Al-Walā’ Wa-Al-Barā’: The Principle of Loyalty to Muslims and Disavowal of Non-Muslims

This chapter provides a brief examination of how Ibn Taymiyya theorized the principle of Loyalty to Muslims and Disavowal of non-Muslims (Al-Walā’ Wa-Al-Barā’) seven centuries after the advent of Islam, thereby sowing the seeds of conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims. Additionally, it investigates how the Wahhabi movement, five centuries later, adopted and reformulated this principle to employ it against Muslims. Furthermore, the study delves into how implementing this principle contributed to establishing three Saudi states, giving rise to theological, political, and security predicaments, until the founder of the third state ultimately renounced this principle.