By Saeed Ismaeel
The essence of the word al-baraa, and its derivations lies in the word “separate” i. e. to separate something from another, such as an accused from accusation, an indebted from his loan, or an invention or creation from the original form. It could mean to separate a person from a thing, or a person or a group from another person or a group. The separation could be a mutual act or a one-sided.
The word al-baraa in the phrase “al-braa from a belief” does not necessarily impose al-baghdaa (hatred), or al-‘adaawah (hostility) towards who hold that belief. For Allah specified “albaraa from the actions” of either party, in the following verse: {And if they deny you say:
To me my work, and to you your work. You are innocent of what we do and I am innocent of what you do.}(1) The following verse assures the independence of two decisions: absolving from responsibility of an action and absolving from responsibility of its actor. It reads {there is a goodly pattern for you in Abraham and those with him, when they told their folks, Lo! We are برءاء guiltless of you and all that you worship beside God.
The remaining part of the verse reads: {…And there has arisen between you and us hostility and hate forever until you worship Allah alone…}. Here, we notice that hostility and hatred came in an additional sentence. Not only that but hatred was added to hostility, as an independent attribute i.e. the existence of one does not necessitate the existence of the other. This is so because hatred could exist without being translated into behavior; and a hostile behavior could happen unintentionally or for teasing purpose.
Furthermore, we notice that Prophet Abraham was only announcing the mutual hostility and hatred, which was started by the disbelievers. For, they did not confine themselves to rejecting his call, but took a hostile position and hated him and the believers. Therefore, this kind of relation will automatically suspend if the disbelievers change their position and worship Allah alone. Anyway, we should not over look the verse, which reads: {It may be that God will ordain love between you and those of them you are at enmity. God is Mighty, and God is Forgiving, Merciful.}. The verse left the reason for reconciliation open, not confined to becoming believers
For Islam considers the original relationship between people of different faiths or different versions of the Truth a peaceful one, and those who believe that their way represent the Truth should make an effort to save others. At the least, Islam encourages them to maintain a peaceful relationship, and each group has its religion.
For example, Allah blaming Prophet Muhammad for feeling pain because his uncle did not accept Islam says: {Lo! You (Oh Muhammad) guide not whom you love, but Allah guides whom He will. And He is best Aware of the guided ones.}. Regardless of difference of faith, feelings between people fall into these categories: innate love, stemming from natural relationship (father and son) or an acquired love (husband and wife, mutual friendship), or natural appreciation (one party doing favor to the other).
The difference could be a result of lack of understanding from one side or insufficient persuasive effort on the other. Thus it becomes clear that the absence of al-walaa (guardianship) does not mean the existence of al-baraa separation, enmity or hatred. Not only that but there are different varying degrees of alwalaa and al-baraa.
These facts go in harmony with the basic rule of the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims as defined by God: {Allah does not forbid you from those who did not fight you and did not drive you out of your homes, to deal with them justly or to do them favors, for Allah loves those who are just.}
A person who claims the possibility of joining enmity with doing favor at the same time is trying to mix between two opposites: a hostile behavior with extending a favor to a single person at the same time, which is impossible.
And the person who claims that Islam rewards feeling hatred towards a person but at the same time treating him very nicely accuses Allah of encouraging hypocrisy! Naturally hypocrisy is rejected by human nature and pure logic, and Islam is the religion of natural disposition and does not contradict pure logic.
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