An awareness of nationalism that will harm the unity and solidarity of people and cause them to separate is prohibited by Quran verses and hadiths.[1] What is meant here is not nationalism in the sense of protecting one’s homeland and loving one’s nation; It is an attitude that has extremes such as arrogance or rebellion on issues such as homeland, nation, race, gender that one cannot choose.
In the first years of the religion of Islam, elements such as gender, tribe, ethnic became a means of showing superiority to each other. When Islam emerged, it became the top roof of all of these, and other identities passed beneath it. The Quran states that the most superior people are those who fear Allah the most; “O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.”[2]
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon him) pointed out that the priority is what the person does by himself, saying, ” And whoever is hindered because of his bad deeds, his lineage will be of no avail to him.”[3]
Another aspect of nationalism that is not acceptable is supporting or tolerating the wrongdoers in one’s own country. The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was asked; “Is it considered asabiyah ( racism) to love one’s ancestry, family (people, nation)?” He replied, “No. However, helping one’s tribe in oppression is racism.” [4]
The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his farewell sermon mentioned in many hadith sources; “O people! Know that your Lord is one and all mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also, a White has no superiority over a Black nor a Black has any superiority over a White except by piety and good action. Superiority in the sight of Allah is only with taqwa [5].”[6] These words, which he said a few months before his death, are testamentary.
[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab), 62
[2] Al-Hujurat, 13
[3] Sunan Ibn Majah, The Book of Sunnah, 17
[4] Musnad Ahmed, 4/107 ,106 ; Sunan Ibn Majah, Tribulations, 7
[5] Taqwa: Avoiding torment by obeying Allah’s orders and prohibitions
[6] Sahih Al-Bukhari, “Al-Hajj”,132 ; Sahih Muslim, “Al-Hajj”, 147 ; Jami` at-Tirmidhi, “Chapters on Tafsir”, 10