The Categories of Loyalty to Disbelievers
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Your Eminence! Some people say in a book that has recently become widespread: that loyalty to the party of Satan, by choice and not under compulsion, and whatever the motives may be, takes the Muslim out of the party of Allah entirely, and that all practical forms of loyalty are a cause of exiting the religion; because they are connected to the heart.
May Allah reward you! Is there any detail?
This is because loyalty has categories. The loyalty that is support, such that one supports the disbelievers in what they are upon, this is a cause of exiting the religion. As for the loyalty that is due to alliances and oaths, there is no harm in it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made an alliance between himself and Khuzaa'ah. When Quraysh transgressed against Khuzaa'ah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — this was a breaking of the covenant — annulled the truce between himself and Quraysh; because they had transgressed against Khuzaa'ah, who were the allies of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So the loyalty that is a cause of exiting is that one shows loyalty to the disbelievers in what they are upon, such that he supports them and helps them in whatever state they are in, even if they fight the Muslims. This is what Allah says about them: [Al-Ma'idah: 51] .
And he did not touch upon, for example, the story of Hatib ibn Abi Balta'ah. Was that not a practical form and not a heart-based one? Hatib (may Allah be pleased with him) explained the reason that he wrote to Quraysh that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is going to fight them, that he has among them —Meaning: Quraysh — wealth and houses that he fears for, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) excused him. Then, he also did not excuse him with a complete excuse, except that he was from the people of Badr,And Allah said to the people of Badr: (Do what you will, for I have forgiven you) .
May Allah reward you! Is there any detail?
This is because loyalty has categories. The loyalty that is support, such that one supports the disbelievers in what they are upon, this is a cause of exiting the religion. As for the loyalty that is due to alliances and oaths, there is no harm in it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made an alliance between himself and Khuzaa'ah. When Quraysh transgressed against Khuzaa'ah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — this was a breaking of the covenant — annulled the truce between himself and Quraysh; because they had transgressed against Khuzaa'ah, who were the allies of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So the loyalty that is a cause of exiting is that one shows loyalty to the disbelievers in what they are upon, such that he supports them and helps them in whatever state they are in, even if they fight the Muslims. This is what Allah says about them:
And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.
وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَAnd he did not touch upon, for example, the story of Hatib ibn Abi Balta'ah. Was that not a practical form and not a heart-based one? Hatib (may Allah be pleased with him) explained the reason that he wrote to Quraysh that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is going to fight them, that he has among them —Meaning: Quraysh — wealth and houses that he fears for, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) excused him. Then, he also did not excuse him with a complete excuse, except that he was from the people of Badr,And Allah said to the people of Badr: (Do what you will, for I have forgiven you) .