Allah ta`ala says:
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day showing affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they are their fathers, their sons, their brothers, or their kindred.”— Sūrat al-Mujādilah (58:22)
This verse clarifies a fundamental principle of faith: the ʿAqīdah of a true believer keeps them steadfast in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, makes them uncompromising on questions of truth and justice, and teaches them to avoid dependence on forces hostile to Islam. Their position should not be one of opportunistic compromise, but rather a demonstration of principled steadfastness and fearlessness, guided by the pursuit of Allah’s pleasure.
If an individual or group claims to possess faith while cultivating such close ties with disbelieving and oppressive powers that their interests and dominance are strengthened, a natural question arises: how sound is their claim to faith, and is there not a clear inconsistency between their professed convictions and their actual conduct?
For a long time, we have observed certain Arab ruling establishments maintaining close relations with the United States and Israel. In many cases, these ties go beyond diplomacy to include military dependence, permission to establish military bases, and extensive reliance on external powers for security policy.
Their justification is that such arrangements ensure national security. History, however, has repeatedly shown that international politics has no permanent friends or enemies; it is governed by interests. A power that presents itself as an ally today may have no hesitation in changing its position tomorrow when its interests demand it. Therefore, placing unquestioning confidence in external assurances is hardly a mark of strategic foresight.
Iran’s ruling establishment, on the other hand, adheres to a Shīʿī ideology that differs profoundly from Sunnī ʿAqīdah on numerous fundamental issues, with some disagreements amounting to serious theological disputes.
Nevertheless, in the contemporary global context, Iran has taken an explicit political stance against the United States and Israel. This, too, is a reality.
In the view of many, this stance plays a role in maintaining the regional balance of power and indirectly creates a form of deterrent shield for other Muslim states. Although it is not a definitive solution, the balance of power remains an important factor in geopolitical realities.
If Iran were to weaken rapidly, Arab states already under the influence of global powers would face even greater strategic pressure. Their independent voices, principled positions, and capacity for self-reliance would consequently become increasingly constrained. In the long run, rebuilding an independent and self-reliant position would become even more difficult. Once the chains of dependence have tightened, the process of breaking free from them can be so prolonged and complex that its full extent is difficult even to imagine.
It is also undeniable that some Sunnī states in the Middle East have suffered as a result of Iran’s expansionist policies. Such interventions and hegemonic tendencies are unquestionably indefensible.
Yet one characteristic of political power is its tendency to expand its influence, whether it is Sunnī or Shīʿī. We also observe a lack of tolerance among different madhhabs and ideological groups in our own society. When one side becomes stronger, it often seeks to establish its dominance.
In this context, it is worth reflecting deeply on how realistic it is to expect completely neutral, selfless, and tolerant conduct in regional politics.
The most important question, then, is this: despite possessing vast natural resources, strong economies, and substantial populations, why have Arab states failed to develop sustainable and self-reliant defence capabilities?
Why have they chosen dependence on external powers instead of strengthening their own foundations in technology, education, and military preparedness?
Allah’s command—“And prepare against them whatever you are able of power”—is not merely a spiritual exhortation; it also provides guidance for strategic preparedness. Has this command, then, failed to reach their ears?
A state or group that does not learn to stand on its own strength, capabilities, and principled resolve will find it difficult to earn respect and dignity on the international stage. Long-term dependence gradually erodes its political independence and its ability to make sovereign decisions. The result is that it must either submit to the influence of global powers or remain under the shadow of a regional rival’s authority.
Therefore, what the times demand is not an emotionally driven reaction, but a far-reaching vision, profound self-criticism, and realistic strategic planning.
The true strength of Arab Sunnī states does not lie in seeking protection from external powers. Rather, it lies in their mutual unity, military self-reliance, technological and intellectual advancement, and moral steadfastness.
As long as they continue to depend on externally provided security and temporary alliances, their freedom to make independent decisions will remain constrained—as though the chains of subjugation have become their destiny.
But if they strategically harness their resources, human capital, and geographical significance to establish an integrated defence system, expand education grounded in research and innovation, and build transparent and accountable systems of governance, their position will naturally become stronger and more dignified.