al-Wala wal-Bara fi al-Islam
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- Dār Ṭaybah
al-Wala’ wa-l-Bara’ fi al-Islam (Loyalty and Disavowal in Islam) is a treatise on Islamic creed by the contemporary Saudi scholar Muhammad bin Sa'id al-Qahtani . It systematically elaborates the theological doctrine of al-wala’ wa-l-bara’ (allegiance to Allah, His Prophet, and the believers, alongside renunciation of disbelief and polytheism) as a core requirement of Islamic monotheism (tawhid) and examines its practical legal and social ramifications .
Composition and Publication
The work originated as an academic thesis supervised and prefaced by the scholar Abd al-Razzaq Afifi . In his introduction, Afifi highlighted the timing of the book, observing that al-wala’ represents the sincere love for Allah, His prophets, and the believers, while al-bara’ embodies the rejection and hatred of falsehood and its adherents .
The author notes in the preface to the second edition that the book was initially printed in Lebanon amidst the heightened conflict there, which prevented him from proofreading the proofs and resulted in omissions and printing errors . Consequently, he revised and corrected the text for subsequent releases . The book subsequently went through numerous printings, prominently published by Dar Taybah in Riyadh .
Core Themes and Scope
The central thesis of the work posits that al-wala’ wa-l-bara’ is the practical embodiment of the testimony of faith (la ilaha illa Allah) rather than a secondary or peripheral issue . Citing classical and Najdi scholarship—such as Hamad ibn Atiq’s assertion that Quranic evidence regarding this principle is more abundant and explicit than almost any other ruling after the obligation of tawhid and the prohibition of polytheism—the author presents allegiance and disavowal as fundamental criteria demarcating belief from disbelief .
The book also addresses the author's contemporary context, diagnosing what he identifies as modern manifestations of theological compromise among Muslims . These include:
- The substitution of Islamic law with imported legal codes (whether Eastern or Western) .
- The rise of secular nationalist ideologies, such as Arab, Turanian, or Indian nationalism .
- Skepticism directed at the Prophetic Sunnah and its transmission .
- Excessive attachment to worldly comfort leading to the abandonment of religious duties .
Structure and Legal Issues
The work begins with an introductory foundation outlining the meaning and conditions of the shahada, the nature of al-wala’ wa-l-bara’ as an inherent requirement of faith, and the nullifiers of Islam (shirk, disbelief, hypocrisy, and apostasy) .
In its legal and practical discussions, the book addresses specific applications of the doctrine, including:
- Distinctions in allegiance: al-Qahtani differentiates between forms of alliance that constitute major disbelief—such as loving the triumph of disbelief over Islam—and lesser, sinful forms of affection or cooperation that do not expel a person from the religion .
- Interactions with non-Muslims: Detailed chapters analyze what is legally permissible versus impermissible in trade, social transactions, marriage, and inheritance between Muslims and non-Muslims .
- Imitation and residence: Specific sections discuss the prohibition of imitating non-Muslims in their distinct customs (tashabbuh) and the rulings regarding residence and travel in non-Muslim lands (al-iqamah fi dar al-kufr) .
- Historical application: A dedicated section examines how the early generations (al-salaf) implemented loyalty and disavowal in practice, providing historical models from the era of the Prophet and the Companions .
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