The concept of hatred in Islam.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan


Many sincere thanks for your answer.


I would be extremely grateful if you could do reply to my other query. I had sent a question immediately after the one answered in this mail; it revolved around the "right to hate". What does Islam have to say about harbouring hatred for a person or persons based on their religion, race, colour etc.? May Allah bless you.

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

The concept of hatred in Islam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verses 11-13:

11      O ye who believe!Llet not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.

12      O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other nor speak ill of each other behind their backs.  Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay ye would abhor it...but fear Allah: for Allah is Oft-Returning Most Merciful.

13      O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other).  Verily the most honored of you in the Sight of Allah is (he who is) the most pious amongst you.  And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in his last sermon at the occasion of his ‘Hajj atul Wida’ (Farewell Hajj): ‘………All mankind is from Adam and Eve; an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white. You are all equal. Nobody has any superiority over another except by piety and good action.  Learn that every Muslim is a brother (in faith) to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute One Brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah, and you will answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone….’

 

Your Question: What does Islam have to say about harbouring hatred for a person or persons based on their religion, race, colour etc.?

Islam guides that all human beings were born of a set of single parents, Adam and Hawwa; and Allah Subhanah created Adam from dust.  The guidance of Islam absolutely detests, discourages, and categorically prohibits any discrimination, leave alone hatred, of any human being based on their race, or color, or nationality, or caste, or creed, or sect, etc….. All human beings are absolutely equal in the Sight of the Lord Who Created, and no human being has any superiority over another except by piety and good actions. 

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 13:

….Verily the most honored of you in the Sight of Allah is (he who is) the most pious amongst you.

 

The guidance of Islam absolutely discourages and categorically prohibits its followers to hate or despise other human beings…..but what it does encourage, albeit Commands its believers to hate and despise is the ‘quality’ or ‘faculty’ or ‘belief’ of evil which might be present in some human beings like ‘shirk’ (polytheism), ‘kufr’ (disbelief), ‘nifaaq’ (hypocrisy) and any and all types of evils and falsehoods. 

 

Thus if one amongst the human race happens to believe or practice polytheism, or disbelief, or hypocrisy, etc….Islam does not allow or encourage the believers to hate the polytheists or the disbelievers themselves, but rather hate the disease of ‘shirk’ and ‘kufr’ which is present in their hearts. 

 

Just as a medical doctor does not hate his patients, but rather hates and treats the physical diseases of his patients……the Guidance of Islam Guides and Commands its followers not to hate the disbelievers themselves, but rather to hate and strive their absolute utmost to treat and save their brethren in humanity from the spiritual diseases of ‘shirk’ and ‘kufr’ which might be in their hearts.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 

 

 
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