Islam establishes a relationship between the servant and Allah that is defined, legal, and based on specific foundations and principles. These principles form the core of this relationship, opening an infinite horizon for strengthening, refining, and enhancing it.
This meaning is clearly and explicitly stated in the well-known hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Islam means that you should testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger, that you should observe the prayer, pay the zakat, fast during Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to go.” “Faith means that you should believe in God, His angels, His books, His apostles, and the last day, and that you should believe in the decreeing both of good and evil.” “Ihsan (i.e. perfection or Benevolence) is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.” (Narrated by Muslim)
The reflection of one's relationship with Allah onto relationships with His servants is also a legal matter, grounded in specific principles and pillars. This relationship operates along three paths:
- Allegiance to the believers.
- Opposition to aggressors.
- Disassociation from disbelievers.
This concise and comprehensive depiction serves as a roadmap for any individual Muslim or Muslim community to maintain precision and steadfastness on the straight path that Allah has commanded us to follow in numerous ayahs of His Book. For example, Allah says, “Guide us to the straight path – the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” (Al-Fatiha: 6-7)
Or His saying: “And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.” (Al-An'am: 153)
This roadmap is also a beacon of guidance for those who have strayed, enabling them to return to the path if they have deviated. To clarify the features of this guiding roadmap, it can be divided into four sections:
- The Relationship with Allah should elevate the servant to the level of ihsan (excellence). This relationship is rooted in love and awe of Allah, stemming from three primary concepts:
- Allah is the Creator who initiated creation, sustained it with His blessings, and surrounded it with His favors. When this meaning settles in the servant's mind and heart, it fills them with love and gratitude to Allah.
- Allah is the Light who has illuminated the path to happiness in this world and salvation in the Hereafter.
- Allah is the Sovereign who will question His servants about how they utilized His blessings and their adherence to His guidance.
Acknowledging Allah's blessings, adhering to His guidance, and preparing to answer to Him form the essence of monotheism and the spirit of the servant's relationship with Allah. This relationship has a minimum standard that must not be compromised (Islam and faith) and an expansive horizon to strive toward (ihsan).
- Allegiance to Believers
This involves emotional and ethical harmony, as well as behavioral and practical commitment to the believing community.
This relationship stems from the relationship with Allah and serves as a measure of its correctness. It encompasses the heart, tongue, and hand, extending to all types of relationships—social, economic, and political.
As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Verily your blood, your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours.”
- Opposition to Aggressors
This involves repelling their aggression, striving against them, and exerting all necessary effort, from wealth to life itself, to fulfill this obligation.
- Disassociation from Disbelievers
This means avoiding their beliefs and practices, steering clear of their ways of living, and distancing oneself from their methods of thinking and ideologies.
It is impermissible to distance oneself from believers through animosity, envy, or discord.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Avoid jealousy between yourselves, do not outbid one another (with a view to raising the price), do not harbor hatred against one another, do not bear enmity against one another, one of you should not enter into a transaction when the other has already entered into it; and be fellow brothers and slaves of Allah. A Muslim is a Muslim’s brother. He does not wrong, desert or despise him. Piety is found here (pointing three times to his chest), despising his Muslim brother is enough evil for any man to do. Every Muslim’s blood, property and honor are unlawful to be violated by another Muslim.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Similarly, it is impermissible to show allegiance to aggressors, whether through silence, assistance, or partial or full collaboration. Allah says, “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 and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful.” (Al-Mujadila: 22)
Nor is it permissible to imitate or follow disbelievers or be pleased with their ways. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “You will follow the wrong ways, of your predecessors so completely and literally that if they should go into the hole of a mastigure, you too will go there.” We said, “O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?” He replied, “Whom else?” (Meaning, of course, the Jews and the Christians.) (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
By adhering to the features of this comprehensive roadmap, a Muslim can be guided in any path of life, live within any society, and interact with people of all backgrounds and colors.
Similarly, through the features of this roadmap, a Muslim can maintain sound readings and understandings, refine thoughts and perceptions, and discern truth from falsehood, and right from wrong, in any reference or culture they encounter.
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