah in its honorable call to goodness
is the great leader, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon
him). He is the first who called the Muslim Ummah to worship Allah
alone and hold fast to the way of Allah. He united the Ummah under the
banner of truth to stand firm in the face of their enemy and defend
their fair rights in the face of tyranny, as indicated in Allah’s
Words:
[Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair
exhortation, and reason with them in the better way] (An-Nahl 16:125).
Allah also says:
[Say: This is my Way: I call on Allah with sure
knowledge, I and whosoever followeth me] (Yusuf 12:108).
The
Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) and their
righteous successors followed in the footsteps of the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) and they were overwhelmingly successful,
and Allah Almighty fulfilled His promise to them: He honored them and
gave them victory over their enemy.
It
is undeniable that Allah bestowed success on them by virtue of their
true faith, hard striving in His cause, good deeds, patience and
endurance, sincerity in word and deed, and their solidarity and
cooperation in this course. Allah does not judge people according to
their families or wealth, as He Almighty says: [And it is not your
wealth nor your children that will bring you near unto Us, but he who
believeth and doeth good (he draweth near). As for such, theirs will
be twofold reward for what they did, and they will dwell secure in
lofty halls] (Saba’ 34:37).
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Verily, Allah
does not consider your shape or wealth; rather He considers your
hearts and deeds” (Muslim).
So
whoever takes the same track of the righteous and follows their
footsteps will attain the same reward Allah gave them, and He will
give him victory as He did with the righteous. Allah Almighty says:
[Lo! We verily do help Our messengers, and those who believe, in the
life of the world and on the day when the witnesses arise, the day
when their excuse availeth not the evil doers, and theirs is the
curse, and theirs the ill abode] (Ghafir 40:51–52).
Allah
also says:
[And verily Our word went forth of old unto Our bondmen
sent (to warn); that they verily would be helped, and that Our host,
they verily would be the victors] (As-Saffat 61:171–173).
Allah
Almighty also says:
[To help believers is incumbent upon
Us] (Ar-Rum
30:47).
Allah
Almighty takes it upon Himself to support His obedient servants and
gather them under the banner of truth. It is Allah Who furnishes
people with sound understanding in their religion, bestows success
upon rulers, and guides them to the right path. Allah strengthens the
union of solidarity among Muslims and blesses them for their mutual
advice and cooperation in the cause of goodness. Allah also protects
His righteous servants against disunity, controversy, temptation, and
wicked schemes. Allah is the Owner of the universe and He regulates
it.
It
is incumbent on Muslims to unite under the banner of Islam rather than
be disunited under different banners. Some countries are united for
joint economic interest, others for strategic purposes, and still some
others succumb under the grasp of disguised occupation. There are
regional organizations and race- or creed-based organizations. What is
most amazing is that no religion calls for solidarity and cooperation
as Islam does, even though Muslims witness the least degree of unity
and solidarity in relation to other nations.
Many
Levels of Solidarity
A
certain form of solidarity was achieved under the Islamic caliphate.
Hence, it is the duty of Muslim states to unite under the banner of
Islam and to cooperate with other non-Muslim countries on humanitarian
bases that do not contradict the tenets of Islam.
Then
there must be unity among peoples of different Islamic states through
different regional and international organizations that aim to
activate the role of people in achieving solidarity among the whole
Ummah. Such kind of organizations must be developed to consider the
anti-Islam campaigns that are plotted all the time to uproot Islam.
Their role must extend to propagating Islam as the resort for lost
mankind, who is sinking in a sea of vulgarity and degeneration.
Lastly,
there should be internal cooperation between the systems of each
state—media, economic, political, social, and religious—for Islam
is a complete way of life in all aspects. The main end for Muslims
should be to show Islam in its pure essence to the world, for people
to understand it in the right way and follow its guidance. Then let
the stubborn disbelieve.
Moreover,
unity in the face of the enemy is a form of solidarity. Hence, there
should be a united body of Muslim forces ready to defend Islam and
protect Muslim countries from invasion. In the same way, members of
the same field in Muslim countries can achieve solidarity by working
together for the benefit of their home, for the Ummah, and for the
whole of mankind.
*
The former Mufti of Saudi Arabia
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