Al-Walāʾ wal-Barāʾ (Allegiance and Disassociation) in Islam: A Source of Islamophobic Narratives?

Abstract

Al-Walā’ wal-Barā’ (Allegiance and Disassociation) explains the essence of the Muslim’s relationship with the ‘Other’ in socio-political terms. However, the concept has been marred with controversies and misunderstandings emanating from Muslim jihadists and Islamophobes. While jihadists interpret Al-Walā’ wal-Barā’as a basis for attacking non-Muslims, Islamophobes exploit jihadists’ narrow definition to project Islam as a violent religion.

In essence, al-Walā’ wal-Barā’ reinforces the true spirit of Islam defined in both the Qurʾānic and Prophetic traditions. While the current study conceptualises it from an Islamic perspective, its aims are twofold. First, it examines the concept of al-Walāʾ and al-Barāʾ; its interpretation, and how it was semantically convoluted from its inception to the present day. Second, it argues how misunderstanding the concept can fuel both Islamophobia and militancy. The article further argues that the rules or codes of exclusion will continue to exist, but the form of execution has to concord at least minimally with the fundamental tenets of human rights and international relations.