Absence of "Disavowal of polytheists" and enemies of Islam root cause of Muslims' current problems
Pars Today- Disavowal of polytheists is a Qur'anic concept which means acquittal to, repudiation of and severance of relations with polytheists and enemies of Islam.
Although disavowal of polytheists existed in the previous religions, it culminated with the emergence of Islam and mission of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny). According to Pars Today, this teaching has been emphasized in numerous verses of the holy Qur'an.
Verses of disavowal
The concept of disavowal of polytheists has been mentioned in these verses;
- Verse 3 of chapter Al-Tawba: "Indeed Allah is disassociated from the polytheists and so is His Messenger."
- Verse 29 of chapter Fat'h: "Mohammad, the Messenger of Allah and those who are with him are hard against the faithless, merciful amongst themselves."
- Verse 51 of chapter Al-Maidah: "O you who have faith! Do not take the Jews and Christians as allies; they are allies of one another. Whoever among you takes them as allies is indeed one of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."
- Verse 114 of chapter Al-Tawba: "So when it became manifest to him [Prophet Abraham] that he [his uncle] was an enemy of God, he repudiated him."
- Verse 4 of chapter Mumtahina: "There is certainly a good exemplar for you in Abraham and those who were with him, when they said to their own people, 'Indeed we repudiate you and whatever you worship beside Allah. We disown you, and enmity and hatred have appeared between you and us forever, unless you have faith in Allah alone.'"
Public declaration of disavowal of polytheists
The public declaration of "Disavowal of polytheists" and the injunctions related to it were proclaimed for the first time after the conquest of Mecca when the polytheists of Mecca in the year 8 AH (630 AD) breached their covenant they had concluded with the Prophet of Islam vowing to refrain from any aggression and enmity against Muslims. Imam Ali (Peace upon him), as the Prophet's representative, preached on the 10th of the Islamic month of Zul-Hijja of that year and, after reciting the first verses of chapter Al-Tawba, declared the Prophet's message on disavowal of polytheists.
Why Hajj?
Because the first disavowal of polytheists was proclaimed by the Prophet during the Hajj season, and as the Prophet's tradition and practice is eternal, this should be carried out during Hajj. Although disavowal of polytheists is done in a specific period and temporarily, every Muslim should repudiate polytheists and express his hatred towards them throughout his life.
Revival of tradition of disavowal of polytheists
The Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini (God's mercy upon him), was the man who revived the tradition of disavowal of polytheists in the current era. He believed that disavowal of polytheists is based on the two principles of "Tawalli" (friendship with the friends of God) and "Tabarri" (enmity with the enemies of God). According to the Qur'anic teaching in chapter Al-Tawba and breaking of idols with the order of the Prophet, Imam Khomeini broadened this concept and believed that the main element here is to reject idolatry and to declare hatred of polytheists and enemies of Islam while condemning their conspiracies and oppressive policies. He called on Muslims to know the modern idols and break them. Accordingly, Imam Khomeini didn’t limit disavowal of polytheists to a specific time and place and stressed its repetition every year.
Defense of Muslims
Another result of expansion of the concept of disavowal of polytheists from the viewpoint of Imam Khomeini was to defend Muslims against the arrogant (Mustakberin) as the holy Qur'an calls them. In the view of Imam Khomeini, once the Hajis (pilgrims of Hajj) pay attention to the social and political aspects of Hajj, it will cut the hands of oppressors and will provide the ground for gaining access to real freedom. Thus, he called the Hajj without disavowal of polytheists as an imperfect Hajj which had no value. Imam Khomeini maintained that the ceremony of disavowal of polytheists would turn the Ka'ba into a permanent base of monotheism and declaration of renunciation of polytheism and oppression, so that, some of the other rituals in Hajj, such as throwing pebbles to the Satan, are placed within this direction. Disavowal of the manifestations of polytheism, together with convergence of Muslims beside God's symbolic house (Ka'ba), can yield fruits like consolidation of brotherhood, removal of differences, demonstration of the glory of Islam and humiliation of the faithless.
Divine obligation
After the passing away of Imam Khomeini, Imam Khamenei seriously emphasized the stances of Imam Khomeini about the political aspects of Hajj, especially disavowal of polytheists. Imam Khamenei considers it as an opportunity to confront the plots of the global Arrogance and Zionism. Imam Khamenei issues a message every year to the Hajis in which he clarifies and analyses the world issues and shows the path ahead for Muslims.
He said in his message in 2020,
"If we defend and support the Palestinian nation or the oppressed of the Islamic world, like the oppressed of Yemen and others in Hajj… it is a policy which is the core of the Islamic teachings. Defense of an oppressed is an obligation itself, and this obligation happens. As for disavowal of polytheists, if we put emphasis on the issue of disavowal, insist on it and practice it… this is because it is a divine obligation."
It should be mentioned that the ceremony of disavowal of polytheists is held every year in Arafat plain after recitation of the message of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, with the religious and political figures and thinkers from Islamic countries in attendance. The Iranian Muslims and Muslims of other countries chant slogans of "Death to the US", "Death to Israel", "O Muslims! Get United" during this ceremony.
RM/ME
