Should American Muslims Be Loyal To America?
The American Muslim community feels conflicted about its relationship with America.
On one hand, America has given us religious freedom, political freedom, and economic opportunity. America has also helped free Muslims in places like Kuwait, Bosnia, and Kosova. (Some would say that America also helped free Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq.)
On the other hand, America (a secular, non-Muslim state) has invaded various Muslim countries (Afghanistan and Iraq) resulting in instability and the deaths of thousands of Muslim civilians; supported dictatorships in various Muslim countries; and supported people of other faiths over Muslims in various conflicts around the world. In addition, America has also cracked down on various American Muslim organizations and individuals since 9/11.
In light of all this, what sort of relationship should American Muslims have with America? Should American Muslims care about America, and be committed to the security and prosperity of America?
Arguments By Those Who Believe American Muslims Should Be Loyal To America
1. By virtue of living in the U.S., and benefiting from freedom and opportunity in the U.S., American-born Muslims have given an implicit pledge to be loyal to America; naturalized American citizens have given an explicit pledge of loyalty by taking an Oath of Allegiance. Believers “faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants.” (23:8; 70:32)
2. Being loyal to America does not require American Muslims to be less loyal to God. Neither God nor America demand exclusive loyalty. God requires that we worship none but Him, but He does not prohibit loyalty to others outside the sphere of worship. America requires that we be loyal to the nation, but America does not prohibit loyalty to God.
3. There is no conflict for American Muslims between being loyal to and caring for the worldwide Muslim community, and being loyal to and caring for our American neighbors of other faiths. Caring for our neighbors is an Islamic obligation. God says, “Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess…” (4:36)
4. After Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) left Mecca and moved to Medina, some Muslims remained behind in Mecca. Even though the Prophet and the Muslims of Medina were at war with Mecca, there is no evidence that the Prophet asked Muslims in Mecca to be disloyal to the leaders of Mecca, or to betray Mecca.
5. You can be both a good Muslim and a good American, because Islam and America are based on the same values, like justice and compassion.
6. Being loyal to America doesn’t mean blindly supporting current American policies or the current American administration. Being loyal to America means working towards domestic and foreign policies that American Muslims believe are in America’s best interests, and opposing policies that American Muslims believe cause harm to America.
7. America is dar-ul-ahd (the land of treaty), because America has diplomatic relations with most countries in the Muslim world. America is dar-ul-shahada (the land of testimony), dar-ul-amn (the land of safety), and dar-ul-dawa (the land of invitation), because American Muslims have the freedom to practice and preach Islam. America is not dar-ul-harb (the land of war), because Muslims are free to practice and preach their faith here.
Arguments By Those Who Believe American Muslims Should Not Be Loyal To America
1. American Muslims have no special relationship with (or obligation to) America. American-born Muslims have given no “implicit pledge” to be loyal to America. The “Oath of Allegiance” taken by naturalized American citizens is just a formality to gain citizenship; most people who take the “Oath of Allegiance” don’t even remember the words they recited. A Muslim’s true covenant (or pledge) is with God. (2:27)
2. American Muslims can be loyal to both God and country, but only if that country is an Islamic state, governed by Islamic law (Shariah), not a country that rejects God’s law and follows man-made laws.
3. American Muslims must be loyal to the worldwide Muslim community, not to Americans of other faiths who have rejected Islam and repeatedly elected political leaders who have caused great suffering in the Muslim world. God says, “O ye who believe! Take not my enemies and yours as friends (or protectors), offering them (your) love, even though they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, and have (on the contrary) driven out the Prophet and yourselves (from your homes), (simply) because ye believe in Allah your Lord!” (60:1)
4. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed a Muslim, Naim bin Masud, to place his loyalty to the Muslim community over his loyalty to his tribe. The tribe of Banu Ghatafan and its allies besieged the Muslims of Medina (in what came to be known as the Battle of the Trench). During that siege, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) learned that Naim, a prominent member of Banu Ghatafan, had secretly become Muslim. The Prophet asked Naim to feed false information to his tribe, Banu Ghatafan, and its allies. Naim agreed. Naim’s false information helped create distrust and break the alliance between Banu Ghatafan and its allies, contributing to their failure to defeat the Muslims.
5. America and Islam have contradictory agendas and priorities, and they have different visions for the world. American Muslims cannot simultaneously support both sets of agendas, priorities, and visions.
6. American Muslims who loyally pay their taxes are funding whatever evil the American government does.
7. America is dar-ul-harb (the land of war), because America is at war with Muslims in various countries, oppresses Muslims in various countries (including in America), and seeks to dominate the Muslim world. America is dar-ul-kufr (the land of disbelief), because America has rejected Islam and actively opposes the establishment of a Caliphate in the Muslim world.
Syed H. Ali said
on May 27 2006 @ 4:00 am
The question of “Loyalty to America” is not relevant. Like other Americans, Muslims living in US try to be good citizens, contribute to improve their sorroundings, follow the law, pay taxes, excel in their fields and look after their families. Muslims are not any different than Christians, Jews or Hindus. No one questions the “Loyalty” of Christians, Jews or Hindus. Why should the “Loyalty” of Muslims be questioned? Those who question the “Loyalty” of Muslims – what yardstick do they use to measure the “loyalty”. After evaluating someone’s “Loyalty”, can they say that this person is 20% “loyal” where as the other person is 80% “loyal”? Moreover, who gave them the right to be judgemental about Muslims? Have they tried to Judge the followers of other religions? Above all, we are all individuals. No two persons act or think alike. Therefore, this debate is not relevant.
Anjo de Souza-Camioes said
on October 14 2006 @ 11:42 am
It would be interesting to see how many % of the american muslim ummah can be loyal to america. Americans of other faiths have a legitimate concern regarding the loyalty of american muslims because islam is not just another exotic religion ….on the contrary there are countless historical precedences to show that it is a rapacious and expansionary ideology harboring on theofascism .
The current cultural and religious conflicts that all the european nations are experiencing in regards to their resident muslim citizens gives cause for alarm and concern to many americans of other faiths.
Current world events ex. ( and especially) the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, the killing of Theo Van Gogh in Holland, the Danish cartoon brouhaha, the muslim violence in Malmoe , Sweden, the muslim youth unrest in France, the riots in Belgium, the bombings in London, the bombings in Madrid, the bombings in Mumbai, India, the killing and beheadings and bombings in the peaceful buddhist kingdom of Thailand, The Bali Indonesia bombings, the muslim youth unrest in australia, the massacre of minorities by muslims in indonesian , the plethora of internecine muslim on muslim killings in Darfur, in algeria, in Iraq, the almost monumental persecution of all non muslim minorities in all known muslm countries and on and on ad nauseum……….all these occasion terrible fear and misgivings on the part of all americans of other faiths…..great Fear and suspicion of all muslims……..muslims who like a broken record keeps repeating ‘Islam is a religion of Peace’ ……when it’s records indicate otherwise, when the actions of its adherents are anything but peaceful !!!.
After Sept 11 video recordings of other americans show palestinian ‘americans’ and other muslim ‘americans’ dancing in the streets celebrating with joy over the death and destruction of their supposed co-citizens !!! In muslim countries (which are all dictatorships) it is understandable that a muslim of good conscience would be unable to protest or show outrage at the wanton murder of innocent citizens, but this is America …and yet we do not see a million men (muslims ie.) march of local american muslims to show outrage at the radical islamists that have murdered 3000 of your fellow citizens ( by the way there were many muslims in the twin towers who perished too !).
Yet the mere drawings of a cartoon or the mere quotation ( truthful quotation) by the Pope was enough to spawn outrage among the Ummah worldwide and in America (!). Amazingly there was no such outpouring of energy and outrage at the horrific murder of 3000 of your co-citizens! no outrage at the murder of 200 school children at Beslan , Russia…no outrage at the bombings in Madrid and London, no outrage at the Bombings in Bali, no outrage at the recent uncovering of the evil plot to blow up umpteen american and british planes in mid-air simply to kill your own co-citizens…..
……it is this amazing lack of zest and outrage that the american Ummah has exhibited that impels americans of other faith to hold legitimate doubts of your sincerity and loyalty to your adopted country. Talk is cheap ….perhaps it is time to take more action , and how much better you the american ummah can demonstrate to the rest of your co-citizens your genuine love of this country( that has given you so much opportunity and freedom) , then to vociferously denounce the barbaric actions of the radical islamists which you purport has ‘hijacked’ your religion of ‘peace’.
Speak up loudly and as passionately as you do regarding a trifle of a cartoon and a quote .Root out the evil that is in your midst. Do not engage in double talk….in this day and age where the nuclear stake is high…’taquiyyah’ may not serve the Ummah well any more !!!
Shukran wa ma3a salaamah
al Malaikat-ul-Haquiqah
Colin said
on October 15 2006 @ 11:41 am
Amen !
Nazia said
on October 26 2006 @ 11:24 pm
Every muslim who comes to non muslim country for jobs and to live permanently violates quran and is an infidel any ways. Quran says
“Allah hates disbelievers(35.26).
“Dont make friends with Allah’s enemies(58.14-15)
” Dont take unbelievers as frinds ,if you do then youare one of them”
“Stay away from disbelievers”(6.106)
Thus these muslims better be loyal to USA or leave it and go back to where they came from. If they live here but claim loyalty to Allah, they are being hippocritical.
Kirk said
on November 11 2006 @ 3:40 am
Anjo makes a number of mistakes in his argument.
For a start the issues in Australia were white people committing violence against people of all faiths who “looked Muslim”. This was racism at it’s ugliest. As a white Australian who is not religious I am ashamed of this act.
The basic issue here is that we have a geopolitical conflict wrapped in religious disguise. No-one is justified in saying that extremists represent the teachings or spirit of Islam. This is the same as the Christian extremists of the past (crusaders, Spanish Inquisition, IRA, Orange-men etc, etc) do not represent Christianity. These conflicts have always leveraged on religious differences to gain soldiers for their fights.
Steve said
on November 19 2006 @ 12:56 pm
Kirk is clueless,
Do you really think we should all sit back and make room for Muslims who are bent on Jihad and world domination. Are you absolutely insane? Jihad has no borders, it doesnt care about intergration, it wants full on domination. If the ” white racists” in Australia are so bad, please go and live in Somalia, Sudan, Iraq etc… etc..The tide is turning, more people realize the dangers of Jihad, and unfortunatly moderate Muslims will probably suffer. Disguise? Disguise? it’s Islamic terrorism, a forced religious conquest, how can you possibly confuse that with anything else. When the west has finally had enough and the middle east is leveled the Muslim community will only be able to blame themselves. Right now you have a choice, live in peace or pursue war, it is obvious in what you choose, but be aware the political tide is changing, people in the west are wising up to the truth, you will not be able to hide behind liberals, lawyers, and so called “moderates” much longer. If you want to live in the stone age, keep going, because eventually the west will give you all the help you need. Perhaps “Kirk” needs to explain his thoughts to the Taliban, “Geoploitical” Gee how dumb!
Alan Is'mail Ali said
on November 23 2006 @ 6:42 pm
Muslims should no doubt be loyal to the Quran and Sunna
and in turn, they will be loyal to America. But what does
loyalty mean? It means that we as Muslims who reside
in America must support not only the Islam but support
Islam properly! In doing so, while we are here in America
(and I am a Black American who converted to Islam
years ago), we must help each other, help the poor
(Muslim or non-Muslim), and truly make America live
up to it’s creed.
I’m not disheartened when I see Muslims and non-Muslims
who say such negative things about America, Muslims, as
well as each other. People will often do this. As a Law
Enforcement Officer here in Charleston, SC., I often see
“idiots” advocate ridiculous things…on the way to the
County jail. I’m not impressed with them nor am I impressed
with some of the negative post that I have read. What I
do know that my loyalty does lie with America because
Islam has taught me to be tollerant, kind, and supportive
of human kind. And as an American, my loyalty is with
Allah and therefore with America.
Remember, this message of Islam “is to all of the worlds”
and not to just a certain segment of the population.
May Allah forgive us of our sins and make this place
called America, a better place for all people.
-alanali@bellsouth.net
Eileen said
on November 25 2006 @ 9:25 pm
So where are the 1 Billion good muslims who live in peace and follow their religion. If even 1% of these people got active demanding peace and civil behavior from their peers the rest of us might start trusting that muslims are not all terrorists. I’m sick of the “good muslim” storyline. It is no different that the “good German” storyline of 60 years ago. Speak up or be counted with the bad guys who do it your name.
Time to bring the troops home. These people like to kill each other, we have no business there.
Ed said
on December 15 2006 @ 12:20 am
Eileen,
You probably belong to the 3% of the worlds population. If you look around (with intent) you’ll find many of the 1Billion Muslims of the world who DO live in peace.
Soo, are you a good citizen? Because I’m tired of the “Good Citizen” lie…and for your information there WERE good Germans 60 years ago. Unfortunately, we still have many ignorant (what ever you are) claiming that there is only “my way or the wrong way” just like the extremist that we fight
Read the US Constitution!!
BTW: We are doing a heck of job here, I wish some one had the mercy to help us if we were in the other end of the rope.
Shelby said
on December 24 2006 @ 10:37 am
Just live and let live. We can agree to disagree.
andreas mikhailowiscz said
on January 14 2007 @ 10:49 pm
The reason why there is so much war and infighting among humans is because of the mechanitions of some extraterrestrial species which wish to keep humans in servitude and ignorance and disarray.Islam, christianity , judaism and many revealed religions are psychotronic means of mind manipulations foisted on the human race by ancient extraterretrials that are still around.
The annunakis or nephilims of the bible came to earth millions of years ago and did genetic engineering with an anthropoid creature creating homo sapiens . This is all recorded in the sumerian texts . You will all understand this claim if you will just visit the following sites:
http://www.xfacts.com
http://www.sitchin.com
http://www.ancientX.com
http://www.cosmicparadigm.com
http://www.disclosureproject.com
http://www.davidicke.com
shalom and salaam
Andreas
mike said
on August 15 2007 @ 2:04 am
you say loyalty tell that to the (Spain train bombings-the london bombings the world trade towers the nite club bombings in Jarkata and (Hundereds of more acts of killings and bombings all in the name of whats his name
will said
on January 27 2008 @ 1:56 am
If muslims value American FREEDOMS they should remain loyal to the LAWS of the Country & the choices good or bad of those who are in Government.\
IF NOT…
They are traitors to the VERY FREEDOMS they value.
Barry said
on July 14 2009 @ 8:54 pm
As an American born Christian, it seems odd to me that Muslims hate American’s as they do. Why would people move to a country full of people they find so distasteful.
Many American soldiers have given their lives defending oppressed people around the world yet we are viewed a war mongers.
Our economy has flourished, providing income for people of all beliefs, to feed their families, yet America, who is made up of people not things, is viewed as evil and worthy of constant ridicule.
It seems to me that if Muslims had their way, then the entire world would be exterminated of all non Muslim people.
This is not the case for America. We hold these truths, that all men are created equal, and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; unlike most of the people we have freed around the world that live under dictators and oppression. Where, I ask the Muslim, do you get that you are the only faithful and the world is your enemy. If it is your religion that teaches you this then you have been deceived and the love of God is not in you. I say this to anyone, Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. Love is what binds man and heals wounds, not hate and division.
Isn’t it time for the world to realize that we are all in this together and that we are all living, breathing, individuals with common interests. Jesus Christ, of whom I follow, tells me that I am to love my neighbors as well as those who persecute me. I don’t see this in the speech of the Muslims. I only hear hate and degradation, us and them, separation and division.
Satan is winning when he is able to plant seeds of separation in the minds of God’s people, of which we all are, like it or not, we are all created by God. There is but one true God so shouldn’t we band together as human beings and try to discover who God really is instead of thinking that we have some God given right to judge and dictate what God thinks.
I serve a God that doesn’t require me to work for my place in heaven after this life is over and any religion that teaches contrary to this is simply going against God’s plan for mankind and has Satan at its core. I have heard it said that if a Muslim man dies while killing an enemy (American) such as in the 9-11 incidents, then he is guaranteed a place in paradise and is given a host of virgins with which to enjoy. I can’t think of anything more immoral and self centered for any human being, religious or not, to choose as a worthwhile endeavor. What does this say about women, especially the wives of those who have engaged in such heinous acts? It says that their husbands never loved them and that women are nothing more than sexual property and that devotion means nothing.
God tells us that we are to love our wives as Christ loved the church. In other words, we are to show true love and devotion to our wives and treat them with respect, not like object to be discarded once we enter eternity.
I have a guide that I follow in choosing my faith in God and that is simply; if any religion has at its core, a self seeking motive for the believer, then it is contrary to God and therefore should be rejected. On the other hand, if your belief has the entire human race at the center of God’s love and self isn’t an issue, then and only then can one assume this to be the true heart of God.
May the peace of God that passes all understanding be bestowed on all men!
Barry Sowell
Friend
Omar said
on December 13 2009 @ 5:20 pm
If you have come to live in a country, then you are morally obligated to be loyal to that country. This goes for Muslims living in America as well as, for example, Christians living in Saudi Arabia.
Loyalty does not mean agreeing with and supporting everything the government does. This is a totalitarian definition of “loyalty.” So it is ironic that some Americans would demand agreement and blanket support for American policy from Muslim Americans, on account of the fact that America is “free” (meaning, there is freedom to dissent).
Loyalty, for instance, does not mean agreeing with every war, or with American support for Zionism.
Loyalty means respect for the law, and promotion of every aspect of the public welfare (order, justice, education, prosperity, the moral fabric, etc) of the country or community in which one is living.
If you think you are above the law of the country you are living in, then you do not belong in that country and should go somewhere else. Anarchism and criminality are haram. This applies just as well to Muslims in America as it does to Americans living or working in other countries, as I said before.
But, loyalty to country has its limits. We do not applaud Nazi killers for their loyalty to Germany. There is no legitimate loyalty to any nation in violation of universal moral principles. The correct way to say this is, as Islam states: “No obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator.” That is, you are obligated to follow the law and display loyalty to the country you live in, unless the law directs you to do something morally wrong (not just when you think the law is ‘unfair’). To obey an unjust law is not always the same as doing something unjust.
For instance, if you pay a traffic fine which the law obligates you to, but which you do not deserve; this does not amount to you doing something wrong – so you must obey the law and pay the fine, regardless of the unfairness.
But, if you are ordered by your government to kill an innocent person, then this would amount to you committing murder – so you are obligated to refuse.
In either case of injustice (where the law is simply unjust, or where the law – or government – orders you to do actually commit injustice) you have the right and should peacefully dissent and make your protest against injustice known. However, you should not break the law unless it is by way of refusing to commit injustice in a case where the law directs you to that.
Criminality or violence – especially against innocents – is not a legitimate option in either case.
Omar said
on December 13 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Barry, in Islam sexuality is not despised as “original sin” as it is in Christianity. It is – for both men and women equally, a great gift from Allah which is to be treated with reverence and dignity. Not only is this for the sake of reproduction (to which its value is strictly limited in Christianity), but because the inrinsic pleasure of it (in its wholesome form) is a glimmer or shadow of the more real pleasure which Allah has promised in Paradise. Allah has seen fit to include, and / or describe as inluded in His reward for good living in the life of this world, a form of sexuality (among other pleasures) which is free of the limitations and imperfections which feature in the pleasures of this life. This includes the related jealousies, dissatisfactions, and emotional vulnerabilities that plague us in our condition in this life. Simply put, the men and women of Paradise will be so pleased with Allah, that no problem of this life will be an issue there. The divine eternal relationship is with Allah alone – not between any man and wife, no matter how loving and strong is their relationship. And if someone expects from their spouse what can only had from Allah – i.e. ultimate peace and tranquility – then they will only find misery.
So, your attempt to satire Islamic belief by your simplistic cartoon of it is ridiculous and irrelevant.
And your statement that:
“I have a guide that I follow in choosing my faith in God and that is simply; if any religion has at its core, a self seeking motive for the believer, then it is contrary to God and therefore should be rejected. On the other hand, if your belief has the entire human race at the center of God’s love and self isn’t an issue, then and only then can one assume this to be the true heart of God.”
This is complete and utter hypocrisy.
It cannot be that the entire human race is at the center, and your self is not an issue; unless you are not a part of the human race.
But if you are also human, and the human race is at the center, then you are at the center along with the rest of us.
You cannot pretend to be above being human, by claiming to be “selfless.”
This is the paradigm of Christian arrogance and hypocrisy. When you realize how much you depend on God, then you will finally realize how human you are indeed, and how much your self is an issue, in spite of your pretense of ‘selflessness.’
Tony said
on May 11 2010 @ 10:03 am
To BArry: Wow, pretty cool message. I am agnostic, but your approach and style of delivering your message is pretty good. As far as I am concerned though, if your message would have been delivered without inferences of some deity, your message would have been perfectly universal. Even in your own reasoning you mention “no need to sepearate, us and them…” When you say I am Christian you are “us” and everything else non-Christian is them. Hence you make the same mistake you point out of Muslims.
In truth these arguments should be that we are all Americans and strive to protect and improve our country. We should look upon it as our home, because it is our home. If somebody in my house is hotile, angry and attempting to displace me from my home in any way then I will show them out the door with the barrel of my .44 magnum. That simple. We as Americans will not tolerate ungrateful guests in our home. You are welcome here so long as you contribute and are loyal to our nation. If you are loyal to others, then leave before we violently remove you form our soil.
No War for Israel in Iran said
on May 25 2010 @ 5:35 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qxzZY4JycY
Offthepink said
on July 12 2010 @ 3:35 pm
“So where are the 1 Billion good muslims who live in peace and follow their religion.”
They live in the countries where Islam has taken over and driven out other religions. There is never peace if muslims are around people not of their faith. They always have to start killing and causing trouble for the non-muslims.
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Wicked Witch said
on August 21 2010 @ 1:28 am
Let’s see, nobody in America has burned any Muslims at the stake or imprisoned them for just being Muslims now have they. I’m not talking about honor killings or abuse of woman here as those are real statistics but not outside your faith.
On the other hand, we of the Wiccan faith, which, by the way both Bush and Senator Barr considered not a religion until we proved that in fact we are the 8th largest religion in the US; have been royally repeatedly screwed with our rights stomped on in the US and our faith members continue to be killed by various religious systems throughout the world, Muslims included. So quit crying in your corn flakes that you are not looked upon as superior to other faith groups here because you have no real idea what religious persecution is in this country unless you have walked a mile in the shoed of the Wiccan faith! And our religion of “And it harm none, do what thou wilt.” Doesn’t even advocate condemnation of those who choose to leave our faith and is not contrary to the U.S. Constitution at all.