The Effects of Islamic Religion on Maintaining the Territorial Integrity
(Part 59)
The continuation of the Matter:
The Connection Between Faith and Patriotism
The Messenger of Allah’s Patriotism (Peace Be Upon Him)
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us how to love our country and homeland. The attachment of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) to his homeland, his deep passion for his soil, and his constant longing for his city and motherland are natural and common to all logical and wise people.
The above hadith shows the intense love of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) for his city and homeland. The forced departure of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) from Mecca under the intense pressure of the polytheists is a testimony to the intense sorrow and grief he (peace be upon him) felt at point of leaving his homeland. Yes, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) loved his homeland and hated leaving it, but he left it because of the all kinds of torments and harassment from his hard-hearted, cruel and polytheist relatives, and he tolerated the agonizing and torturing conditions for thirteen years. The prophet (saw) left Makkah because it was the last choice left for him, and his hope had turned into despair and they became completely sure of their lack of guidance to return to the religion and accept Islam; but the polytheists were stubborn and not only they not convert into Islam; but they continued to persecute and molesting Prophet (saw) and his companions.
After migrating to Medina, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was still focused on his birthplace and suffered in the land of migration. In this regard, he asked Allah Almighty to instill in his heart the love of Medina as much as he loved Mecca or even more. And he used to say: “O Allah, make Medina dear to us as we love Mecca or even more.
«اللهم حبب الینا المدینة کحبنا مکة او اشد» (Bukhari 1422, 7/117)
The clear religion of Islam, by encouraging honorable and holy deaths, has mentioned each of those types of holy deaths in the following blessed hadith, among which, one is being killed in defense of one’s family and homeland, which is one type of martyrdom and has a high rank before the Almighty Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in this hadith: “Whoever is killed for his wealth is a martyr, whoever is killed for his religion is a martyr, whoever is killed to defend himself is a martyr, and whoever is killed for his honor and family is a martyr.
«قال رسول الله صلی الله علیه وسلم من قتل دون ماله فهو شهید و من قتل دون دینه فهو شهید و من قتل دون دمه فهو شهید و من قتل دون اهله فهو شهید». (Tirmidhi, 4/30)
In another hadith, Prophet (saw) says about those who desert and avoid from jihad of defending the homeland: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Avoid the seven great destructive sins.” It was said: “O Messenger of God, what are they?” He said: “Associating partners with God, magic, killing a soul that God has forbidden except by right, consuming the wealth of an orphan, consuming usury, fleeing on the day of battle, and accusing chaste, unaware, believing women of adultery.