[The Non-Acceptability of Muslims Following Disbelievers]

Based on this, fascination with their material strength is unjustified and irrational; as Allah Almighty has said: ﴿وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَى مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى﴾[1]; “And do not let your eyes linger on something from the splendor of the life of the world which We have given as enjoyment to some couples among them, so that We test them thereby. And the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting,” and: ﴿لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ ۝ مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ﴾[2]; “The roaming of disbelievers around the lands shall not deceive you; it is but a brief enjoyment, and then their abode will be Hell, which is an evil resting place.” Rather, following them in the hope of attaining their strength has the opposite effect and leads to the regression of Muslims rather than their progression; as Allah Almighty has said: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تُطِيعُوا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ فَتَنْقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ﴾[3]; “O you who believed! If you follow those who disbelieved, they will turn you back to your old ways. You will then become losers”; because following them causes the truth to be considered as falsehood whenever it contradicts their beliefs and the procedure governing the world under their control, and to become hated and denied by Muslims as a result of their propaganda and indoctrination, so that their principles and laws gradually replace the principles and laws of Islam, and Muslims, in order to please them and prevent their anger, stop pursuing their own ideals, try to realize their goals, and put the clothing of Islam on the body of disbelief. Therefore, the only valid boundary in Islam is the boundary between Muslims and disbelievers, who are in conflict regarding faith in Allah, the most important and fundamental principle of life; as Allah Almighty has said about them: ﴿هَذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِي رَبِّهِمْ﴾[4]; “These are two opposing groups who are at enmity with one another concerning their Lord.” It is clear that this boundary, unlike other boundaries, is not artificial; rather, given its inherent and real impact on all aspects of life, it is real and must therefore always be defined and officially recognized.