Hilf al-Fudul (حلف الفضول) which means ‘Alliance of Excellence’ was instituted by the Quraish in Makkah before the advent of Islam. Ibn Hisham describes this pact, “They (Quraish) promised and pledged that they would not find any wronged person among their people, or anyone else who entered Mecca, but that they would support him. They would stand against whoever oppressed them until the rights of the oppressed were restored.”[1]

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ consented to this multilateral treaty after he received revelation and became a prophet. This means such a treaty or alliance becomes permitted (halal) based upon a sharia daleel (legal evidence) from the sunnah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

لَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ فِي دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُدْعَانَ حِلْفًا مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِيَ بِهِ حُمْرَ النَّعَمِ وَلَوْ أُدْعَى بِهِ فِي الإِسْلامِ لأَجَبْتُ

“I witnessed a pact of justice in the house of Abdullah ibn Jud’an that was more beloved to me than a herd of expensive red camels. If I were called to it now in the time of Islam, I would respond.”[2]

In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said,

تَحَالَفُوا أَنْ تُرَدَّ الْفُضُولُ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا وَأَلَّا يَعُزَّ ظَالِمٌ مَظْلُومًا

“Make such pacts to restore rights to their owners such that no oppressor has strength over the oppressed.”[3]

Such an alliance (hilf), if established would stand in stark contrast to the colonial international organisations like the UN, IMF and World Bank which subjugate the poorer global south in favour of the rich north.

Notes

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[1] al-Sīrah al-Nabawīyah 1/133

[2] Source: al-Sunan al-Kubrá 13080. Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Ibn al-Mulaqqin. Reproduced courtesy of https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2012/08/06/prophet-universal-justice/

[3] Ibid