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wa-lā tarkanū ʾilā lladhīna ẓalamū fa-tamassakumu n-nāru wa-mā lakum min dūni llāhi min ʾawliyāʾa thumma lā tunṣarūna
Do not incline toward the wrongdoers, lest the Fire should touch you, and you will not have any friend besides Allah; then you will not be helped.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Hud – Verse 113
113. “And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the Fire will touch you; and you have no protectors other than Allah, nor shall you be helped.
Reliance upon the Unjust!
This verse explains one of the most fundamental programs in the realm of social, political, military, and ideological spheres of activity. It addresses all Muslims, putting forward a decisive duty, it implies that we should not seek support from oppressors, and never rely upon them for such an act for it causes us to be surrounded by the Fire of Hell and we have no one from whom to expect support but Allah. The verse says:
“And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the Fire will touch you; and you have no protectors other than Allah, nor shall you be helped.
In which matters must one not rely upon the transgressors? In the first instance, obviously, we must not share in the atrocities they commit and seek support from them in this regard. Secondly, reliance upon them must stop where the Muslim community stands to be weakened, and its independence and self sufficiency jeopardized, this type of dependency will bear no fruit but frustration and loss of independence on the part of Islamic communities. As to the idea that Muslims should establish commercial or scientific relations with non Muslim communities on the basis of protecting Muslim interests and independence as well as their security is not unprecedented in the history of Islam nor is it forbidden in Islam and it does not fit into the meaning of seeking assistance from the oppressors.
During the era of the Prophet (S) and after him such relationships with non Muslims had also existed. However, one must not, at the same time, obey the oppressors or put his hope in them, for we read in the narrations that friendship with the unjust and obedience to them are examples of submission to tyranny. In a narration, it has been said:
“Do not put your hope in an oppressor even if he is a member of your family or a friend.”
In Al-Kafi, there is also a narration which says:
“Allah has forbidden you to spare even one minute when an oppressor is to be hanged, for, in such a case, you would have supported him.”
Refer to Tafsir al Burhan-As-Safi, Usul Al-Kafi, and the Bihar-ul-’Anwar for further information.
Explanation
1- Every kind of dependence on internal and external oppressors is prohibited. 2- Oppression and assisting the oppressors or even relying upon them constitute capital sins and those affiliated with it are subversives. (Every sin which Allah has spoken of as being punishable with the Fire is considered as a capital sin) 3- Relying upon and trusting the oppressor will lead to Allah’s Hell. Therefore, how is the situation of the oppressor himself going to be?
4- Instead of taking recourse to the unjust, put your trust in Allah. 5- The result of relying upon tyrants is isolation and estrangement. 6- As the obedience from /ulul-’amr/ (the political and religions chiefs appointed to issue decrees on behalf of Allah), is obligatory and, on the other hand, since relying upon and seeking the support of the unjust is forbidden, therefore the /ulul-’amr/ cannot be unjust, they must necessarily be “immaculate”, too, because sin is considered an example of injustice.
(And do not incline to those who are unjust...)