Our Interaction with the Homeland

Our relationship with the homeland, and patriotism toward it, not only does not stand in opposition to religion and Qur’anic values, but in the eyes of the Almighty it is so important that in verse 8 of Surah Al-Mumtahina He says: “Show kindness and justice to those who have not fought you over your faith and have not driven you out of your homeland.” In this verse, religion and homeland are upheld together. So why is there sometimes ambiguity, from some, in honoring the homeland? A few days ago, I saw one of my former students, who is now working in a factory. I asked how he was doing, and he said: “Although at night I am committed to being present in the field in support of the homeland, I have two intellectual doubts.” I asked what they were. He said: “How can I love a homeland in which I cannot even afford a few meters of housing to live in, or where the cost of living is so high that marriage becomes impossible? How can I remain at ease in this homeland when I cannot treat my mother in the hospital of my choice, nor even help my brother’s child with education expenses, let alone support my own child later on? And yet, this homeland is my love; wherever I go, I am a stranger, and in my exile I can attach my heart to nothing but it.” As an economics teacher, I was truly ashamed. Then he spoke of his brother, who is unemployed for most of the month, has little work, is barely taken on by the private sector, receives minimum wage, and is constantly under financial strain. His second intellectual concern was that the

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