Quranic Cooperation Vs Jahili Tribalism and Modern Alliances
This principle directly opposes the rule of Jahili (age of ignorance) tribalism and modern partisanship in injustice, which is ‘support your allies whether they are oppressors or oppressed”.
This rule governs today’s international relations, and often allied countries support each other in important global matters without distinguishing between the oppressors and the oppressed.
If the principle of cooperation is revived in Islamic communities and people collaborate in constructive endeavors without considering alliances, while refraining from assisting oppressors, many social disorders would be resolved. Similarly, on the international scale, if the world’s governments refrain from cooperating with aggressors, aggression and tyranny will be eliminated from the world.
It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: “When the Day of Judgment comes, a caller will announce: Where are the oppressors and their allies? The ones who prepared ink pens (for oppressors), or tied the tops of purses (for them), or dipped pens in ink on their behalf. These too should be gathered with the oppressors.”
The Holy Quran, in the form of a test, says: “Say: ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your tribes, the property you have acquired, the merchandise you fear will not be sold, and the homes you love, are dearer to you than Allah, His Messenger and the struggling for His Way, then wait until Allah shall bring His command. Allah does not guide the evildoers.’” (Verse 24 of Surah At-Tawbah).
This verse can be taken as a general principle, stating that relative and familial love, as well as love for people, objects, and wealth, has a lawful scope. However, when this love collides with the love for Allah and His Messenger, and striving in His path, and worldly love outweighs religious knowledge and commandments, then one must wait until the divine punishment arrives; because such love leads to sinfulness, and the sinful person will not reach the goal, as explained in the commentary of the verse.
