There are universal human values, which normal people believe in, and these values relate to public life and relations with others, and penetrate the depths and consciences of most people, and become entrenched with the passage of time. Then the grandparents pass it on to the parents, and the fathers pass it on to the children, and the children to the grandchildren, and so on, over time. They are values that transcend the constraints of space and time, to spread in every time and place, even if their details differ from one group to another, from one place to another, and even from time to time. However, these values remain rooted in the system of general principles embraced by humans, and believed in by the majority of people, in all simplicity, and through time. One of the most prominent and important systems of human values to which this description applies is the value of “citizenship” and love of the homeland, and the “patriotic” concepts that derive from that, perhaps the most prominent of which is what is known as “national unity”.
The term “national unity” is originally a political term par excellence, but it has clear intellectual, educational, economic, social, and security dimensions. This term is often used synonymously with the term "national fusion". The meaning and content of this term overlaps with the concept of “citizenship” and “nationalism”. There are many definitions of “citizenship” and “patriotism” and its preference over other homelands, from one group to another, from one people to another, and even from one individual to another. But, in any case, the majority of people – in every place and time – carry between their wings a love for the homeland and the place of birth, which often outweighs the love for any other place on earth, no matter how beautiful and comfortable it is.
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And this love has consequences and results… that can be embodied in what might be called “citizenship,” which could mean:
A person’s love for the place of his birth, upbringing, and living, and his preference for this place over everything else (except in exceptional cases, such as when this place is exposed to disasters, grievances, epidemics, etc.) .
Several “elements” (or branching values) emerge from this love for the soil, for the land concerned and for its inhabitants, perhaps the most important of which are the following:
1- Love the land concerned and its landmarks, and prefer it over anything else.
2- Loving the people of the concerned country, preferring them, and being friendly with them.
3- Passion for some of the basic “values” of the homeland, such as religion, traditions, customs, and cultural symbols – material and moral.
4- Defending and fighting for the homeland, in all possible ways, and under all circumstances.
5- Work, as much as possible, to contribute to the advancement of the homeland, and to bring it to the ranks of developed countries, in all fields.
6- Preserving the country's capabilities and protecting its gains.
7- Being proud of one’s homeland, its land and people, and trying to show it in the best possible way.
These elements, or sup-values, collectively constitute a greater value, which is “good citizenship,” or normality and everywhere. Of course, since there is "good citizenship", there is also an invalid citizenship… It is represented in the individual's embrace – towards his country – of values opposite to each of these seven branching values.
Citizenship entails, in every place and time, rights for the “citizen” and “duties” for him. And the most prominent rights of the homeland on the citizen is that the citizen carries the values of citizenship towards his homeland, and implements these values in practice. The most prominent duties of the homeland towards the citizen are: to provide him with dignity, security and safety, and a minimum standard of decent living. Whenever a citizen obtains his rights from the homeland, he also devotes himself to fulfilling his duties towards him, and his citizenship becomes sound. And the opposite may be true.
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What was mentioned above is only a summary and essence of the general value of "citizenship"… However, this great value, and the values that derive from it, are imprinted in every society with its religion, its private and general values, its traditions and customs, and even its circumstances. The true Islamic religion recognizes these values, urges adherence to them, and even adds higher, nobler, and more beautiful contents to them, as is well known.
Islam urges its adherents to consider it the infallibility of their affairs, and commands them to give precedence to the Islamic faith over everything else. Even some Muslim jurists believe that a person's loyalty must be to the House of Islam, and to his Muslim brother, even if his homeland is far apart, and his tongue is harsh – with regard to him. But Islam does not deny patriotism (and everything that follows from it) and attachment to one's birthplace. Then the reality of the world today, and the “borders” to which it was divided, require that a person’s loyalty – whatever his religion – be to his homeland first, and then to the homelands in which his nation spreads second. This should mean favoring the Muslim's pursuit of union and solidarity with his brothers in religion, as well as his brothers in nationalism and his brothers in humanity. Union with the closest strength.
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As for the term “national unity” overlapping with the term “citizenship”, it means: the extent of cohesion, fusion, cohesion and solidarity of the people of a country, especially towards the internal and external challenges facing their country.
This means: the extent of the interdependence, cooperation and solidarity of citizens among themselves, and between them and the government of their country, in a certain period, especially in times of distress, and during their country's facing great dangers and challenges. It is known that whenever the extent of this national cohesion is strong and effective, this will reflect positively on their countries, internally and externally, and in the local and international arenas, and will support the strength and development of these countries. And the opposite is often true.
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Hence, it can be said that the most important elements of "national unity" are:
The fusion of the majority of the people concerned in the one crucible of the homeland. This can be done by applying the well-known measures of national fusion, foremost of which is the fight against “racism” and the organization of sectarianism.
The cohesion and harmony of the majority of the people, in the active and the forced, and their standing as one compact line to defend their country against all the dangers that threaten it, and not to accept what harms its unity.
Charity Yahya Fadel
