Q. A group in our home country takes pledges of loyalty from people, which they call baiat. They say that the Prophet took such pledges from his companions. Could you please explain whether this is a duty of Muslims to give such pledges or not.
M. Kaleem
A. The Prophet certainly took such pledges from his companions, who pledged that they would support the cause of Islam, even thought this may involve fighting and sacrificing life and property. The most important occasions when the Prophet took such pledges were the Aqabah pledge by the Ansar to defend the Prophet against all his enemies, once he came to settle in Madinah, and the Ridwan pledge shortly before the signing of Al-Hudaybiyah peace treaty with the unbelievers. In this second case, the Prophet received information that the unbelievers killed his emissary Uthman ibn Affan. So, he called on his companions to pledge themselves to the defense of Islam, and they did and earned God’s pleasure.
Of course, such pledges are different from the one mentioned by the reader. By giving such a pledge, a person would commit himself to support a certain group in its policy and activities. If such a group is involved in a campaign of struggle, those who join it must first be certain that such a struggle aims to defend Muslims and support Islam. If it has any other objectives, then no such pledge should be given. Moreover, before one makes such a commitment, one should be able to join a reliable group on terms of probation. The aim must always be to do what earns God’s pleasure.
On the other hand, Muslims must give a pledge of loyalty to a ruler who commits himself to the implementation of Islam and serving the interests of the Muslim community.
Unless one is absolutely certain of the aims and the methods of operation of the group he is joining, or the ruler he is supporting, he must not give such a pledge.
A son’s name
Q. I called my recently born son Al-Walid, but some people insist that the name should be Walid, without the first part. Could you please confirm whether I should change my son’s name.
A. Pasha
A. Both forms are correct. The first part "Al-" denotes the definite article, i.e. "the" which may be attached to some Arabic names, particularly those which have definite meanings. Indeed both versions are used even today by Arabs. You know the name of the Prophet’s companion, Khalid ibn Al-Walid. So, you do not need to change the name in any way. By the way, Walid means "newly born."
