Can a Muslim Feel Patriotic Love for a Non-Muslim Country?
Shafi'i Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
Is it permissible to feel patriotic love or attachment to a non-Muslim country in which one was raised?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Yes, it is permissible to feel patriotic love or attachment to a country, even a non-Muslim one, particularly if one was raised there. Such love is allowed provided it never takes priority over one’s relationship with Allah Most High and does not lead one to support injustice.
The Primary Condition and Priority
It is generally permissible to feel a sense of patriotic love or attachment to a country, even if that country is non-Muslim, especially if a person was raised there. It is permissible to love one’s country and to have a form of allegiance or attachment to it.
The primary concern in this matter is that such love or attachment must not be given priority over one’s relationship with Allah Most High. A believer must always prioritize their relationship with Allah, the Lord of Might and Majesty.
Clarifying Misplaced Allegiance
There is a narration reported in Ibn Maja in which a woman named Fasilah relates that she heard her father say that he asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), “O Messenger of Allah, is love for one’s nation considered ‘asabiyya?” Meaning, is it a form of fanaticism or misplaced allegiance?
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) replied, “No. Rather, ‘asabiyya is when a person supports their people in wrongdoing.” [Ibn Maja]
In other words, what is blameworthy is helping one’s nation or people to commit oppression or injustice against others.
This narration highlights an important lesson. The issue is not love for one’s country itself, but supporting it when it engages in injustice.
Upholding Justice and Obedience
This principle remains firm. One must never place loyalty to country, tribe, or people above the justice of Allah Most High and the teachings of Islam.
Allah Most High says,
“O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” [Quran, 4:59]
This includes obedience to lawful authority, governance, and the laws of the land. However, such obedience does not take precedence over obedience to Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).
In summary, patriotic love and attachment to one’s country are permissible. However, this attachment must remain within the bounds of justice and must never override one’s duty to Allah, His commands, and the ethical teachings of Islam.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), who taught there.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Center and, for 6 years, the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen in Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has 15 years of teaching experience at some of Cape Town’s leading Islamic institutes. He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
