al Walaa' is for   All Believers and Walaa' for Disbelievers is Kufr

One of the branches emanating from Imaan is the duty of walaa' [alliance, friendship, support, protection] with the believers. This means that the believers have a shari'ah prescribed closeness and relationship with each other due to their common belief and common objectives which are commanded by that belief. Allah (swt) says "Verily, your Wali [friend, ally] is only Allah, the messenger and the believers, those who establish the Salah, pay the zakah and they bow down." (al Maaida'h 5:55) This ayah, by the word 'innamaa' ['verily, only'] is an emphatic exception, which restricted the alliance to those mentioned. Additionally, the ayah did not command alliance with those adopting Muslim names while abandoning the beliefs and laws of the deen, but rather it commanded alliance with true believers who have not manifested kufr and possess the attributes of establishing prayer, zakah and being submissive to the shari'ah [i.e. raaki'oon]. This ayah did not command the believers to make walaa' only with those of the same madh-hab, or those being taught by the same shaykh, or those from the same land, or with the same ijtihaad concerning issues of fiqh. Nor did the ayah restrict the alliance to those whom have given the baya'h to the existing Imaam. The ayah commanded alliance with all believers. The Quran commanded baraa' [disassociation] from disbelievers only, "Indeed there has been for you an excellent example in Ibraheem and those with him, when they said to their people 'We are free [buraa'u] from you and of whatever you worship besides Allah. We have rejected you. And between us and you is enmity [a'daawah] and hatred [baghdaa'u] forever, unless you believe in Allah alone..." (al Mumtahinah 60:4)

Allah (swt) says "O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians as awliyaa' [allies, friends] they are but awliyaa' to one another. And if any amongst you does so, then he is one of them. Verily Allah guides not those people who are zaalimoon (oppressors/transgressors)." (al Maa'idah 5:51) To make walaa' with the disbelievers against the Muslims or to make friendship and closeness to the disbelievers out of love for them and their ways was declared to be not only prohibited but an action of kufr. Allah (swt) says "The believers should not take the disbelievers as friends rather than the believers. Whoever does that has nothing to do with Allah..." (aali I'mraan 3:28) and "O you who believe! Take not for awliyaa'   disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?" (an Nisa 4:144) The disbelievers to one another are natural allies against Islam and Muslims due to their common beliefs, objectives, reference point and methods. The Muslim, who has been commanded to love and hate for the sake of Allah, would naturally be lead to making walaa' only with believers if his belief is genuine. Abu Umaamah reported that Nabi (saw) said "He who loves for Allah and hates for Allah and gives for Allah and withholds for Allah has perfected imaan." (ABU DAWOOD, TIRMIDHI, AHMAD) and Abu Dharr reported that Rasool Allah (saw) said "The best action is to love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah" (ABU DAWOOD) Therefore, it is inconceivable that a genuine believer would choose closeness, friendship, love and alliance for disbelievers just as it would be wrong for him to hate genuine believers except proportionally according to their distance from Islam.

Imaan and Walaa' Oblige us to Reconcile between Believers and Settle Disputes and Hostilities

Allah (swt) says "...So settle all matters of difference between you and obey Allah and His Messenger if you are believers." (al Anfaal 8:1) Disputes and differences are not an aim of the believers but rather reconciliation of differences and unity are an aim.   Brotherhood requires not only a token greeting, but rather a sincere greeting followed by a genuine effort to maintain the security, honour and rights of believers. The believer should always be concerned at the detrimental disputes taking place among believers, instead of allowing this to escalate to the point of fighting or falsely applied hijran [temporary boycott] or even baraa' [permanent disassociation from disbelievers]. The walaa' and brotherhood of believers requires them to reconcile. Allah (swt) says "Verily the believers only are a brotherhood. So make reconciliation between your brothers and fear Allah that you may receive mercy." (al Hujuraat 49:10)

Allah (swt) says "..And do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart." (al Anfaal 8:46) The disbelievers not only occupy Muslim lands in the form of the taaghoot regimes and their armies, security [torture] services and spies but also this apparatus of taaghoot assists in the foreign crusader invasions of Afghanistan, Iraq and other lands where Muslims are mass murdered, tortured or raped. What can be better for shaytaan and his allies that instead of Muslims responding with mutual alliance and co-operation they instead turn on each other so that they achieve no strength, protection and effective response? Jaabir reported that Rasool Allah (saw) said "Shaytaan sends out detachments to put fitnah in the people. So the greatest with him in rank is he who is greatest of them in making fitnah" (MUSLIM)

The Muslims should not be wasting their time in the major sin of backbiting, nameemah [harmful divisive news] and continuing the hostility and antagonisms that damage the community relations and prevent the work of reviving the Muslim ummah and Islamic civilisation. The Muslims are not safe from the conspiracies, torture and mass murder of the kuffaar and yet they are still engaged in harming each other. Abdullah ibn A'mru     reported that Rasool Allah (saw) said "The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand a Muslim is safe..." (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) Rather the believers should make the Quranic du'a   "...and leave not in our hearts bad feelings for those who have believed...'" (al Hashr 59:10)

The Sunnah commanded maximum effort to settle divisions and hostilities between believers, A'li reported that Nabi (saw) said "There will be differences after me so if you can settle them than do so" (AHMAD) The division and isolationism among believers will continue as long as Muslims do not respond with maturity and sincerity to the command of the Sunnah in abandoning the detrimental severing of relations. This is for the sake of not only the common good of the ummah but for the sake of our own souls. We should not only be willing to rebuild brotherly relations with those believers whom we have abandoned and they approach us, but rather, the believers should strive in being the first to revive brotherhood, A'ta ibn Yazeed reported that Nabi (saw) said "It is not lawful for a Muslim to sever relations with his brother for three consecutive nights so that they both turn away from one another, the better of them is he who gives the first greeting." (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM)

Imaan and Walaa' Obliges Co-operation among believers

Beyond the believers ceasing their partisan or personal disputes, they're commanded to work together in fulfilling obligations and serving the objectives of the shari'ah. If Muslims refused co-operating in performing obligations whose objectives could be better performed collectively, then they are sinners, Allah (swt) says "...co-operate in birr and taqwa (goodness and piety) and do not co-operate in ithm and u'dwaan (sin and transgression) . And have taqwa of Allah, Verily Allah is Shadeedul I'qaab [Severe in Punishment] (al Maai'dah 5:2) The ayah commanded co-operation to all believers by beginning the ayah "O you who believe..." The Quran declared loss for those who do not assist one another in calling to the truth and persevering in implementing it "By the Time, Verily man is in loss except those who believe and do right actions and enjoin on one another the truth and enjoin on one another patience." (al A'sr 103:1-3) These ayaat were supported by the command of the Sunnah: Abu Moosa reported that Nabi (saw) said "A believer is like a brick for another believer, the one supporting the other." (MUSLIM, BUKHAARI)   Sins and errors of the people should not be an excuse to avoid co-operation as Ibn Masoo'd reports that Nabi (saw) said "A Muslim who mixes with the people and keeps patience over their harms is better than the one who does not mix with the people and does not keep patience with their harms" (TIRMIDHI, IBN MAAJAH) If a wrongdoing Muslim is left isolated, then how will he be corrected and how will the community be relieved of his harm? Concerning this, Anas reports that Nabi (saw) said "Help your brother whether he is oppressed or oppressing." They asked, 'We understand to help him when he is oppressed but how do we help him when he is oppressing?' The Prophet (saw) replied "By stopping him from doing so." (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM)

Al Walaa Obliges us to Implement the Duties of Brotherhood

Al walaa is from the first pillar of Islamic unity, gathering upon the Islamic belief. From al walaa are the duties of brotherhood which cover many spheres, social, economic, military etc. When the believers apply the duties of brotherhood, there is an inevitable increase in collective benefits, community spirit and social cohesion. The following hadeeth lists some of the main duties of brotherhood which have been much abandoned today even by those of us claiming to follow Islam. Abu Hurayrah reported that Nabi (saw) said "Beware of suspicion (zann) for suspicion is the greatest falsehood. Do no try to find fault with each other, do not spy with one another, do not vie with one another, do not turn away from one another and be servants to Allah, brothers to one another as you have been commanded. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does him no wrong, nor does he let him down (or desert him) nor does he despise him. Fear of Allah is here, Fear of Allah is here (and he [saw] pointed to his heart) It is evil enough that a Muslim should look down on his brother. For every Muslim is sacred (haram) to another - his blood, his honour and his wealth. Allah does not look at your bodies or your forms but he looks at your hearts and your deeds." (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM)

Imaan and Al Walaa Oblige us to Collaborate in Opposing the Oppression and Munkar

From the duty of walaa' is the mutual correction of commanding ma'roof and forbidding munkar, Allah (swt) says   "The believing men and believing women are awliyaa of one another, they command the ma'roof (good) and forbid the munkar (evil)..." (at Tawbah 9:71)   Numaan bin Bashir reported Nabi (saw) to have said "The believers are like one person, if his head is in pain the whole body aches with fever and sleeplessness." And in another version "The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, kindness and brotherhood is that of one body. When any limb of it aches the whole body aches due to sleeplessness and fever." (MUSLIM, and similar from BUKHAARI) The Muslims must cease oppressing each other and must co-operate in removing oppression from the believers in greater need. Anas bin Maalik reported that the Prophet (saw) said "Help your brother whether he is oppressed or oppressing" (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) If the believers did not prevent the munkar and oppression then on top of their sin they would become more divided and weak, A'bdullah ibn Masoo'd, that Nabi (saw) said "Nay, By Allah. You must command ma'roof and forbid munkar and you must stop the hand of the zaalim, bend him to conformity with the truth and force him to do right or else Allah will the set the hearts of you all against one another." (ABU DAWOOD)

Al Walaa Obliges us to Provide Support and Protection

Allah (swt) says "The believing men and believing women are awliyaa of one another..." (at Tawbah 9:71) The believers are commanded to protect and support all believers in all places to the best of their ability. Believers of different places must not only support each other, but also co-operate in supporting other believers in more need. Ibn U'mar reported that Nabi (saw) said "A Muslim is a Muslim's brother, he does him no wrong, nor betrays him, whoever helps his brother will be helped by Allah. And whoever relieves a believer of a trial, will be relieved by Allah of one of the trials of Yawmil Qiyaamah. And whoever conceals the fault of a Muslim, will have Allah conceal his faults on Yawmil Qiyaamah." (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) How many Muslims near and far are harmed due to the collective neglect of those capable of helping?

Muslims today have been effected by the plots of shaytaan and the allies of the taaghoot. They have ignored the duty of al walaa and the duties of brotherhood and have instead made their efforts collide. Muslims with different opinions, teachers, organisations and madh-habs have become polarised from one another and have often been trapped in a downward spiral of mutual slander, suspicion and backbiting. Muslims have come to see their brothers as only those who carry their own views and have opposed all others and neglected their rights even though they shared the same belief and ultimate aim, to worship Allah (swt). It is time for the forward thinking Muslims to frustrate the plans of shaytaan (which are to sow enmity among believers) by fulfilling the duty of walaa to all believers. Muslims must reconcile their disputes and differences and come together on what they are agreed upon and make their common beliefs and aim more important than their remaining differences of opinion. The message of Islamic activists to their brothers should not be 'Are you with us or against us?' But rather 'We are with you as you are a believer.' Believers of different movements and opinions must come together to support those who are in more need than both of them. Due to pride and personal reasons our arguments and grudges prevent helping the oppressed. Would we love to be abandoned to our enemies and oppressors as our brothers argue? Anas reported that Nabi (saw) said, "By Him in whose Hand is my soul, a slave does not believe until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM)

If the Believers do not make al Walaa with Believers they will not be successful in This World and the Next

Allah (swt) informed us that the disbelievers are supporters and allies of one another and that if we did not also make walaa' with each other then the calamities and corruption on earth would continue. Thus, walaa with believers is a necessary measure in order to gain Divine support and physical victory over enemies and positive change in society and the world. Allah (swt) says "And the disbelievers are allies of one another and unless you do so there will be calamities on the earth and great corruption." (al Anfaal 8:73) Success for those believers who make walaa' with each other was also affirmed by the ayah "And whoever takes as protectors Allah, His messenger and those who believe, then the party of Allah will be victorious (ghaaliboon)" (al Maa'idah 5:56) and "You will not find any people that believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His messenger, even though they were their fathers, sons, brothers or relatives. For such He has written imaan in their hearts and strengthened them with Ruh from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens underneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. They are the party of Allah [hizbullaah]. Verily, it is the party of Allah that will be successful." (al Mujaadilah 58:22) Thus even family relations are a block to success in both worlds if alliance is extended to them while they disbelieve.

Conclusion - Do not be victims of 'Divide and Conquer' but think as One Ummah

If Muslims abandon factionalism and isolationism and start to fulfill the duties of walaa' and brotherhood, partisanship [hizbeeyah] and hostility will be more difficult to develop. Bridges will be built between the various sections of the ummah by which the Muslims can rebuild what has been lost. The Muslims will be more motivated due to the positive atmosphere in the global community which the taaghoot and its allies have worked to keep divided. The oppressed and needy Muslims will be relieved due to the combined efforts, knowledge and resources made available. The ummah will grow in strength and most important of all, the Muslims can hope for Divine support as they abandon their unjustified hostilities and behave towards each other as they have been commanded. U'baadah bin as-Saamit reported in the hadeeth qudsi that Nabi (saw) said "Allah ta a'la said: 'My love is due for those who love one another for My sake...'" (AHMAD, AL-HAAKIM)