In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Indeed all praises are due to Allah, we praise Him, we seek His help, we ask for His forgiveness, and we rely solely on Him. We seek His refuge from the evil in our souls and from our wicked deeds. Whoever Allah guides, no one can misguide. And whomever Allah misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, He is One, with no partners, and I testify that Mohammad PBUH is His Messenger and His slave. 

O mankind, fear your Lord, the One who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and from them spread many men and women. O People fear Allah, as he should be feared, and always speak the truth. He will direct you to righteous deeds and He will forgive your for your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed achieved a great achievement. 

The Prophet PBUH said: "The best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance and example is that of Muhammad PBUH. And the worst of all things are the newly invented things (in religion), for every innovation is error and misguidance." [Reported by Muslim] and in another narration, "every newly invented matter (in religion) is a bid'ah and every bid'ah is a dalaalah (misguidance) and every dalaalah is in the (hell) Fire." [Reported by At-Tirmithi].

In another warning the Prophet PBUH said: "Whoever introduces into this affair of ours something that we have not commanded, it is to be rejected." [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet PBUH said: "He among you who witnesses an evil, let him change it with his hand, if he cannot do that, then by his tongue, if he cannot do even that, then with his heart, and this is the weakest faith." [Reported by Muslim].

To Proceed:

Allah swt wants Mominoon (believers) to purify themselves according to his wish and guidance. He swt wants us to completely submit to his ahkhams (orders) and attain complete iman and righteousness. He swt wants us to reject any shred of shirk and thaghoot. He swt says:

فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ

 

Allah swt mentioned rejection of Thaghoot  before iman for a reason, that is, without rejecting the Thaghoot¹ complete iman and tazkiya nafs can not be achieved.

Thus Allah swt also wants us to stay away from those who carry Thaghoot, even if that some one is a father, brother, family or friend. There is no distinction to who call for misguidance, they all to be rejected without discrimination.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ آبَاءكُمْ وَإِخْوَانَكُمْ أَوْلِيَاء إَنِ اسْتَحَبُّواْ الْكُفْرَ عَلَى الإِيمَانِ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

9.23 O you who believe! Take not for Auliya (supporters and helpers) your fathers and your brothers if they prefer disbelief to Belief. And whoever of you does so, then he is one of the Zalimoon (wrong-doers, etc.). At-Tauba

Allah swt has mentioned relationship to one’s father or mother to be of utmost important and respect, to a level that the Prophet pbuh mentioned “برّالوالدين” (good relationship with parents) with َأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ (establishing prayers). Allah swt has mentioned in Quran to not even say “أف” (even slightest of harshness) to the parents. However, when it comes to separating from Kufr and Thaghoot, even that becomes secondary. This indicates the seriousness of the issue.

In the most famous verse of Quran, Allah swt defines his attributes and his completely authority over everything else, and that He swt is the sole distributor of “رزق” (sustenance).

قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاء وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاء وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاء وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاء بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي الْنَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ الَمَيَّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَاء بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

3.26 Say (O Muhammad SAW): "O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things. 3.27 You make the night to enter into the day, and You make the day to enter into the night (i.e. increase and decrease in the hours of the night and the day during winter and summer), You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give wealth and sustenance to whom You will, without limit (measure or account). Ale-Imran

 What a beautiful verse!. In this verse Allah swt defines Tawheed of Raboobiah and establishes following facts:

1. Allah swt is the Owner of Power
2. Allah swt is the one who gives power if He wishes, and takes it away if He wishes.
3. Allah swt gives honour if he wishes, and He takes away honour if He wishes.
4. Allah swt has “الْخَيْرُ” all the good and safety in His control.
5. Allah swt has complete and total authority over everything.
6. Allah swt brings out day from night, and bring night from day.
7. Allah swt brings life to dead, and bring death to life.
8. Allah swt gives “رزق” sustenance to whomever He swt wishes without any measure.

After mentioning these beautiful verses Allah swt asked the believers to seek only His mercy and help, do not go other places to seek help.

لاَّ يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللّهُ نَفْسَهُ وَإِلَى اللّهِ الْمَصِيرُ

3.28 Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return. Al-Imran

سبحان الله ! Allah (swt) clearly states that since He (swt) has complete authority over everything and he is the one who gives power and sustenance, the believer need not go other places for help. And they should not be making “ولي” ₂ to the non-believers. If they disobey his order, He (swt)will not help them with anything.

However, He (swt) in His mercy, allowed certain allowance, i.e if there is a threat of life then the believer if find a safe refuge with non-believer, they should protect their lives. As Islam always pay more importance to safety of life on earth.

He (swt)again repeated this message in An-Nisa:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُواْ لِلّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

4.144 O you who believe! Take not for Auliya (protectors or helpers or friends) disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?. An-Nisa [4:144]

Means if any one disobeys Allah and make “Wala” to non-believers against the wish of Allah swt, then He swt will take it as a proof against Him for his treason.

He further said:

الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ العِزَّةَ لِلّهِ جَمِيعًا

4.139 Those who take disbelievers for Auliya (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers, do they seek honor, power and glory with them? Verily, then to Allah belongs all honor, power and glory. An-Nisa

That is those who try to make “Wala” to the non-believers do that out of their own desire to get some favor or honor or benefit. But the entire honor belongs to Allah swt - وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاء وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاء - and He swt gives it from his mercy to whomever He wishes, and He denies it to whomever He wishes.

Some people say lets protect our own home, lets save our land, lets forget other Muslims they never helped us. And they fool people by saying if we don’t listen to non-believers then everything would be destroyed. But if we listen to them, we can be sure that our land is protected.

Allah swt answers to them in most eloquent of speeches you will ever hear:

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاء كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

29.41 The likeness of those who take Auliya (protectors and helpers) other than Allah is as the likeness of a spider, who builds (for itself) a house, but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spiders house; if they but knew. Al-'Ankabut

Means such thoughts are dumb and stupid. Non-believers are just using you as a tool. Once you serve their interest, then you are of no use to them. They will destroy you then. The believers can not build their houses relying ( توكل ) on Kufars and then think they are safe. Safety (الْخَيْرُ ) is only with Allah swt.

Contrary to what they say about not to bother about other Muslims, Allah swt ordered completely different thing. Let us hear:

وَجَاهَدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آوَواْ وَّنَصَرُواْ أُوْلَـئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُواْ مَا لَكُم مِّن وَلاَيَتِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ حَتَّى يُهَاجِرُواْ وَإِنِ اسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ النَّصْرُ إِلاَّ عَلَى قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَاقٌ وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

8.72 Verily, those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard and fought with their property and their lives in the Cause of Allah as well as those who gave (them) asylum and help, - these are (all) allies to one another. And as to those who believed but did not emigrate (to you O Muhammad SAW), you owe no duty of protection to them until they emigrate, but if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them except against a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, and Allah is the All-Seer of what you do. Al-Anfal

Means we must go out and help other believers if they are being threatened by enemies, and the reason given for it was: ” أُوْلَـئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ - these are (all) friends and protectors, one of another”. This is a true friend ship. This is a friendship that is ordered by Allah swt. Not the friendship with enemies of believers, where they are killing the Muslims in every corner of the world, and yet some Muslims still have courage to go out and give them helping hand against their brethren Muslims. Fear Allah ya Akhi!

Another reason that Allah swt wants us to stay away from Kufr or Kufars is that they are the enemies of His swt’s Deen. They do not want the Deen of Allah to be established on earth. He says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُواْ دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَالْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

5.57 O you who believe! Take not for Auliya (protectors and helpers) those who take your religion for a mockery and fun from among those who received the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before you, nor from among the disbelievers; and fear Allah if you indeed are true believers. Al-Ma'idah

These are the people who make fun of “دين الله” Deen of Allah and they think of It as a game or joke. This kind of attitude invites the “غضب” anger of Allah swt. He warns Muslims to be mindful of His order and fear His anger. And Allah swt is swift in taking accountability as He said: فَإِنَّ اللّهِ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ Al-Imran [3:19].  

And if we examine the verse closely, we will realize who the people are those making fun of Deen Allah today. It is not difficult to answer that question; and Allah swt also gave a clear indication in the same verse “أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ”.

These are enemies of Allah swt and His Deen. He doesn’t want the believers to have any compassion and relationship to such enemies. He says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاء تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِم بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِمَا جَاءكُم مِّنَ الْحَقِّ

60.1 O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists, etc.) as friends, showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, this Quran, and Muhammad SAW). Al-Mumtahinah

He swt defines how good those believers are who follow His order and remains separated from Kufr, Kufar or Thaghoot:

لَا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُوْلَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ أُوْلَئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

58.22 You (O Muhammad SAW) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW ), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Rooh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Verily, it is the Party of Allah that will be the successful.. Al-Mujadilah

Means its not possible if some one who believed in Allah swt and His message, and reality of Day of Judgment and Allah swt‘s accountability. And after knowing all these truths, he goes out and makes friendship to the enemies of Allah swt and help them to kill Muslims and help them to destroy the Deen of Allah.

But those who obey Allah swt, and stay on straight path, and hold on to guidance of Quran, and follow the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), they need not worry. Allah swt is pleased with them, and strengthen them with His Own Spirit. They need not go to non-believers to find strength, power, honor, sustenance or anything else. For them Allah swt is enough. These are the people, who are true Party of Allah, and only these people will find success in hereafter, and Allah will reward them with Paradise where they will abode forever.

وَلَوْ كَانُوا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالله والنَّبِيِّ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا اتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء وَلَـكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

5.81 And had they believed in Allah, and in the Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and in what has been revealed to him, never would they have taken them (the disbelievers) as Auliya (protectors and helpers), but many of them are the Fasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). . Al-Ma'idah

This is the clear cut message for Modern Day Muslims, who despite unambiguous and undisputed enmity of Kufars, which has been proven day after day by the killing of innocent Muslims and destruction of their land, and the removal of Shariah, and the removal of Shriah based System from their land. Recently, in Iraq, Shariah was ruled out as a System that can govern Muslim. Subhan Allah! Muslims are still looking for proofs.

Despite such unambiguous enmity towards Allah swt, some Muslims still go out and imitate Kufars and make them their friends and help them to kill their own brethrens.

Those who don’t heed the message of Allah and thinks that Allah swt will some how forgive them on day of Judgment, despite that they helped in killing of brethren Muslim, heed the following message of Allah, and pay attention:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

5.51 O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya, then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust). Al-Ma'idah

Means non-believers are indeed friends of each other, they have vested interest for each other. They will never be of any help to you or protect you. Those who joined them against the believers are from among them. They are unjust and oppressors. They will be given similar treatment on Day of Judgment as will be given to these Kufars. And Allah swt will never guide them. Contrary to the party of Allah as mentioned earlier (58:22), they are the party of Kufar.

Do not be unfair to non-Muslims

 However, this does not make us unfair or unjust to those people of the Book who do not help in killing or the fellow Muslims. As Muslims are always fair and just, even to those who are on the wrong side of the fence, we have also to factor in the Ayah of Quran Al-Mumtahanah 8:

لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ

60.8 Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity [Mumtahanah 60:8]

Here it’s important to mention that we should not hurt innocent non-Muslims and we should be friendly to them, as mentioned in above verse. We should be kind to them; we can eat their food, and even marry to them. We can do trade with them, work in them and even help building communities with them. We only dislike those who destroy lands of Muslims and are killing Muslims. It is basic right of every human being to defend his life and property.

But some of the Muslims still don’t heed the message, and they get trapped in the work of Shytan and they try to please the Kufars. Well, Allah swt say this will be an exercise in vain and they will never be able to please Kufars, until:

وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ

2.120 Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) till you follow their religion. Say: "Verily, the Guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Quran), then you would have against Allah neither any Walee (protector or guardian) nor any helper. Al-Baqara

Means that only way to make Kufar happy is to adopt their religion and become part of their nation.

Stay amongst good friend

Allah wants Muslims to choose their friends carefully, and gives His message as to who should be the friend of believers.

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

9:71 The believers, men and women, are Auliya (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Maroof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. At-Tauba

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

33:35 Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and women, the believers men and women (who believe in Islamic Monotheism), the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and the women who are patient (in performing all the duties which Allah has ordered and in abstaining from all that Allah has forbidden), the men and the women who are humble (before their Lord Allah), the men and the women who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakat, and alms, etc.), the men and the women who observe Saum (fast) (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the optional Nawafil fasting), the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues (while sitting, standing, lying, etc. for more than 300 times extra over the remembrance of Allah during the five compulsory congregational prayers) or praying extra additional Nawafil prayers of night in the last part of night, etc.) Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). Al-Ahzab

These are the people of Allah and to whom the friendship should be seeked.!

And Allah swt has defined a clear opposite to believers and friends of believers, and told us clearly the pairs of believers and with whom they are to hang out:

الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ أُوْلَئِكَ مُبَرَّؤُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ

24:26 Women impure are for men impure, and men impure for women impure and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is forgiveness, and a provision honorable. Al-Nour

So, My brothers and sisters, choose your friends whichever category you belong!.

Allah knows the best.

“هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ

Hold fast to Allah, He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.), what an Excellent Maula and what an Excellent Helper!” (22-78).

“اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ

Bear witness that we are Muslims” (3-64)

FOOTNOTE

1. Thaghoot include any phenomenon, person or thing that creates parallel authority to Allah swt. Be it a simple rule or whole governmental system. 

   A. A. Mawdudi explains: Literally, this word can apply to a person who commits any kind of transgression. In the sense in which it is used in the Qur'an it denotes a person who transgresses the limits prescribed by his status as a creation of God, who sets himself up as a god and makes the people treat him as such. There are three degrees of transgression or rebellion of a human being vis-a-vis God. The first is that, so far as the principle of the thing is concerned, a person believes in obedience to God to be the right course, but when it comes to deeds, he disobeys. This is known as fisq ... The second is that he should give up obedience to God as a matter of principle and either do as he pleases or obey someone else (in the sense in which one owes obedience to God). This is Kufr. The third is that not only does he rebel against God, denying Him and His right to lay down the law for man but also begins to make his own law prevail in the land. It is the person who reaches this third stage who is a Taghoot and no person can be a Mu'min of Allah in the real sense unless he repudiates Taghoot.

2. Our teacher explained, The word “أَوْلِيَاء” is plural of “ولي” (Walie). This means protector and supporter. In real sense Allah swt is the ultimate protector of all of us. He swt is already protecting our lives as a result of being the “رب” (Lord). The believers take Allah swt, and consequently, the Muslims, as their Walie. The unbelievers can not be taken as walie, neither any secrets of Muslims could be exposed to them, or spy for them. The unbelievers like Muslims to be imitate them and be like them. They would never want to help Muslims and Religion of Allah swt. They are defined in Qur’an as “حِزْبَ الشَّيْطَانِ” Party of Shaytan [58:2]. The believers on the other hand are defined as “حِزْبُ اللَّهِ” Party of Allah swt [58:22]. The two parties will never be one. This distinction and separation is the essence of Tawheed.