17/01/2026
The Three Principles of Citizenship
According to the narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه), when the Children of Israel were granted permission to enter Ariḥā (Jericho)—a well-known city of the ʿAmālīqah—certain conditions were imposed upon them. These conditions represented the very essence of sound civilization and the fundamental requirements of urban life. Otherwise, there was a real danger that they might come to regard citizenship and civilization as synonymous with luxury, indulgence, and moral corruption.
These three principles, as expressed in the words of the Noble Qur’an, are as follows:
First: That the bond with Allah be maintained in all circumstances, and that our prostration at His Majestic Threshold remain forever filled with sincerity and humility.
Second: That one constantly reviews one’s sins, confines civilization and citizenship within the boundaries of religion, and remains at all times a seeker of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.
Third: That excellence (iḥsān) and the spirit of reform and moral completion always remain in view.
The Glorious Qur’an, in its miraculous brevity and eloquence, expressed these principles as follows:
“And enter the gate while prostrating”
That is, remain within the city in a state of humility and submissiveness.
“And say: Ḥiṭṭah (relieve us of our sins)”
And constantly seek forgiveness.
And know that those who act with excellence (muḥsinīn), We shall increase them in rank.
Outwardly, these were extremely precious and invaluable instructions. However, the Children of Israel acted with negligence and became immersed in urban immorality and corruption. As a result, the punishment of Allah encompassed them. Some reports mention that this punishment came in the form of plague (ṭāʿūn).
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The plague was a punishment sent upon nations before you. If you hear of it in a land, do not enter it; and if it breaks out in a land where you are present, then do not flee from it.”
Salafi Islamic Perspective (Brief Clarification)
From a Salafi perspective, this passage establishes several foundational principles:
Civilization without Tawḥīd leads to destruction
Urban development, power, and organization have no value unless they are firmly rooted in submission to Allah, humility, and obedience. The Salaf understood that material progress divorced from īmān results only in moral collapse.
Sin-awareness and repentance are essential for societal survival
Seeking forgiveness (ḥiṭṭah) is not merely individual but collective discipline. Societies that normalize sin under the banner of “progress” invite divine punishment.
Iḥsān is the safeguard of nations
Allah’s promise to increase the righteous is tied to correct belief, righteous action, and sincerity, not ethnicity or historical privilege—exactly as understood by the early generations.
Plague as divine decree, not chaos
The hadith establishes a balance between belief in divine decree (qadar) and legitimate preventative measures, a principle unanimously accepted by Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamāʿah.
In essence, the lesson affirmed by the Salaf is clear:
When humility, repentance, and obedience are replaced by indulgence and rebellion, divine punishment follows—regardless of a nation’s history or status.