Allah SWT says in the Quran, after mentioning many other signs and evidences “And
among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference
of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound
knowledge” ar-Rum 22.
When going through the Islamic history, one should find that there are many causes
and diseases that weaken the Muslim Umma in the past and today and one of them is
A’SABIYYAH. This is one of the deadly disease which is affected the Umma, hence
the once unified merciful and organized Muslim Umma has transformed into differing,
conflicting and warring entities.
For this reason, it is a must for us to know what A’SABIYYAH is and understands
all its forms and to know what Islam says about A’SABIYYAH and why Islam has fought
it, and how we can rid ourselves from it Insha Allah.
Definition: Linguistically: Asabiyyah comes from the word A’sabah,
which are the relatives of the person from his/her father’s side. In other words
Asabiyyah is man’s supporting people to whom he belongs, whether they are right
or wrong, oppressing or oppressed.
What causes Asabiyyah?
One has the feeling of being better than others, and due to this a considering others
are at a lower class.
This kind of thinking is corrupted, and it is in fact a kind of arrogance
that comes from the mentality of Iblees-shythan, which led him to disobey the command
of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala when Allah (SWT) ordered him to prostrate to
Adam (AS). Iblees said, "I am better than him, You created me out of fire and
you created him (Adam) out of clay."
The Prophet Muhammad sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam warned us when he said, "No
one enters
Paradise
if they have in their heart a grain weight of arrogance." The Prophet sall
Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam defined this arrogance (KIBR) in two things: Rejection
of the truth and looking down on people.
Due to Ignorance : lack of understanding about the deen, indulged with traditional
misconceptions:- One who knows the deen properly he will understand what Islam propagates,
what Qur’an and sunnah. says : Allah says; in Surah ar-Rum (30-22)– it is the sign
for the people of knowledge.
If you look at the verse carefully, you will come to know that Allah (SWT) telling
us that, the differences amongst people are a sign/evidence that indicates the greatness
of Allah’s Creation and His Power like the sign of the creation of the earth and
the sky.
Another cause it came along with their previous state/culture : People who
came/converted from a background which they have this culture/tradition of differentiation
or inferiority or superiority complex makes them to have this mentality of chosen
ones.
Does not sincere in their belief : The people just say they believe in but
actually it is not the case, the belief is not entered below their throat, Allah
says in Hujrath (49:14)
What are the types A’sabiyyah?
1) Relatives relationship and ethnic descent
a. It is the most ancient and the strongest kind of Asabiyyah. The closer the relationship
is, the stronger the Asabiyyah.
b. Tribalism, ethnicism, and nationalism are of this kind of Asabiyyah. From this
comes a Jahili (un-Islamic) slogan, "Support your brother whether he is oppressing
or oppressed."
2) Principles and Madhahib/school of thought
a. This kind of Asabiyyah grows amongst a group of people who are abided by one
school thought or one principle, be it religious or not, or the followers of a certain
madhab school of Islamic law.
b. The individual in this group of people strongly supports his group or the followers
of his madhab whether they are right or wrong.
c. Some times it goes into extreme cases, in some countries they will not have any
relationship with other school of thought groups, they will do not attend even the
funeral prayers!
Allah says in the Quran about the one who makes sects in the deen and warning them..
Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing
in what they had with them! [Ar-rum 30-32]
3) Regionalism – It is formed amongst a group of people who live in one part or
region of the world.
a. It is formed amongst a group of people who live in one region. They think that
just because they are living together in one region, that by it self will give them
better qualifications than others. So they look down on others and think highly
of their own selves even if those other people have lived with them for tens of
years and even if they were born in their region but they are not originally from
them.
b. This regionalism was a goal that was sought by the enemies of Islam, so they
planted this deadly thought and nourished it with all means, and people ended up
victims of this deadly Asabiyyah that only benefited the opportunistic people by
keeping and strengthening their positions. In the past, this kind of Asabiyyah (regionalism)
was the reason behind losing Andalousiah (Al-Andalous)
c. Hadith : ‘ no Arab is better than a non-Arab, no non-Arab
is better than an Arab- except with TAQWA piety (God conscious)
4) Racism
a. It is formed amongst people with the same color of skin, thinking that their
skin color by itself makes them better than other people of different skin color.
b. This kind of Asabiyyah does not exist in the Muslim Umma (walhamdulillah) for
some extend, but it is deep rooted in the western countries.
What are the harms of Asabiyyah ? Asabiyyah is harmful in many
ways
1) Destroys the Ummah
2) Changes the unity and harmony into disunity and disharmony
3) People will be focused on their clan/tribe/etc.. and doesn’t care about others
4) It drives the community go astray because of blind following and support
When Islam wants to spread peace by greeting to the one to whom you know and you
don’t…same time this Asabiyyah makes one to think differently. For example
on the salutation spreading salam to one who knows and do not know.
-Once a man asked the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) about which aspect
of Islam was best. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: "Feeding
the hungry, and saying salaam to those you know and those you don''t know."
(Bukhaari and Muslim)
Dear Muslims, the Asabiyyah, in Jahiliyya time before Islam turned the Arab tribes
into enemies and made from their
Arabian Peninsula
a battlefield. Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala told us about their situation before
Islam in Surah Al-Imraan, (verse 103), what can be translated as, "And hold
fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves,
and remember Allah’s Favor on you, for you were enemies one to another, but He joined
your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith)
…and you were at the brink of the fire pit and He saved you from it"
This kind of situation is not restricted to the Arabs, it actually plagued all nations
that were disunited because of Asabiyyah.
This is such a serious issue and Rasulullah SAW said: ''If two Muslims meet each
other with their swords then (both) the killer and the killed one are in the (Hell)
Fire’. Al-Bukhari
Dear brothers and sisters, we all as Muslims, those who inherited Islam and those
who converted cannot be true Muslims if we still carry any kind of Asabiyyah. When
we accept Islam we have to leave and throw away all kinds of Jahiliyya beliefs,
thinking, mentality, and behavior. This is how we will accept Islam as a complete
way of life.
What is the Islamic stance towards it?
In General, Islam rejects all kind of A’sabiyyah just because of they are not suitable
to be a fair and just framework for the human society, they are in fact manifestation
of injustice, oppression, corruption and transgression on the earth
Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala proclaimed that He created the differences amongst
people to be a reason for them to get to know each other, and live together in cohesion
and collaboration and not a reason for them to look down on one another. In reality,
the scale of being better than others is at-taqwa (righteousness) and the good deeds.
Quran:
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations
and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you in
the sight of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala is those who has most taqwa… Al-hujrath(49-13)
Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala also says in another verse, that the differences amongst
people are a sign/evidence that indicates the greatness of Allaah''s Creation and
His Power like the sign of the creation of the earth and the sky.
And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference
of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound
knowledge Ar-Room (30-22)
Similarly Prophet SAW warned in many ahadith about this disease of jahiliyyah
Ahadith:
Imam Abu-Dawood reported that the prophet SAW said “he is not of us if he calls
to A’sabiyyah, and he is not one of us if he fights for the sake of A’sabiyyah and
not one of us if he dies on Asabiyyah
In another authentic narration by Imam Abu-Dawud, the prophet (S.A.W.) said, "Allah
(S.W.T.) took away the Asabiyyah of jahiliyyah from you, and your boasting about
your fathers. So, man is either a righteous believer or a corrupted non-believer.
You are the children of Adam, and Adam is from dirt; let men quit their boasting
of their own people, they are nothing but coal from the coal of Hell or they will
be more humiliated in the sight of Allah more than the dung beetle/insect that pushes
dung with its nose."
Dear Muslims, We need to ask ourselves, why Islam has fought Asabiyyah and warned
us against it?
Islam rejects it simply because gathering and mutual support on the basis of Asabiyyah
contradicts the fundamentals of Islam and its teachings. The Muslim who believes
in Allah (S.W.T.) has his heart that filled with love of Allah and love toward those
who are loved by Allah, and hatred toward those who are hated by Allah.
Dear Muslims, We must keep in mind that Islam does not cancel races, languages,
and regions, but makes them members and parts within this one body; they move when
the body moves towards a common goal, in a way that none of the roles of any parts
of the body is canceled.
The scale of being better in this society is not the race, language, color or national
origin, .etc..; it is righteousness and good deeds, Allah (S.W.T.) says in
surat Al-Hujurat, (verse 13), what can be translated as, "Verily, the most
honorable of you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa"
How do we get rid of it?
1) Adhering to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
a. This is clarified in the Qur''an. Allah (S.W.T.) commanded us in. Al-Imran (4-103)
Holding the rope of Allah and do not disunite
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (which is Islam) and be
not divided among yourselves.”
Also, it is a must that Muslims unite regardless of the factors that suggest differences,
like skin color, languages, regions, national origins, because unity is obligatory.
2) Obey Allah and his Rasool SWT when you differ on something turn to the main sources
– which is of course the holy Quran and authentic Ahaadith.
3) Remember that In the sight of Allah the ‘most honored one’ is the one with Taqwa
and help one another
(al-Maidah 5:2) Help one another in birr* and taqwa, and do not help one another
in ithm (sin) and ''udwan (transgression).
4) By purifying the soul from jahiliyaah (ignorance) and Kibr (arrogance)
a. The cure is also with purifying the soul from the traces of jahiliyah and purifying
it from arrogance and looking down on people and one should focus on planting the
virtue of humility and respect of others.
5) Understanding each other an mingle with them talk to them and pray for them..
Abu ad-Darda and uwaimir bin Zaid (RA) said that they heard from the Messenger of
Allah SAW said: “Every Muslim slave who invokes Allah for the benefit of his absent
brother (in Islam), then the angel will reply, ‘Amin, and for you the same.”
O’ servents of almighty, let us have this practice and make a habit of praying for
your brother or sister (in Islam) in their absence. By that Insha Allah we will
be getting two benefits. 1) As it mentioned in the above Hadith, Angels will make
Ameen for your DUA/supplication and 2) Your relationship with the brother will increase
for the sake of Allah.
6) The cure is also with the total awareness that Asabiyyah is from the works
of Iblees and a means of destruction in the hands of the enemies of the Muslim Ummah
from within and from outside..
Dear Muslims, unity will not come in a night or day but it is an effort working
together and starting from the individuals like you and me. It is working towards
for a common goal and by ignoring some of the differences as long as, if it is not
affecting the aqeedha /creed and fundamentals of Islam. We need to help each other
on the birr and piety and forgive one another for the short comings.
(al-Maidah 5:2) Help one another in birr* and taqwa, and do not help one another
in ithm (sin) and ''udwan (transgression).
We ask Allah (S.W.T.) to protect us all from all forms of Al-Asabiyyah Al-Jahiliyah
and make us true believers. ( Ameen )