27. Developing the Aqeedah of Walaa’ and Baraa’
The issue of loyalty towards Allah, His Messenger and the believers and the declaration of our animosity towards the disbelievers and their gods has not had its fair share of attention in Islamic circles. Allah says: ‘There has already been for you an excellent example in Ibrahim 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’ (60:5) Allah described the ones who fight in his path as being ‘Humble towards the believers,powerful against the disbelievers’ (5:54) The mujahid should have a clear understanding of what it means to be loyal to Allah, His Messenger and the believers and declaring animosity towards the disbelievers. Ibn Taymiyyah states that: ‘You need to love the believer even if he wrongs you or oppresses you, and you need to dislike the disbeliever...