al-Wala wa-al-Bara fi al-Islam - Salih Al-Fawzan - (1/6)

are stern against the disbelievers, gentle with one another.” (Al-Fath 29)

He, the Exalted, also says: “The believers are but brothers.” (Al-Ḥujurāt 10)

Thus, the believers are brothers in faith and creed, even when their bloodlines, homelands, and eras are far apart. Allah says: “And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any rancor toward those who believe. Our Lord, You are indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful.’” (Al-Ḥashr 10)

From the first generation of creation to the last—no matter how distant their lands or how long their ages—the believers remain loving brothers: the latter emulate the former, each prays for the other, and each seeks forgiveness for the other.

Al-walāʾ (loyalty) and al-barāʾ (disavowal) have outward manifestations that point to them:

أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ). (الفتح: ٢٩). وقال تعالى: (إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ). (الحجرات: ١٠). فالمؤمنون إخوةٌ في الدينِ والعقيدةِ وإنْ تباعدتْ أنسابُهم وأوطانُهمْ وأزمانُهم قال تعالى: (وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًَّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ). (الحشر: ١٠). فالمؤمنون منْ أولِ الخليقةِ إلى آخرِها مهما تباعدتْ أوطانُهم وامتدتْ أزمانُهم إخوةٌ متحابون يَقتدي أخرُهم بأولهِم ويدعو بعضُهم لبعضٍ ويستغفرُ بعضهُم لبعضٍ. وللولاءِ والبراءِ مظاهر تدلُ عليهما: