Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan sb.

Asalamualaycum warahmatulah-i-wabarakatahoo!

Praying to Allah for the prosperity and benefits for all the Muslims here and in the hereafter, I seek Allah's refuge from satanic deeds and pray for you and your family's Imaan, health and prosperity.

The subject "Baiyah" often creates many confusions in my mind. Baiyah, as I understand it; is a promise given by giving one's hand in the hands of the person to whom the promise is made, as was done perhaps by the companions of our beloved prophet. With a little understanding I have on the subject is that baiyah is not allowed for the Muslims. We are following the sharia of Rasul-ul-lah (SAW) and that is enough for us

Kindly throw some light with authentication of Quran and Hadith please.

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Answer:

Baiyah oath of allegience bayt

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 60 Surah Mumtahina verse 12:

12 O Prophet! when believing women come to thee to take the ‘baiyah’ (oath of allegiance) to thee that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter; then do thou receive their ‘baiyah’ and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 48 Surah Fath verse 10:

10 Verily those who plight their ‘baiyah’ (oath of allegiance) to thee (O Prophet Mohamed (saws)) do no less than plight their ‘baiyah’ to Allah: the Hand of Allah is over their hands: Then anyone who violates His oath does so to the harm of his own soul, and anyone who fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah, Allah will soon grant him a great Reward.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 48 Surah Fath verse 18:

18 Allah's Good Pleasure was on the believers when they swore the ‘biayah’ to thee (O Prophet Mohamed (saws)) under the Tree: He knew what was in their hearts and He sent down tranquility to them, and He rewarded them with a speedy victory;

A ‘baiyah’ or ‘pledge of allegiance’ is generally associated in Islam when given to:

1. A Prophet of Allah Subhanah
2. the Khalifah or Ameer or Leader of the believers
3. to a leader of the believers for some particular mission. Example, when the Messenger of Allah (saws) took the allegiance from the believers which became famous as the ‘Bayt-e-Ridhwaan’ on the occasion of Hudaibiyah.

There is sufficient evidence in the Quran as well as the Sunnah regarding the Prophet of Allah (saws) taking the ‘baiyah’ or oath of allegiance from the believers; and after the death of the Prophet (saws), the believers pledged their ‘baiyah’ to Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), and after him to Hadrat Umar (r.a.), and after him to Hadrat Uthman (r.a.), and after him to Hadrat Ali (r.a.)……thus to say that to give the ‘baiyah’ or oath of allegiance is not allowed or prohibited for the believers would not be accurate.

If the need today arises whereby the believers unite and gather under one leadership or a ‘Khilaafah’ is established, it would be well within the boundaries of Shariah for the believers to pledge their ‘baiyah’ or allegiance unto their leader…..but any ‘biayah’ or oath of allegiance a believer pledges unto anyone would be conditional that one would obey their leader only if his commands and orders are lawful and within the prescribed Boundaries of Shariah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan