There is a concept in Islam called al-Walaa wal-Baraa. Walaa is basically allegiance or love (for Muslims). Baraa is enmity or hate (of kafirs). So the concept is to love Muslims and Islam and to hate kafirs and their civilization. Walaa and baraa are love and hate, Islamic style.

Since Islam is based upon submission and duality, walaa and baraa are the perfect illustration of duality. To love believers and hate kafirs is pure dualism. But how important is walaa/baraa? A study of the Koran shows that its priorities are:

• Allah is the only god
• Mohammed is Allah’s prophet
• walaa/baraa

It is a core principle of Islamic political doctrine. The Koran devotes over half of its words to how foul and evil the kafirs are. There is not one good or sympathetic word for the kafirs. If you don’t believe Mohammed, then Allah hates you:

40:35 They who dispute the signs of Allah [kafirs] without authority having reached them are greatly hated by Allah and the believers.

If Allah hates, then a Muslim should hate, as well. This hate is not due to moral failings. No, a kafir is hated for the simple reason that the kafir does not think that Mohammed is a prophet. [If Mohammed is not a prophet, then the Koran is fiction, and Islam is meaningless.] In the Sira we find that Islam destroys cultured, wise people of high moral standards because they do not believe Mohammed. It is not personal; it is simply Islam.

The greatest Islamic sin is not mass murder, rape, theft or child molestation. No, becoming an apostate (one who leaves Islam to become a kafir) is the greatest evil in the sight of Allah. So if Abdullah leaves Islam to become a Christian (or an atheist), he is worse than Hitler. The hatred of an apostate is another example of baraa.

But Ahmed, the professional engineer, at your work does not say he hates kafirs. In fact, he says that he loves America. But, if Ahmed is a real Muslim, then he follows the Koran and its says (in 14 different verses):

3:117 Believers! Do not become friends with anyone except your own people.

How clear can this be? A Muslim should be friends only with Muslims and not with kafirs– walaa/baraa. If Ahmed is actually your friend, then he is not a Muslim in that moment. If he is a Muslim, then he may be friendly, but he is not your friend. That is the nature of baraa. His contempt is covered with deceit. Mohammed repeatedly told Muslims to use deceit with kafirs.

Walaa/baraa is the perfect summation of Islam’s dualistic ethical system. A Muslim does not kill, lie, or steal from another Muslim. Kafirs are not included in this list. A kafir may be treated well or a kafir may be abused, deceived or killed. In Islam, there is no Golden Rule.

Walaa/baraa destroys all empathy and sympathy for kafirs. The walaa/baraa principle is duality at the personal level while dar al Islam/dar al harb (abode of submission/abode of war) is duality at the political level. Islam is incapable of being our friend and only loves itself. But how many kafirs think that if we are good enough to Muslims, then Muslims will love us?

Why do we deceive ourselves?

For more on walaa/baraa read Hugh Fitzgerald’s article or Khalid El-Gharib’s work.