Islam and Patriotism

As a child, whenever I thought of the Fourth of July, I thought of fireworks, picnics, and spending time with my family. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized what Independence Day was really all about. In school I learned that patriotism was being loyal to my nation, the nation that has given me so many opportunities.

Islam also stresses loyalty to the country of one’s residence as part of faith. In the Holy Quran it says,

 “O ye who believe, obey AllahGod and obey the Prophet and obey those in authority from among you” (4:60).

Anyone in the government, be it president or governor, is in authority, therefore it is a Muslim’s duty to obey them. The IslamProphet Muhammad has also enforced loyalty to one’s nation. He said, “Whoso obeys the ruler obeys me, and whoso disobeys the ruler disobeys me”. 

We are immensely blessed to live in a country that gives religious freedom, and it is crucial that we work to give back to this great nation.

As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I find that it is especially important to be loyal to America. His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, stated,“As citizens of any country, we Ahmadi Muslims, will always show absolute love and loyalty to the State. Every Ahmadi Muslim has a desire for his chosen country to excel and should always endeavor towards this objective. Whenever a country requires its citizens to make sacrifices the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat will always be ready to bear such sacrifices for the sake of the nation.”