Ever since human beings started to live in organized societies consisting of tribes, there has been a general loyalty present among them. They were loyal to their family, especially their parents. The code of conduct also required them to be loyal to their tribe and especially to the Chief of the tribe. In return, when an individual needed help, due to sickness or poverty, the tribe helped him by being loyal to him. So, society worked with mutual loyalties among themselves, from leadership to the common folks.

The loyalty I am referring to was not learned in any school but was intuitive and is inherently present in each person. They felt it was their duty to be supportive and considered it their obligation above all other feelings. It was essential for a peaceful society and their protection and safety from outside forces such as the neighboring tribes. Without this bond of loyalty within their community, their existence would be in danger.

Teachings of Religion about Loyalty to God

With the introduction of religion among human beings, God provided guidance through His messengers and prophets. He appointed these individuals throughout the world at various times among all nations. Among the principles of divinely guided behavior was the concept of loyalty or complete submission to God and His prophets.

The religion of Islam declared in the Holy Qur’an: “O ye who believe, obey Allah and obey the Prophet and obey those in authority among you” (2). The Holy Qur’an also emphasizes that loyalty must be at the highest level for God, above all other relations:, states: “Say, if your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your kinsfolk, and the wealth you have acquired, and the trade whose dullness you fear, and the dwellings which you love are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and strive in His cause, then wait until Allah comes with His judgment; and Allah guides not the disobedient people” (3).

It is clear from the above verses that loyalty and obedience to Allah and His Prophet, and also to the established government in each organized society, are required. The governing body provides protection and safety to a person under its authority, so loyalty to them becomes loyalty to God since it is His commandment to obey them and be loyal to them.

Religion also established many rules and guiding principles for human beings in dealing with other members of their society, such as parents, spouses, siblings, and neighbors. Following God’s commandments
regarding these relationships meant being loyal to God.

Loyalty to Family

The fundamental unit of any society is a family unit established by marriage. Under the guidance of God, it is established that a man and a woman agree to a contract of being a husband and wife and create a family unit to ensure the future of the society. All the components to this contract are connected to God in societies belonging to the believers. It is God who has created a bond and feelings of love and attraction between a man and a woman. Their contract is made with the witnesses present in their community and with God being their witness as well. It is crucial and essential that the newly married are loyal to God to fulfill their contract to the best of their abilities. In return, God would become their Protector and Helper in good times and through adverse conditions.

Loyalty to Parents

Loyalty to parents was present among human beings from the beginning of time, but religion explained it in a much more forceful way. It is the instinct of human beings to be obedient to their parents. However, religion explained that it was God who provided for their parents while they were raising their children. It was God who had the plans in place of creating another generation. So, loyalty to parents was loyalty to God. Without this loyalty nothing was possible.

The Holy Qur’an states:

“And We have enjoined on man concerning his parents — his mother bears him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning takes two years — ‘Give thanks to Me and to thy parents. Unto Me is the final return” (4) and “Thy Lord has commanded, “Worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, never say unto them any word expressive of disgust nor reproach them but address them with excellent speech. And lower to them the wing of humility out of tenderness. And say, ‘My Lord, have mercy on them even as they nourished me in my childhood” (5).

In the above verses, the basis of loyalty is described with reasoning as well. One must be loyal to one’s parents because of their service and loyalty when one was a weak child. When parents become weak in old age, God commands that children should show loyalty, kindness, and obedience to them. All this loyalty connects to loyalty to God.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) enforced the guidance of God through his admonitions:

Once Abdullah-Bin-Masood (ra) asked the Holy Prophet (sa) to tell him the deed liked by Almighty Allah. The Holy Prophet (sa) replied: To offer prayers in time.’ He asked him to tell the second best. He was toldto behave nicely with parents’ (6).

Examples of loyalty in early Islam

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) taught his companions the principle of loyalty to God above their loyalty to their tribes. It was remarkable how the companions understood and practiced this principle. Their culture was to be loyal to their tribes, and they would fight and take revenge from the enemy for generations. Reformation was not easy, but when they accepted Islam, their loyalty to God and His Prophet surpassed all other loyalties.

Examples of their loyalty to God can be seen in the history of early battles in Madinah. The companions did not care about their fathers, brothers or friends being martyred. They were concerned about the Holy Prophet (sa) and the victory of Allah. This spirit of loyalty continued after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa). The companions showed exemplary loyalty and obedience to the Khulafa (plural of Khalifa) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The great military general Khalid bin Waleed (ra) served as a soldier under the orders of His HolinessOmar (ra) because of his loyalty to the Khalifa since he was the representative of the Holy Prophet (sa).

Conclusion

It is essential to deeply comprehend the attributes of the Almighty Creator to reach the conclusion that true loyalty, obedience and praise belong to Him. All other loyalties, whether to the prophets, family, friends, or the government, are subservient to the loyalty to God. All other entities and personalities are not perfect but need the grace of God and His sustenance whether for their spiritual or physical needs. Knowledge of God’s grace is what would take us to the conclusion that true safety and protection is with God Himself. All others are vehicles through which He provides us sustenance. When someone provides us with any help, we are told to say Alhamdolillah (All praise belongs to God) before we say to the person Jazak’ Allāh (May God reward you with goodness).

His Holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) wrote:

“It needs no argument that the true and perfect God, to believe in Whom is the duty of every creature, is the Lord of the worlds. His Providence is not confined to a particular people, age or country. He is the Sustainer of all peoples, of all ages, of all places and of all countries.

He is the fountainhead of all grace. Every physical and spiritual power is bestowed by Him, and the whole universe is sustained by Him and He is the support of all. God’s grace comprehends all peoples, all countries and all ages, lest any people should complain that God bestowed His bounties upon others, but not upon them, or that others received a Book from Him for their guidance, but they did not, or that in other ages He manifested Himself through His revelation, inspiration and miracles, but that He remained hidden in their age. By bestowing His grace upon all He obviated all these objections and out of His vast qualities He did not deprive any people or any age of His physical or spiritual bounties” (7).

References:

1. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 1, pp. 191-192, footnote], taken from Essence of Islam, vol.1
2. The Holy Qur’an (4:60)
3. The Holy Qur’an (9:24)
4. The Holy Qur’an (9:24)
5. The Holy Qur’an (17:24-25)
6. Shiraz Ahmad. Treatment of Parents – Islamic Teachings https://www.alislam.org/articles/treatment-of-parents-islamic-teachings/ [Accessed June 14, 2024]
7. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Paigham-e-Sulh, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 23, p. 442], taken from Essence of Islam, vol.1