However, nationalists have another argument here. They said that uniting and gathering around Arab Nationalism without differentiating between the Muslim and the disbeliever makes them a strong entity and a lofty building of which the enemies will be frightened and will respect their rights, and if Muslims separate themselves from the nonMuslim Arabs, they will be weak and their enemy will covet them. There is also another argument and this is their saying that if Arabs hold fast to Islam and gather around its banner, the enemies of Islam will resent them, will not give them their rights and will await for them turns of misfortune, out of fear that they will wage Islamic wars against them with which they will retain their past glory, and this harms us and wastes our rights and interests which we have with our enemies and enrage them against us.
The answer to this argument is to say that: Verily, the gathering of Muslims around Islam, their holding fast to the rope of Allah, judging according to His Law and Legislation, separating from their enemies and declaring enmity and grudge against them is the reason for bringing about Allah's victory for them and protecting them from the plots of the enemies. Moreover, it is the means of instilling awe in the hearts of the enemies from the disbelievers so that they will be frightened of Muslims and will give them their complete rights without deficiency as happened to their believing ancestors. There were many Jews and Christians living among them, but they had not taken them as allies and had not sought help from them; rather, they had taken Allah as their Ally and Supporter and sought help from Him, and therefore, He protected them, supported them, and gave them victory over their enemies. The Qur'an and the Sunnah testify to this fact, and the Islamic history states this clearly. Moreover, this fact is known by Muslim and Kafirs (nonMuslims). It is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) went out on the day of Badr to encounter the Mushriks and in Madinah there were Jews, but he did not seek help from them, although Muslims were a minority at that time, not a majority and they were in an urgent need for helpers and supporters, however, the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) and Muslims did not seek help from the Jews.
They did not seek help from them on the day of Badr nor on the day of Uhud, despite their crying need for helpers at that time, particularly, on the day of Uhud. In these incidents there is the clearest evidence that it is not permissible for Muslims to seek help from their enemies, take them as allies and supporters, or recruit them in their army due to being insecure against their danger and because of the great corruption which results from mixing with them. Moreover, mixing with Kafirs worsens Muslims' manners, and raises arguments and the reasons of grudge and enmity amongst them. Whoever is not satisfied with the path of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and the way of the first believers, then Allah will not make him satisfied with anything.
As for the resentment of nonMuslims against Muslims when they gather around the banner of Islam, this is what makes Allah pleased with Muslims and brings about victory for them, because they enraged His enemies for the sake of His pleasure and for the sake of supporting His religion and protecting His Law and Legislation. Moreover, the resentment of the disbelievers against Muslims will not be removed unless Muslims set aside their religion and follow the way of their enemies and join their party, and that is extreme error, manifest Kufr (disbelief), and cause for punishment and misery in this life and the Hereafter. He (Glorified be He) says:
Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) till you follow their religion. Say: "Verily, the Guidance of Allâh (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad ﺻـﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴـﻪ ﻭﺳـﻠﻢ) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Qur'ân), then you would have against Allâh neither any Walî (protector or guardian) nor any helper.
And: And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islâmic Monotheism) if they can. And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and in the Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein forever." And: Then We have put you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳـﻠﻢ) on a (plain) way of (Our) commandment [like the one which We commanded Our Messengers before you (i.e. legal ways and laws of the Islâmic Monotheism)]. So follow you that (Islâmic Monotheism and its laws), and follow not the desires of those who know not. (Tafsir AtTabarî).
Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allâh (if He wants to punish you). Verily, the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrongdoers) are Auliyâ' (protectors, helpers) of one another, but Allâh is the Walî (Helper, Protector) of the Muttaqûn (the pious. See V.2:2). In these Ayahs of clear evidence, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) pointed out that the disbelievers will not be pleased with us until we follow their religion and set aside our religion, and that they will keep fighting against us until they turn us back from our religion if they are able.
He also stated that whenever we obey them and follow their whims and desires, we will be from those who abide forever in HellFire, if we die while in that state. We ask Allah to grant us protection from that, and we seek refuge in Allah from the causes of His anger and the reasons for His Retribution.