SUMMARY: Muslims involved in activism to support the people of Gaza against a genocide and humanitarian catastrophe can take reassurance in the words of Allah, which remind us that trials are temporary and will be held accountable, and ground us in the guidance we need for an effective and sincere response.
This week the Muslim Home Newsletter focuses on Activism, a timely topic that addresses a critical need due to the state of current world affairs. The United Nations Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) finally confirmed what the world has witnessed for months - that famine has taken hold in Gaza. This genocidal crisis in Gaza has caused mental anguish and fatigue for many Muslim families in America due to frustration with the U.S. administration and world response. American Muslims struggle for a response to this crisis and question whether their efforts are substantial. The key is to remember that Allah tests the believers and as American Muslims respond to this injustice with calls, letters, rallies and other activism, that ultimately, we should enter salat in humility – khushu, strengthening our reliance on Allah and His Decree with patience.
The Holy Quran prepares the believers with knowledge that they may experience severe hardship, but the key to enduring these trials lies in our patience.
"We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure..." (2:155)
When American Muslims feel overwhelmed by what they are forced to witness, the patience must be coupled with reliance on Allah and understanding and submitting to His Qadar.
"And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He is sufficient for them. Certainly, Allah is to accomplish His Purpose. Allah has already set a destiny for everything." (Quran, 65:3)
The Holy Quran is a book that we can certainly trust is a guide and message for all mankind (Quran, 2:2). As we read and study the words and decree of Allah, we find that there is punishment for evildoers. This can be a comfort that the atrocities being witnessed are not something that will go on forever or with no consequence.
"Those who persecute the believing men and women and then do not repent will certainly suffer the punishment of Hell and the torment of the Burning Fire." (Quran, 85:10)
Since the believer is reassured by Allah, Muslim families need not feel that their activism efforts are insignificant.
Besides reviewing some of the activities in this issue of Muslim Home Newsletter Muslim families can consider the following
- Subscribe to the Justice for All newsletter for updates and action items: https://www.justiceforall.org/
- Stay up to date by watching Muslim Network TV nightly news: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LjaLk1FQaIIzZMaRF9ujw
- Align your response to what you and the family can physically and mentally do. Refer to the hadith in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Saeed al-Khudri: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, say, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.”
- Fast on Mondays and Thursdays
- Call your congressperson
- Discuss the situation with children in the family so their anxiety doesn’t overtake them
- Help teenagers to not be motivated towards extremism or retaliation
- Check in on Palestinian families in your area who may have relatives enduring this atrocity or who may have even succumbed
- Demand that the administration of your local masjid/Islamic center keeps this topic in the du’a of the community
- Join in alliance with others who may already have a clear activism in place
- Check in on senior members of the family who may be triggered to remember similar atrocities in their lifetime
- Seek professional mental health care for any family member experiencing nightmares, listlessness or severe depression
- Make extra salah whenever feeling hopeless, frustrated or angry
- Cry in your salah purifying your heart and releasing negative thoughts and doubt as you sincerely call on Allah
Author bio: Mahasin D. Shamsid-Deen is the news curator and content manager for Muslim Network TV (MNTV) and contributing writer for Sound Vision. She holds a Master’s degree in English Writing and has worked as both a High School and College ESL Instructor and Writing Instructor for more than a decade. Mahasin has numerous published articles, books, essays and is a published playwright with three award winning stage plays. She is currently writing her dissertation for her doctoral degree.
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