al-Wala wal-Bara bayn al-Ghulu wal-Jafa fi Daw al-Kitab wal-Sunna
- Author died
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- Editions
- The book is published on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf without publication details
al-Wala wal-Bara bayn al-Ghulu wal-Jafa fi Daw al-Kitab wal-Sunna (Loyalty and Disavowal Between Extremism and Neglect in Light of the Quran and Sunnah) is a theological treatise by the Saudi scholar Hatim al-Awni that examines the Islamic doctrine of loyalty and disavowal (al-walāʾ wa-l-barāʾ), defining its scriptural boundaries and refuting both radical overextension and modern abandonment of the concept.
Background and Purpose
The book was prepared by Dr. Hatim ibn Arif al-Sharif al-Awni of the Faculty of Da'wah at Umm al-Qura University. The author composed the work in response to contemporary intellectual pressures facing the Muslim community, where the doctrine of al-walāʾ wa-l-barāʾ had become subject to intense criticism and associated with acts of violence and transgression due to extremist interpretations, while others sought to dilute or discard it entirely.
Al-Awni's stated aim was to articulate the authentic reality of the doctrine, demonstrate that it does not contradict Islamic mercy, tolerance, and moderation, and ground his arguments in the Quran and the sound Sunnah while drawing on interpretations from diverse classical scholarly schools to establish that the core concept is an established consensus rather than the view of a single faction.
Structure and Contents
The treatise is structured into an introduction, five main chapters (mabāḥith), and a concluding section with findings and recommendations:
- Chapter One (The Reality of Loyalty and Disavowal): Examines the linguistic roots of walāʾ (meaning proximity and closeness) and barāʾ (meaning disengagement, distancing, and innocence from defects), followed by their theological definitions.
- Chapter Two (Evidences for Loyalty and Disavowal): Gathers scriptural textual proofs establishing the obligation of loyalty to God, His Prophet, and believers, alongside disavowal of disbelief.
- Chapter Three (Its Relationship to the Foundation of Faith): Explores how inner loyalty and disavowal are rooted in the core requirement of belief (īmān).
- Chapter Four (Its Compatibility with Islamic Tolerance): Demonstrates that disavowal does not infringe upon the recognized legal rights of non-Muslims, including the inviolability of the blood, wealth, and honor of protected non-Muslims (ahl al-dhimmah) and treaty-holders (muʿāhadūn), maintaining ties with non-Muslim kin, extending general kindness and gentleness, upholding justice even with adversaries, and allowing non-Muslims freedom of movement and residence across Muslim lands outside specific sanctuaries.
- Chapter Five (Manifestations of Extremism and the Doctrine's Exoneration): Analyzes the dual deviations of excess (ifrāṭ) and negligence (tafrīṭ / jafāʾ).
Method and Core Arguments
In addressing the extremism of excess (ghuluww al-ifrāṭ), al-Awni highlights the error of declaring Muslims to be apostates (takfīr) solely based on outward actions without understanding the true locus of excommunication in this domain, which resides in the inward state of the heart—such as loving disbelief for its own sake or desiring the triumph of disbelief over Islam. To substantiate this, he analyzes the historical incident of the Companion Hatib ibn Abi Balta'ah, who sent secret correspondence to the pagans of Mecca for worldly motives; the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ accepted Hatib's explanation and affirmed that his action, while sinful, did not constitute apostasy or expulsion from Islam.
In addressing the extremism of neglect (ghuluww al-tafrīṭ), al-Awni critiques calls to abolish the doctrine under the assertion that it promotes a culture of hatred or extremism, attributing such positions to ignorance of correct Islamic principles or psychological defeatism in the face of external pressures. He concludes that loyalty to one's community and distinction from other creeds is a natural human characteristic found across all religious and philosophical traditions, serving as a safeguard against identity assimilation without necessitating injustice, oppression, or mistreatment of others.
Publication
The work has been published by Dar Arwiqah for Publishing and Distribution (دار أروقة).
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