Every week, this column is one small attempt to transmit some basic knowledge to Muslims. But this week, as I sat writing my weekly article, I found myself unable to write about any of the topics that I had on my “To-Do List”. Instead, I decided to write about what is on all of our minds but what most of us are afraid to talk about.

Brothers and sisters, the religion of Islam is being attacked and the stakes could not be higher. Our ability to practice our religion and our very existence are at stake. There are many signs of this siege:

1. The current crisis in the Middle East. At the time of publication, more than 1,000 Lebanese citizens have been killed, with more than 1/3 of the population driven from their homes. The vast majority of these people have nothing to do with the current conflict. Why is it that the killing of innocent civilians doesn’t seem to matter when it’s Muslims dying?

2. France denies Muslim women their right of wearing hijab in public buildings. Incidentally, in Turkey, a “Muslim” country, the same ban has been imposed. Are we really naïve enough to think that the same thing might not be around the corner in our own country?

3. The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both countries have been devastated by the wars, with Iraq on the verge of complete devastation. How many more people will have to die and how much more will the infrastructure of these countries have to suffer before order is restored and these people can have a normal life again?

4. The Patriot Act. This act allows individual’s homes and personal property to be searched without a search warrant and without reasonable cause for suspicion. How many homes of innocent people have been searched for no other reason except the fact that they are Muslims?
Illegal Detentions and False Accusations. How many innocent Muslims have been held in isolated prison cells without ever being charged with a crime? Where are the rights of those people whose names have been smeared across the media and called “terrorists”, and as a result have had their lives ruined, only to later be found completely innocent?

5. The “No-Fly List”. How many Muslims have been put on a “No-Fly List” where they have to go through special check-in procedures at airports that normal civilians don’t simply because they have a Muslim name or they fit some type of “profile”?

6. Anti-Muslim Sentiment. Every single day on the TV and the radio reporters are spreading hate and lies about Islam. Muslims are the first to be blamed whenever anything bad happens in the world. When it comes to light that the guilty parties are not Muslims, there is no retraction of the story or attempt to correct the damage done. The story is simply forgotten.

One of my favorite quotes from a secular source is the following: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”

How much longer will we, the Muslims, sit back and let these things continue without speaking up and standing up for our rights and for the rights of our brothers and sisters? Why are we so afraid to stand up and speak out? Is it just because these things are happening to someone who is not our brother or our sister, or our mother or our father, or our husband or our wife? Will there be anyone left to stand up for us when we are in their situation?

The fact of the matter is, if we are not each doing something every single day to help improve or change the condition of this Ummah, we are a part of the problem. So far, most of us are just sitting back letting our anger boil up inside of us. But as the psychologist Dr. Phil would say, ‘How’s that working for you?’ The truth is, it’s not working. So that leaves us with the question, what can we do?

1. Make du’aa. If we are not making du’aa every single day, after every single prayer for our Muslim brothers and sisters, we have a big problem. The Prophet sallahu ‘alayhi wa salam called du’aa the weapon of the believer.

2. Believe with complete certainty that Allah ta’ala is in control. The Prophet sallahu ‘alayhi wa salam related through Ibn ‘Abbas:
“When Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, he uttered: “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” So did Allah’s Messenger sallahu ‘alayhi wa salaam when he was told ‘A great army of the pagans had gathered against him, so fear them.’ But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: “Allah is sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of our affairs.” [Bukhari]

3. Get an education. We need education in both the Islamic and the secular sciences. Unfortunately, we usually only focus on one area or the other. But the people who will truly be able to make an impact are those that excel in both areas. The Prophet sallahu ‘alayhi wa salaam told us that seeking knowledge is fardh. The great scholars of our past were also great in other areas. Even some of the Prophets (peace be upon them) were skilled laborers. We all need to have skills to be able to support and provide for ourselves so we don’t have to depend on anyone except Allah to provide for us. ‘Umar related that the Prophet sallahu ‘alayhi wa salaam said,
“If you relied on Allah with due reliance, He would certainly give you provision as He gives it to birds who issue forth hungry in the morning and return with full belly at dusk.” [At-Tirmidhi]

4. Give as much as you can. Our Muslim brothers and sisters are dying and are living as refugees without basic food, clothing, or shelter. Others don’t have the money to afford a fair trial or legal representation. How many of us are living comfortably in homes having everything we really need and are not giving anything to help our Muslim brothers and sisters? The Prophet sallahu ‘alayhi wa salaam said:
“If any Muslim clothes a Muslim when he is naked, Allah will clothe him with some of the green garments of Paradise; if any Muslim feeds a Muslim when he is hungry, Allah will feed him with the fruits of Paradise; and if any Muslim gives a Muslim a drink when he is thirsty, Allah will give him a drink from the sealed nectar.” [Abu Dawud]

My fellow Muslims, the time to wake up is now. We, as an Ummah, have to stop being so complacent and sitting back waiting for this situation to go away. This situation will not improve until we start standing up, speaking up, and actively work to change our condition. Implementing the above four things would be a good start. May Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala help and guide us all. Ameen.

From IslamicNetwork.com