Is nationalism haram

[Botak]

Civic nationalism, ethnic nationalism, etc

Ofocourse pure xenophobia and racism is haram (probably) but what about the above?

[Ashvazdanghe]

59 minutes ago, Botak said:

Civic nationalism, ethnic nationalism, etc

Salam until it doesn't contradiction with Islam so then it has no problem ; which even a hadith accustomed to prophet Muhammad (pbu) :""Loving one's homeland is part of faith"

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حُبُّ الوَطَنِ مِنَ الْایمانِ 

 

 

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According to scholars such as Makarem Shirazi, this phrase does not exist in primary Shiite hadith sources and is probably fabricated; however, they believe that its content is confirmed by similar interpretations in other hadiths, such as this narration from Imam Ali (عليه السلام) that cities are settled with love for the homeland. It is also said in support of this phrase that love for the homeland is a natural interest that stems from the spirit of gratitude, and gratitude is a sign of faith. The popularity of this phrase among the people has made it a proverb, and writers and poets have referred to it in their works.

 

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ImamAli (as): "One of the signs of a person's [good] character is to cry for a lost life and to be interested in one's homeland."

 

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Some scholars consider the meaning of loving in this hadith to be lovable, which is tied to the lofty goals of Islam, and they consider the meaning of homeland to be the great Islamic homeland, not the place of birth of a person. Another group has interpreted homeland in this phrase as Paradise. Also, Muslim mystics, by expanding the meaning of homeland to a place where a person reaches peace and tranquility by settling in it, consider the true homeland to be the higher realm and the place of nearness to Allah.

 https://fa.wikishia.net/view/حب_الوطن_من_الایمان

[mahmood8726]

1 hour ago, Botak said:

Civic nationalism, ethnic nationalism, etc

Ofocourse pure xenophobia and racism is haram (probably) but what about the above?

It's easy to answer, what if your ethnicity(that is dominant in your state) is behaving in a morally wrong and unislamic way?

What if the constitution of your state goes against islam?

 

Are you going to be blindly nationalistic then? 

 

Being nationalistic to these things is dangerous, the only time you should be nationalistic is if the state has islam as its constitution and is upholding it. Otherwise you're going to be used as a pawn in a war or to do any kind of repression. 

[notme]

2 hours ago, Ashvazdanghe said:

Salam until it doesn't contradiction with Islam so then it has no problem ;

There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism. To be patriotic is to love your homeland, people, and culture, and want them to be successful.  Nationalism is when you believe that your nation has supremacy over other nations of the world and is above criticism. 

Patriotism is fine. Nationalism is problematic.  

[Botak]

24 minutes ago, notme said:

There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism. To be patriotic is to love your homeland, people, and culture, and want them to be successful.  Nationalism is when you believe that your nation has supremacy over other nations of the world and is above criticism. 

I heard this definition many time, but I feel like nationalism isnt really that

I thought someone can be nationaist while acknowledging the wrongness of their people

[Botak]

From wikipedia

Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state.[1][2] As a movement, it presupposes the existence[3] and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,[4] especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining its sovereignty (self-governance) over its perceived homeland to create a nation-state. It holds that each nation should govern itself, free from outside interference (self-determination), that a nation is a natural and ideal basis for a polity,[5] and that the nation is the only rightful source of political power.[4][6] It further aims to build and maintain a single national identity, based on a combination of shared social characteristics such as culture, ethnicity, geographic location, language, politics (or the government), religion, traditions and belief in a shared singular history,[7][8] and to promote national unity or solidarity.[4] There are various definitions of a "nation", which leads to different types of nationalism.[9] The two main divergent forms are ethnic nationalism and civic nationalism.

[Borntowitnesstruth]

9 hours ago, Botak said:

Civic nationalism, ethnic nationalism, etc

Ofocourse pure xenophobia and racism is haram (probably) but what about the above?

Yes, Nationalism is haram and patriotism is halal.

[Ashvazdanghe]

19 hours ago, notme said:

There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism. To be patriotic is to love your homeland, people, and culture, and want them to be successful.  Nationalism is when you believe that your nation has supremacy over other nations of the world and is above criticism. 

Patriotism is fine. Nationalism is problematic.  

 

13 hours ago, Borntowitnesstruth said:

Yes, Nationalism is haram and patriotism is halal.

 

Salam this is different for any country which for a country likewise Iran both of nationalism & patriotism are equivalent to each other because for countries with old civilization with natural nationality likewise Iran  or China  & etc both of nationality & patriotism are equivalent to each other but on the other hand  countries likewise USA & Canada & etc just have artificial nationality so therefore such countries only can have patriotism for homeland because nationality is meaningless for these countries  so therfore  until both of these two won't be unIslamic also even will serve Islam so then both of these will be acceptable .

[Borntowitnesstruth]

2 hours ago, Ashvazdanghe said:

 

 

Salam this is different for any country which for a country likewise Iran both of nationalism & patriotism are equivalent to each other because for countries with old civilization with natural nationality likewise Iran  or China  & etc both of nationality & patriotism are equivalent to each other but on the other hand  countries likewise USA & Canada & etc just have artificial nationality so therefore such countries only can have patriotism for homeland because nationality is meaningless for these countries  so therfore  until both of these two won't be unIslamic also even will serve Islam so then both of these will be acceptable .

The national pride often leads nations to look down upon other nations considering them inferior human beings. This is a time tested phenomenon observed throughout centuries. Once Persians took pride being Persians and considered Arabs low-life when Persia was subdued Arabs considered Persians and others as low life. I have never seen beauty in nationalism rather division and more superstition. 

Patriotism on other hand is blessed by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) which is to show love for one's country and culture as boons of Allah (عزّ وجلّ) without having any bias for other communities living within our outside country.

[Ashvazdanghe]

23 hours ago, Borntowitnesstruth said:

Once Persians took pride being Persians and considered Arabs low-life when Persia was subdued Arabs considered Persians and others as low life. I have never seen beauty in nationalism rather division and more superstition. 

Salam respectfully it's not definition of Nationalism which these are examples of pan-Iranism & pan-Arabism which maybe regarded as dark side of nationalism or ultranationalism which are against true moderate  natural  nationalism which surly someone from an artificial nationality will oppose natural nationalism by giving priority to patriotism which dark side of patriotism is something likewise communism or socialism ;  which Allah has blessed Taqwa which never blessed nationalism or patriotism however Islam has no objection with moderate natural nationalism & patriotism until both are not against original teachings of Islam;  which in example of Salman Farsi (Muhammadi) he has not pride about his nationality or patriotism while he has had highest level in Taqwa  so due that anyone from his people aka Iranians who have followed him have been endorsed by Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام) ; which in multiple narrations Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام) have endorsed Iranians (Ajam) for their good characteristic & being their best helpers while they have criticized Arabs for thier tribalism & their false patriotism which Arabs specially  Arabs of Arabian peninsula (Hijaz) are still have false patriotism about being born in KSA & being patriot of Mecca & Medina by considering themselves as representatives of Islam due to birth in two cities or even in KSA.

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people's level in taqwa has been introduced as the criterion for the value of human beings before God^[3].

 

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O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may identify yourselves with one another. Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most Godwary among you. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-aware. (13) 

https://en.wikishia.net/view/Taqwa

https://tanzil.net/#trans/en.qarai/49:13

https://al-islam.org/message-thaqalayn/vol11-n4-2011/taqwa-part-1-murtadha-mutahhari/taqwa-part-i

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According to most of Shi'i sources, the first day that Salman entered the mosque, people respected and praised him, while some other people disapproved of it, because he was an 'Ajam (non-Arab). After this event, Prophet Muhammad (s) gave a speech to people:

Men are not superior to another based on their race (being Arab or non-Arab) or the color of their skin, but only piety differentiates them. Salman is a vast sea and an everlasting treasure. Salman is a member of my family (Ahl al-Bayt). He is gifted with knowledge and wisdom.

The same statement of the Prophet has also been narrated in another report. Based on this report, during the days when people of Medina were busy digging a trench to confront their enemy, the army of al-Ahzab, Salman al-Farsi who was a strong man played a prominent role in the fulfillment of the task, therefore, Migrants and Helpers each considered him a member of their respective group then the Prophet (s) said that Salman is one of us, the Ahl al-Bayt.

https://en.wikishia.net/view/Salman_al-Farsi

 

Edited May 20 by Ashvazdanghe

[Borntowitnesstruth]

On 5/20/2025 at 3:12 PM, Ashvazdanghe said:

Salam respectfully it's not definition of Nationalism which these are examples of pan-Iranism & pan-Arabism which maybe regarded as dark side of nationalism or ultranationalism which are against true moderate  natural  nationalism which surly someone from an artificial nationality will oppose natural nationalism by giving priority to patriotism which dark side of patriotism is something likewise communism or socialism ;  which Allah has blessed Taqwa which never blessed nationalism or patriotism however Islam has no objection with moderate natural nationalism & patriotism until both are not against original teachings of Islam;  which in example of Salman Farsi (Muhammadi) he has not pride about his nationality or patriotism while he has had highest level in Taqwa  so due that anyone from his people aka Iranians who have followed him have been endorsed by Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام) ; which in multiple narrations Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام) have endorsed Iranians (Ajam) for their good characteristic & being their best helpers while they have criticized Arabs for thier tribalism & their false patriotism which Arabs specially  Arabs of Arabian peninsula (Hijaz) are still have false patriotism about being born in KSA & being patriot of Mecca & Medina by considering themselves as representatives of Islam due to birth in two cities or even in KSA.

 

https://en.wikishia.net/view/Taqwa

https://tanzil.net/#trans/en.qarai/49:13

https://al-islam.org/message-thaqalayn/vol11-n4-2011/taqwa-part-1-murtadha-mutahhari/taqwa-part-i

https://en.wikishia.net/view/Salman_al-Farsi

 

In Quran, Allah (عزّ وجلّ) speaking about national identity says it is only important for distinguishing one from other. And, at another place, He (عزّ وجلّ) says whole world is of Allah (عزّ وجلّ) so travel in the land to know more.

Sadly, many nations throughout centuries have exceeded their limits and took pride in being a nation and undermined other nations which is the form of nationalism I'm talking about. 

As for Iranians, they are a great nation but their such greatness is because of their being more pious and not due to nationalist ideology.