[Q 507] Authenticity of حب الوطن من الإيمان

QUESTION:

Does anyone know the correct reference for this Hadith: “The one who does not love his homeland has no faith”?

ANSWER:

Among the general public, “حب الوطن من الإيمان” (Hubbul-Watan min al-Iman — love for one’s homeland is part of faith) is widely known as a Hadith. However, it should be remembered that love and attachment to one’s homeland and place of residence is a natural human requirement, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم also loved Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah.

But considering love for one’s homeland as a sign of Iman (faith) is not established from any authentic narration, nor is any such Hadith proven from the Prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام. Therefore, to state this sentence absolutely is incorrect, and to present it further as a Hadith is not correct.

However, in one sense, declaring love for the homeland as a sign of Iman is correct, and that is when watan (homeland) is taken to mean Jannah (Paradise) or Madinah Munawwarah. Accordingly, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi رحمۃ اللہ تعالی علیہ states:
“The Sufis who say ‘حب الوطن من الإيمان’, meaning love for the homeland is a pillar of faith — here watan refers to Jannah, meaning the real homeland, or Madinah Munawwarah, because it is the spiritual homeland of the believer.”

(Mir’aat-ul-Manajih, Vol. 2, p. 438, published by Naeemi Kutub Khanah, Gujarat)

In Fatawa Razawiyyah, in response to a similar question, Sayyidi A‘la Hazrat Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan عليه الرحمہ states:
“‘حب الوطن من الإيمان’ (love for the homeland is part of faith) is neither proven from Hadith, nor do these meanings apply at all. Imam Badruddin Zarkashi in his Juz, Imam Shamsuddin Sakhawi in Maqasid-ul-Hasanah, and Imam Khatim-ul-Huffaz Jalaluddin Suyuti in ad-Durr-ul-Muntathirah have unanimously stated regarding this narration: ‘لم أقف عليه’ (I have not been able to find it).”
Allah عزوجل has, in the Glorious Qur’an, greatly praised those servants who left their homeland purely out of love for Allah and His Messenger جل وعلا وصلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم, turned away from their homes and surroundings, and He has severely condemned those who remained attached to love of their homeland and did not migrate towards Allah and His Messenger. The homeland whose love is part of faith is the original homeland from where a person came and to where he must ultimately return.

Summarized from Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 15, pp. 296–297, Lahore)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Askmufti scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 26th December 2025