Khutba Points: To Enhance Amale Saleh to Roll Back famine and genocide in Gaza

[Dear Imams and Khateebs. Assalamu Alaikum wa rehmatullah. The community is so frustrated that our duas and efforts to roll back famine and genocide in Gaza are remarkably gone down. Recent rallies have attracted far less Muslims than neighbors of other faiths. Not many Muslims are calling their elected leaders whereas timing seems just right for a major push. Insha Allah, your Friday khutbas can help inspire the ummah into action. The following points can help you organize your thoughts for the khutba. JazakAllahu Khaira.]

After Hamdo sana:

Choose any of the following selection from the Quran as a guide for khutba:
 

Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent 

[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving (Quran 67:1-2)

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. (Quran 2:155)

And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allah ] and the patient, and We will test your affairs. (Quran 47:31)

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (Quran 29:2)

We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may establish justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. (Quran 57:25)

And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror]. (Quran 14:42)

Make the following points

1. Gaza is not just a test for our brothers and sisters starving to death, Gaza is a test for us too. It is God’s way of seeing what we will do in the face of this horror unfolding before our very eyes. 
2. Some have given in to growing despair, leading to apathy. They feel that despite all the protests, boycotts, calls, meetings and more, nothing is left to be done. When these feeling hits, we are in a spiritual danger zone. 
3. We are at the precipice of Tawakkul (trust in God) and despair. And it is exactly at this point that the test makes or breaks all of us - those in Gaza and those outside of it. 
4. The time to act is now. And here is how we can proceed at this dark - but temporary - moment for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, and for our Ummah. 
5. Allah sent all prophets to establish justice. After the last prophet is gone it is our duty adopt this prophetic mission to strive for justice at home and abroad
6. Tests are given to us to strengthen our Iman. The Prophet SAW said, the people who face the most difficult tests are the Prophets, then the righteous, then those following them in degrees. A person is tried according to his or her faith, so if there is firmness in a person’s faith, then the trial is increased. And if there is a weakness then it is lightened. Verily a trial remains with a faithful person until he or she walks on the face of the earth having no sin left upon them. Al Bukhari.
7. Sabr is a critical quality of a believer. Sabr does not mean giving up in frustration but being persistent and enduring whatever it takes. It also means not giving up efforts because they are not listening. Syedna Easa was given a tough test from the Jews of his time, who rejected him as a Prophet and Messenger of God.

Second part: Khutbah

FACTS

• Our brothers and sisters in Gaza are facing famine and genocide
• Israel is blocking 6,000 UN trucks loaded with food supplies. The UN says that within two miles of Gaza, they have an abundance of food in their warehouses that can feed 2 million Palestinians for three months. 
• The issue is not a lack of food. It is that Israel is stopping that food from reaching the children, women, and men of Gaza. 

A call to action

• I invite all of you to fast coming Monday in solidarity with our brothers and sisters but also to devote ourselves in duas
• Call your elected leaders. I know we hate to call these people, but please do it. This is good timing since 28 Western countries have issued a very strong statement condemning Israel, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as well as calling for the full resumption of aid distribution.
  • Does Your Phone Call Matter?
  • Yes. It does. It was your calls that forced 90-plus congresspeople to call for a ceasefire. Initially there were only three congresspeople who did that. It was your calls that encouraged America to airdrop meals on Gaza. 
  • But just phone calls will not do. There must be Dua before and after asking God to open the hearts of the decision-makers to make courageous decisions despite the threats of the Israeli lobby. And a phone call does not even take five minutes to make. Is it too much to ask?
• Do you feel Duas (supplications) are being wasted? This is not true. there are three ways our Duas are accepted. 
  • The first way is that we get what we ask for. 
  • The second is that we are rewarded in the Akhirah (afterlife). 
  • The third way is that the Dua is used to avert a calamity about to hit the supplicant. (Hadith Musnad Ahmad, 11133).
• “Do not ever think that God is unaware of what any tyrant is doing” (Quran 14:42).  
  • Having Sabr (patience and endurance). Prophet Nuh worked 950 years while hardly anyone was responding to him
  • Build Tawakkul (trust in God). Tying the camel

Supplication

O Allah, feed their hungry, quench the thirst of their thirsty, clothe their naked, shelter their displaced.
O Allah, protect the children of Gaza. Heal their wounded, have mercy on their martyrs.
O Allah, show us Your might against the oppressors, and do not make us among the heedless.

Ameen, O Lord of the worlds.