Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara - al-Muqaddam

Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara (The Creed of Loyalty and Disavowal) is a theological work by the contemporary Egyptian scholar Muhammad Ismail al-Muqaddim (b. 1371 AH / 1952 CE), expounding the Salafi doctrine of al-wala' wa-l-bara' (loyalty to God and the believers, and disavowal of disbelief and polytheism) Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…+1.

Theological Foundations and Structure

In this work, al-Muqaddim frames al-wala' wa-l-bara' as a foundational pillar of faith (iman) and an inherent requirement of the Islamic testimony of faith (la ilaha illa Allah) Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…+1. He argues that sound faith cannot exist without loving and allying with the righteous servants of God while disassociating from polytheism and its adherents Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….

To establish the doctrine's centrality, the author draws upon numerous Quranic verses, emphasizing that verses treating creedal loyalty and disassociation recur throughout the Quran far more extensively than specific legal rulings Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…. Among the primary texts cited are passages warning against taking disbelievers as intimate allies, including Surat Al 'Imran (3:28, 3:31–32), Surat al-Nisa' (4:89), and Surat al-Ma'idah (5:51, 5:54) Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….

Textual Analysis and Legal Manifestations

A notable portion of the work provides an in-depth commentary on foundational hadith texts concerning the solidarity and legal equality of Muslims Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…+1. Al-Muqaddim analyses the famous narration reported by Qays ibn 'Ubbad regarding the legal document kept by Ali ibn Abi Talib in the scabbard of his sword Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…+1. He examines the legal and doctrinal implications of its clauses, including:

• The parity of Muslim lives in retribution regardless of social rank or standing ( المسلمون تتكافأ دماؤهم , "The blood of Muslims is equal") Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….
• The binding nature of protection or safe passage granted even by the lowliest Muslim, such as a slave or a woman ( ويسعى بذمتهم أدناهم , "The lowest among them may extend protection on their behalf") Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….
• The imperative of collective unity and mutual defense against external adversaries ( وهم يد على من سواهم , "They are one hand against those other than them") Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….
• The equitable distribution of military spoils between front-line fighters and rear guards Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…+1.

The text also delineates specific practical rulings derived from the concept of disavowal (bara'), such as the prohibition against polytheists entering al-Masjid al-Haram based on Surat al-Tawbah (9:28), the prohibition of marrying polytheistic women under Surat al-Mumtahanah (60:10), and the general ruling against residing permanently in non-Muslim lands (diyar al-shirk) without religious safeguard Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…+1.

Contemporary Applications and Critiques

Al-Muqaddim addresses what he identifies as widespread contemporary neglect of this doctrine among Muslims, attributing the political weakness and cultural subordination of the Islamic world to compromises in creedal loyalty Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -…+1. He critiques several modern developments as violations of al-wala' wa-l-bara', including:

• The substitution of Islamic legislation with foreign and secular legal systems Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….
• The rise of ethnic and nationalist ideologies—such as Arab nationalism—which replace religious identity with pre-Islamic forms of loyalty Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….
• Intellectual skepticism targeting the Prophetic Sunnah and traditional Hadith scholarship Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….
• Westernized educational and media programs that weaken Muslim adherence to faith Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….
• Traveling to and residing in Western countries without sufficient grounding in religious convictions Aqidat al-Wala wal-Bara -….