The Effects of Islamic Religion on Maintaining the Territorial Integrity
(Part 58)
The continuation of the Matter:
The Connection Between Faith and Patriotism
The Messenger of Allah’s Patriotism (Peace Be Upon Him)
The strong patriotism of the great Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) at the beginning of his mission and also at the outset of his migration with words, indicates his deep attachment to his birthplace which has been proven in authentic narrations. When the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed by Gabriel (peace be upon him) to the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) in the cave of Hira, he went back home and after counseling with his kind wife, Hazrate Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), they together went to Warqa bin Nawfal and narrated what had happened to him (prophet saw). Warqa said: By swearing to the One in which my soul is created by Him, you are the prophet, indeed this is the same great blessing (prophecy) which he sent to Moses, and you have also been granted for. Of course, soon your people will deny you and harm you, expel you and fight with you. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was very surprised by Waraqah’s statements which he said “your people would expel you” and the prophet (saw) asked him: “Will they expel me?” Waraqah said: “Yes, if I would be still alive till that day, I would support you and sacrifice my life for you” (Nadawi al-Bayta, 120). This question of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) expresses his surprise for being forced to leave his beloved homeland. The reason is that, until then, he was well-known as a trustworthy person by the people in that community. It was not possible for him to believe that his own people would expel him from the sanctuary of God and the surrounding area of the house and city of his father Ismail without a reason.
On the migration night of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to the holy city of Medina, on the outskirts of Mecca, he said goodbye to the soil and houses of that city and recalled the events and memories, even if those memories were mixed with pain. Addressing the holy city of Mecca with such words which indicated his deep love and strong attachment to the home of family, friends, the home of childhood, adolescence, and the land of its sacred house, he said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Makkah is my beloved and most beloved home to me. If my people had not driven me out of you, I would not have lived anywhere else.
«قال رسول الله صلی الله علیه وسلم لمکة ما اطیبک من بلد و احبک الی و لولا ان قومی اخرجونی منک ما سکنت غیرک».
(Tirmidhi, 5/723). Translation:
The Prophet of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said about Mecca: How beloved and adorable it was to him! If his people had not driven him out of Makkah, he would not have left it or lived anywhere else.