LOYALTY AND DISAVOWAL FOR ALLAH ALONE

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

THE THIRD SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF SHA’BAN (15-8-1446 AH / 14-2-2025 CE)
LOYALTY AND DISAVOWAL FOR ALLAH ALONE, WITHOUT PARTNER

THE FIRST SERMON

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Guardian of the believers, the One who honors Islam with His victory and humiliates polytheism with His might, the Controller of affairs by His command, the Bestower of blessings upon those who are grateful, and the One who leads the disbelievers to ruin through His subtle planning. He is the Supreme over His servants, the Evident over His creation.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, the Eternal Refuge, the One who has no equal, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. And I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah send His blessings and peace upon him, his family, and his companions in abundance.

Dear Muslims! Fear Allah, the Most High, and do what He has commanded you and avoid what He has forbidden, for this is a trait of His righteous allies. Allah says:
“أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ * الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ”
“Unquestionably, for the allies of Allah, there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were fearing Allah.” (Yunus: 62-63)

Our khutbah today revolves around loyalty and disavowal for Allah alone, without partner.

O Muslims! The meaning of loyalty (al-wala’) is alliance, which includes support, love, honor, and respect, as well as being with the beloved ones both outwardly and inwardly. Allah says:
“اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّوُرِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ”
“Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. And those who disbelieve – their allies are false deities. They take them out of the light into darknesses.” (Al-Baqarah: 257)

As for disavowal (al-bara’), it means distancing, renouncing, and enmity after giving warning and admonition. Allah narrates about Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his people:
“قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَآءُ مِنْكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ”*
“There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people, ‘Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone.’” (At-Taghabun)

Dear Brothers in Faith! Know—may Allah have mercy on you and me—that loyalty to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, as well as disavowal from all those who oppose Allah and His Messenger from among the disbelievers and hypocrites, is one of the fundamental principles of Tawheed (monotheism) and the exclusive devotion of worship to Him alone.

The essence of loyalty is love, and the essence of disavowal is hatred. This means that love should be for the sake of Allah, hatred for the sake of Allah, alliance for the sake of Allah, enmity for the sake of Allah, worship for Allah, seeking help from Allah, fearing Allah, hoping in Allah, giving for the sake of Allah, and withholding for the sake of Allah.

O Muslims! A person cannot be a true believer and monotheist while at the same time loving the disbelievers and polytheists, being loyal to them, and believing in the correctness of their false creed. This is impossible. Allah says:
“لَا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُولَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ…”
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those – He has decreed within their hearts faith… “ (Al-Mujadilah: 22)

Furthermore, a person does not become a Muslim unless he disbelieves in Taghut (false deities and tyrannical authorities). Allah says:
“فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ”
“So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Al-Baqarah: 256)

One of the greatest requirements of disbelieving in Taghut is disavowal from it and its allies.

THE STATUS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF LOYALTY AND DISAVOWAL IN ISLAMIC LAW

1. The Doctrine of Loyalty and Disavowal is Part of the Meaning of the Testimony “There is no god but Allah”
   Its essence is to disavow everything that is worshipped besides Allah. Allah Almighty says:
   “وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ ، إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ . وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَاقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ” (Az-Zukhruf: 26-28).
   The negation in the testimony “There is no god but Allah” necessitates disavowal of all that is worshipped besides Him.
   Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Sincerity to Allah is not complete except by negating all forms of polytheism. Whoever believes in Allah but does not disbelieve in Taghut (false deities), he is not a believer.”

• Loyalty and Disavowal are Integral Parts of Faith
  They are even conditions for true faith. Allah says:
  “تَرَى كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ أَنْ سَخِطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِي الْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ * وَلَوْ كَانُوا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالنَّبِيِّ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا اتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ وَلَكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ” (Al-Ma’idah: 80-81).

“You see many of them allying with those who disbelieve. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves, that Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment, they will abide eternally. And if they had believed in Allah and the Prophet and what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies. But many of them are defiantly disobedient.” (Al-Ma’idah: 80-81).

Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) commented: “This refers to their alliance with disbelievers and abandonment of alliance with believers, which led to hypocrisy in their hearts and caused Allah’s continuous wrath upon them until their resurrection.”

• One Cannot Achieve Complete Faith or Attain Allah’s Support Without Loyalty and Disavowal
  Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah, and withholds for the sake of Allah, has perfected faith.”
  
  

Al-Munawi (may Allah have mercy on him) explained: “This hadith indicates that whoever does not love and hate for the sake of Allah has not completed his faith.”

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: “Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, hates for the sake of Allah, allies for the sake of Allah, and opposes for the sake of Allah, has truly attained Allah’s support.”

• The Doctrine of Loyalty and Disavowal is Among the Strongest Bonds of Faith
  Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
  “The strongest bond of faith is love for the sake of Allah and hatred for the sake of Allah.”
  Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the best form of faith, and he replied: “The best faith is to love for the sake of Allah, hate for the sake of Allah, and engage your tongue in the remembrance of Allah.” (Reported by Ahmad; Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut graded it as authentic due to supporting evidence).
• The Doctrine of Loyalty and Disavowal Leads to Experiencing the Sweetness of Faith
  Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
  “There are three qualities that if a person possesses, he will experience the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else, that he loves a person solely for the sake of Allah, and that he hates to return to disbelief as he would hate to be thrown into the fire.”
• It is the Foundation Upon Which the Muslim Society is Built

Allah says: (إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ) “Indeed, the believers are but brothers…” (Al-Hujurat: 10).

And He also says: (“إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آوَوْا وَنَصَرُوا أُولَئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ…”) “Indeed, those who have believed and emigrated and fought with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah, and those who gave shelter and aided—they are allies of one another…” (Al-Anfal: 72).

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A believer to another believer is like a building, each part strengthening the other.”

• Through it, believers are distinguished, and the distinction between the allies of Allah and the allies of Shaytan is made clear. Allah, the Most High, says:

(“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى أَوْلِيَاءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ * فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ يُسَارِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَى أَنْ تُصِيبَنَا دَائِرَةٌ فَعَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِالْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ        فَيُصْبِحُوا عَلَى مَا أَسَرُّوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ نَادِمِينَ * وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَهَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ إِنَّهُمْ لَمَعَكُمْ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا خَاسِرِينَ“)
“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you—then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. So you see those in whose hearts is disease hastening into [association with] them, saying, ‘We fear that a misfortune may strike us.’ But perhaps Allah will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful. And those who believe will say, ‘Are these the ones who swore by Allah their strongest oaths that indeed they were with you?’ Their deeds have become worthless, and they have become losers.” (Al-Ma’idah: 51-53).

MANIFESTATIONS AND FORMS OF LOYALTY TO THE DISBELIEVERS:

1. Loving them because of their disbelief or approving of their state of disbelief.
2. Supporting, assisting, and allying with them against the Muslims.
3. Obeying them in their disbelief and following them in it.
4. Advising them and assisting them in their falsehood.
5. Being pleased with their disbelief, not considering them as disbelievers, doubting their disbelief, or validating any of their false ideologies.
6. Trusting them, appointing them to positions of authority, taking them as close confidants, and entrusting them with matters involving Muslim secrets.
7. Participating in their religious celebrations and occasions, assisting them in establishing them, congratulating them on these occasions, or attending their observances.

There is a prohibition against imitating or participating in the festivals of the polytheists. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah, the people had two days in which they played and enjoyed themselves. He asked: ‘What are these two days?’ They replied: ‘We used to play on these days in pre-Islamic times.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Indeed, Allah has replaced them for you with two better days: the day of Eid al-Adha and the day of Eid al-Fitr.'”

Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not approve of these two days of celebration, nor did he allow his companions to continue their previous customs. Instead, he declared that Allah had replaced them with something better.

As for congratulating non-Muslims on their personal social occasions, such as weddings, success, or recovery from illness, and attending them in matters that do not involve sin, this falls under the general principle of kindness and fairness to non-Muslims that Islam has permitted.

We ask Allah, the Almighty, to grant victory to Islam and the Muslims and to raise high the banner of His religion.

 

THE SECOND SERMON

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the God of the first and the last, and the One to whom belongs the ultimate outcome. There is no enmity except against the oppressors. Peace and blessings be upon the noblest of messengers, our Master Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.

Dear respected listeners, know that enmity toward the enemies of Islam does not necessitate aggression or injustice against them in their rights. Rather, we must be just with them and uphold the truth. Consider the following texts from the Qur’an and Sunnah that highlight Islam’s fairness in dealing with non-Muslims:

Allah, the Most High, says:

“وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدْتُمْ وَلَا تَنْقُضُوا الْأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ”

“And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have made a covenant, and do not break oaths after confirming them while you have made Allah a witness over you. Indeed, Allah knows what you do.” (Surah An-Nahl:91)

“لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ”

“Allah does not forbid you from being righteous and just towards those who have not fought you because of religion and have not expelled you from your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (Surah Al-Mumtahanah: 8)

In Sahih al-Bukhari, Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever kills a person with whom there is a covenant will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be detected from a distance of forty years.”

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Whoever wrongs a covenanted non-Muslim, diminishes his rights, burdens him beyond his capacity, or takes anything from him without his consent, I will be his opponent on the Day of Judgment.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood and authenticated by Al-Albani)

CASES THAT DO NOT CONSTITUTE FORBIDDEN ALLEGIANCE

1. Buying, Selling, and Leasing with Them
   This is permissible, as it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions engaged in trade with the Jews of Madinah, including buying, selling, lending, and pawning, among other lawful transactions in our religion.
2. Kindness, Goodness, and Maintaining Ties
   Allah, the Most High, says:

“لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ * إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَى إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَنْ تَوَلَّوْهُمْ وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ“ (Al-

“Allah does not forbid you from being righteous and just towards those who have not fought you because of religion and have not expelled you from your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. But Allah forbids you from taking as allies those who have fought you because of religion, and expelled you from your homes, and aided in your expulsion. And whoever takes them as allies, then it is they who are the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-Mumtahanah: 8-9)

3. Being Just with Them: Allah, the Most High, says:

“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ” (Al-Ma’idah: 8)

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”(Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:8)

4. Accepting Gifts from Them
   The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted gifts from some non-Muslims, such as the gift of Al-Muqawqis and others. Imam al-Bukhari included a chapter in his Sahih titled “The Acceptance of Gifts from Polytheists.”
5. Visiting Their Sick with the Intention of Calling Them to Islam
   Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “A Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he fell ill. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to visit him and sat by his head. He said to him: ‘Accept Islam.’ The boy looked at his father, who was present, and the father said, ‘Obey Abu al-Qasim.’ So the boy accepted Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then left, saying: ‘Praise be to Allah, who saved him from the Hellfire.'”

SUPPLICATION

O Allah, honor Islam and grant victory to the Muslims. Humiliate polytheism and the polytheists.

O Allah, we entrust to You Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), its people, and all of Palestine. Grant victory to our brothers in Palestine, and bestow upon them triumph, honor, dominance, strength, and dignity.

O Allah, heal their sick and accept their martyrs by Your mercy, O Most Merciful.

O Allah, grant a mighty and swift victory to the steadfast Mujahideen in Palestine. Strengthen the Palestinian resistance factions, keep their feet firm, and grant them steadfastness, victory, and empowerment, along with all Muslims.

O Allah, return Palestine and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa to us in a beautiful manner.

O Allah, nothing is hidden from You, and our weakness is evident before You. Grant us Your victory, forgive our sins, and conceal our faults, O Most Merciful. Do not hold us accountable for our shortcomings.

O Allah, we ask You for security, peace, and tranquility in our land and in the lands of the Muslims.

O Allah, Ameen.