Research@RSIS Newsletter Feedback Form
Muslims Living in Non-Muslim Lands: Contesting Muhammad Saeed Al-Qahtani’s Argument on Hijrah – Al-Wala’ wal Bara’ Nexus
Dr Mohamed Bin Ali Senior Fellow
Dr Mohamed Bin Ali
1
This paper examines Muhammad Saeed Al-Qahtani’s argument on the nexus between the Islamic concept of hijrah (migration) and the Salafi concept of Al-Wala’ wal Bara’ (loyalty and disavowal) referred to here as WB. In his famous book Al-Wala’ Wal Bara’ fil Islam min Mafahim Aqidah as-salaf (Loyalty and Disavowal According to the Belief of the Salaf), Al-Qahtani, a Saudi Salafi scholar claims that Muslims who live in a non-Muslim land and under non-Islamic political system must perform the hijrah to Muslim lands. He also claims that Muslims who willingly accept the rule of non-Muslims, and live under any rule other than the Shariah (Islamic law) are committing acts that will nullify their faith. This is because, according to Al-Qahtani, Muslims who live under such system and do not perform the hijrah has violated the creed of WB.
| Theme: | Religion in Contemporary Society / Terrorism Studies |
| Region: | Southeast Asia and ASEAN / Middle East and North Africa (MENA) / Global |
| Entity: | SRP |
