How Can an Ordinary Muslim Help their Ummah?

16 March, 2020
Q Assalamualaikum. Today we see that Muslims around the world are suffering yet the Islamic leaders do nothing and stand still. What can an ordinary Muslim student do for his Ummah in this time of distress? I request you to quote some hadeeth regarding such a situation and what a Muslim must do if such a situation occurs. Jazak Allah

Answer

Short Answer:

  • What can you do for the millions of Muslims suffering around the globe? The first thing you should do is raise awareness.
  • Don’t forget the most important tool of the believer- Dua. Make Dua for the distressed Muslims all over the world. Your Dua reaches them. 
  • Through whatever means possible educate people about what is going on around the globe. Use Social media, and all other methods to get your point across. As this message gains light in the media it will also get the due attention of politicians. 

………….

Allah has promised the true believers’ ultimate success. In this world and in the hereafter. If you had a ginormous, confusing puzzle. Thousands of tiny pieces scattered throughout the area. Then you are told that you are responsible for putting this puzzle together. What would you do?

Firstly, you would look for a guide book, then you would study what the complete picture should look like. Then you try and solve it. Afterwards, your patience will run out.  However hard you try you can’t solve it. Whenever you try to look for a clue and think you have got it -you are brought back right to the beginning. After many failed attempts you realize, wait a minute, this is not a one-man show.  

It’s Allah’s Way

Allah has a Sunnah of doing things. That is His way! Moreover, He knows best as to why it is that way. If you look into the history of Islam, you will realize that it started off as something precarious.

However, over the years, Islam found footing and roots in the heart of faithful believers. That is when the message grew. That was when Muslims conquered almost half of the world and were living in the golden ages. 

Were only the Muslims at that specific time built to lead? No. It’s the same message. But the couriers have become weak. Islam needs faithful and determined believers. It all comes from the heart. The stronger the relationship with Allah the more a Muslim can achieve. And it is to those faithful servants that Allah has promised victory.

Allah says in the Quran,

“They are those who, if established in the land by Us, would perform the prayer, pay alms-tax, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil. And with Allah rests the outcome of all affairs.” [Quran 22:41].

How it affects us

Watching millions of people die everyday, we are becoming desensitized. If you hear about some hundred people who died overseas, you wouldn’t even turn twice to look at that segment.

But the minute there is a story, about a shootout that took place a block down, you perk up your ears. You would hush the kids, turn up the volume and replay that piece. It’s sad but true, we have become selfish. 

Numerous times we are reminded of the hadith, love for your brother what you love for yourself. Have we tried to implement it in our lives? Why doesn’t a calamity affect us as much until it happens to our loved ones? Is this the state of our Iman? Then that means we have a serious dilemma. Our Iman is lacking!

“To go about with a brother of mine, trying to help him, is dearer to me than spending a month in seclusion (i’tikaaf) in this mosque of mine. The one who goes about with his Muslim brother, trying to help him, until he meets his needs, Allah will make his feet steadfast on the Day when feet will slip.”

In the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

Narrated by at-Tabaraani (13646)


Levels Of Iman

What can you do for the millions of Muslims suffering around the globe? The first thing you should do is raise awareness. Many people, even Muslims are too busy in the hustle of day to day life. They don’t have the luxury to think about what to do, because they are engrossed in personal issues.  

Faith has many levels. The best and highest of it is to stop oppression using one’s own hand. On the authority of Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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.” [Muslim]

Through whatever means possible, educate people about what is going on around the globe. Use Social media, and all other methods to get your point across. As this message gains light in the media it will also get the due attention of politicians.

Someone has to do it. Also the more the merrier. One person can do so much but a community can go far. As I mentioned before, it’s not a one-man show!

Don’t forget the most important tool of the believer- Dua. Make Dua for the distressed Muslims all over the world. Your Dua reaches them. 

With all the elbow grease you and people around, are working hard, to put the puzzle pieces back together. Soon you will see the clear and beautiful picture. The picture of peace and tranquility on Earth.

And Allah knows best. 

I hope this helps.

Salam and please keep in touch.

Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:

Why Are There Fortunate and Unfortunate People?

Is Islam the Solution for Contemporary Problems?

https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-about-islam/feed-hungry-people/