What is meant by Al-Alaa wal Baraa'?

Question:

1) What is meant by Al-Alaa wal Baraa'?

Please give details on it, or refer to a book where I may read details on it.

2) After giving many proofs to a fellow Muslim colleague/contemporary of open sins he does, he does not pay heed,rather persists, should we severe contacts?

 

 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

 

There are 3 types of relationships with disbelievers-

1) Mu'aamalaat- Dealings. 

2) Muwaasaat- To feel the pain of others and sympathise with them. 

3) Muwalaat- This refers to a close bosom relationship.

 

Shariah permits us to deal with non-Muslims. It is permissible to enter into  purchase & sale transactions, hiring etc. with non-Muslims. 

Likewise, Shariah permits us, infact encourages us to sympathise to non-Muslims in their pain & challenges of life. This is part of good character and a great Sunnah of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

 

Allah Ta'āla says in the Qur'an:

لا ينهاكم الله عن الذين لم يقاتلوكم في الدين و لم يخرجوكم من دياركم أن تبروهم و تقسطو إليهم

"Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just". [60:8]

The third is Muwalaat. It refers to a very close & hearty relationship. In such a relationship a person gives his heart to his friend and makes great compromises. It is not permissible for a Muslim to have such a relationship with a non-Muslim as he may compromise on his Imaan. A Muslim jealously guards his Imaan and values of Imaan.

This type of Walaa (friendship) is prohibited and we adopt Baraa (absolve) ourselves from such friendship with disbelievers.

 

Allah Ta'āla says:

ومن يتولهم منكم فإنه منهم 

"And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them" [5:51]

In adopting Al-Walaa Wal-Baraa, we have to be careful not to infringe on our good character and conduct with non-Muslims. 

As for your second query, kindly refer our detailed answer on how to deal with a faasiq? 

A fasiq is he who commits a major sin and invokes the wrath and anger of Allah on him [1]. This is a serious issue. If we show complacency to a fasiq and don't care of the sin he commits, it is an expression of disregard to Allah. Such an attitude also makes one deserving of the wrath and anger of Allah. It is for this reason that praising and honouring a fasiq is prohibited. 

Rasulullah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ has said in a hadith,

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَغْضَبُ إِذَا مُدِحَ الْفَاسِقُ فِي الْأَرْضِ

It is reported from Anas (Radiallahu Anhu) he says, that Rasulullah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, verily Allah 'Azza wa jal is angered when a Fasiq is praised on earth. [2]

It should also be noted that we have the responsibility to correct and reform people around us.

Allah says,

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. (Surah Aali-Imran, V 110)

If we do not stop evil and wrong, evil and immorality will become widespread and eventually good people will also get caught up in the evil.

However correcting and reforming people is a huge challenge. This can only be possible with the help of Allah. 

Shariah does not permit us to simply know and stay away from wrong; it is also our responsibility to correct the wrong. The focus of Shariah is the end result, change and reformation. For that, one has to apply his mind carefully and analyse what is the best approach in achieving the change and reformation. This is referred to as Hikmah (wisdom). Allah says,

ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسن إن ربك هو أعلم بمن ضل عن سبيله وهو أعلم بالمهتدين

Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! Thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright. (Surah al-Nahl, verse 125)

Reverting to your query, on whether one should make salaam to a fasiq and smile at him; this depends on what attitude will be most effective on such a person. At times, adopting a harsh attitude may be effective in jolting the sinful person as is the case of a very close family relationship. At other times, it may be better to be loving and diplomatic to such a person as in the case of a distant relationship.

To illustrate the difference between the two, Zaid is the father of Amr. Amr is indulged in some inappropriate conduct. In this situation, if the father adopts a negative attitude to Amr and he knows Amr will be deeply affected with such attitude and jolt him to change, then such an attitude will be appropriate and regarded as Hikmah.

If Zaid and Zahid just know each other, they are not family or close relatives. Zahid is indulged in some inappropriate conduct. It is not appropriate for Zaid to adopt a negative attitude to Zahid and ignore him as that will suit Zahid fine. In this case, he would be left free to do as he wishes. It is more wise and suitable for Zaid to be in touch with Zahid to distract him from the sin and use the opportunity to advise him.

While we should not honour a fasiq and we should not be complacent to sin, we have a responsibility to change the situation around with wisdom.

If it will be more effective in not making salaam and smiling, adopt that attitude. If making salaam and smiling will be more effective, adopt that attitude with the intention for changing and reformation.

In brief, which attitude will be most effective depends on the persons insight and careful analysis of the situation.

 

And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best

 

Bilal Ishaq (Issak)

Student Darul Iftaa

Leicester, England, UK

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.