Imam Luqman Ahmad Mosque Without Borders

Faith, Patriotism, and the American Paradox:

As far as patriotism goes, I suppose I am as patriotic as the next person. I love my country. I love its natural beauty, its vast mountains, its rolling hillsides, and the undeniable hustle and bustle of its cities. I hold a deep love for the people who reside here, especially the believing and righteous amongst them, and I cherish the freedom to worship Allah without partners and to have raised my family in accordance with that faith.

From an Islamic standpoint, there is nothing inherently wrong with having love for one’s country. In fact, the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ frames the love for one’s homeland as a natural human instinct, and an element of faith.

In the hadith of Abdullah ibn Adi ibn Hamra, when the Prophet ﷺ was forced to leave his birthplace, he looked back at Mecca and said: “By Allah, you are the best of Allah’s lands and the most beloved to me. If I had not been driven out from you, I would never have left you.” (collected in Jami`at-Tirmidhi  and  Sunan Ibn Majah ).

Later, upon migrating to Medina, he prayed for the city that had welcomed him: “O Allah! Make Medina dear to our hearts just like You made Mecca dear to our hearts, and even more so.” (Narrated by Aisha, in Sahih al-Bukhari ).

It is crucial to note that this love existed before Mecca or Medina became “Islamic provinces.” The Prophet ﷺ loved Mecca even when it was full of polytheism and the Ka’bah housed 360 idols. Similarly, the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) عليه الصلاة والسلام  prayed for the security and prosperity of Mecca long before the full establishment of the community, asking: “My Lord, make this city a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.” (Quran 2:126).

Redefining True Patriotism

These examples clarify that there is nothing inherently wrong with loving one’s country, contrary to the belief of some Muslims.

However, true patriotism goes far beyond mere sentiment or symbolic celebration. If we claim to love our land, that love must translate into active, principled engagement.

To love one’s country is to work for its prosperity, to protect it when necessary, to show genuine solidarity with fellow citizens for the well-being of all, to uphold righteousness, to forbid wrongdoing, and to be a truly beneficial member of society. This is the definition of patriotism that aligns with the guidance of Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Confronting the American Paradox

Patriotism is not measured by the fervor with which one celebrates the Fourth of July or whether one watches fireworks. Nor can you, or should you judge a persons Islam by whether they commemorate, celebrate, or acknowledge this country’s 250th anniversary. In my view, the true patriot does not blindly celebrate or condone this country’s moral failings, or ignore them in light of joyous, overblown, media inspired celebration of or worldly greatness. The inescapable irony surround the fourth of July is it’s attention to flattery and profit.

This leads us to the American Paradox: the legacy of America is a complex tapestry woven from profound, often jarring contradictions. It stands as a testament to immense wealth, a nation of towering success that simultaneously looms over the pervasive shadows of chronic poverty and homelessness. It is a system where the average worker, the very backbone of its success, often struggles to afford a foothold in the great cities they help sustain.

Furthermore, this legacy is defined by the inequitable navigation of society, where one’s trajectory, and the obstacles they face, is frequently determined not by individual merit or effort, but by the complexion of one’s skin or the socioeconomic accident of the zip code in which they were raised.

A true patriot cannot be content with the ongoing atrocities committed at home or abroad, nor can they be satisfied with the relentless marginalization of the vulnerable—whether they be non-white citizens, immigrants, or the impoverished. A true patriot desires something better for America. A true patriot desires guidance for America.

The current social climate in this country does not leave me in a celebratory mood this year. Instead, I am left with a sense of duty. My love for this land, like the love the Prophets showed for theirs, compels me to want it to be a place of justice, security, and truth. That is not a surrender to the status quo; it is the ultimate act of loyalty to the land and the people who call it home.

Ultimately, the true legacy of America is not found in a static past, but in our active, ongoing refusal to settle for its present failings; it is the commitment to hold this nation accountable until its reality finally reflects the justice it claims to champion.

As a Muslim, I will continue to hold myself accountable for my actions, continue to enjoin what is good, forbid what is evil, and do my best to hold fast to my faith during these times. If I am going to celebrate on July 4^th, I will celebrate the fact that Allah sub’haanahu wa ta’ala guided me to Islam, as I do every day. I don’t feel much like fireworks this year. Imam Luqman Ahmad.

Shaykh Luqman Ahmad, born and raised in Philadelphia Pa, and son of American converts to Islam, is an American Muslim thinker, scholar, writer, educator, and community leader with more than four decades of service. A graduate of the Islamic University of Omdurman, with time spent at Umm al-Qura University, and in classes at the Haram in Mecca. Imam was first introduced to Islamic learning by his parents. He studied with numerous scholars, most notably the late “Sayyid Sabiq”, author of the book “Fiqh as-Sunnah”.  For a list of his teachers, consult his blog at imamluqman.wordpress.com. He served as the Imam of Masjid Ibrahim Islamic Center in California for 20 years, guiding one of the region’s most diverse Muslim communities with a blend of classical Sunni scholarship and deep awareness of American social realities. Over the course of his career, he has also served as an Imam and or resident scholar at several masaajid across the country, including in Philadelphia, Toledo, Sacramento, and Folsom, California.