Saturday, January 03, 2009

Ayna Jundul Muslimeen Pt 2

As I write this post Israeli ground troops have entered in to Gaza...

The recent news coming out of Gaza has weighed heavily on my mind and I can not help but ache for the pain and suffering my brothers and sisters are feeling.

I'm not writing this to discuss how illegitimate the Israeli occupation is, and I'm not writing this to talk about the fact that they are attempting to ethnically cleanse the region of non-Jews as these things are factual and are not up for discussion.

What I want to talk about is: What can we do?

Recently there have been many marches and rallies in support of the Palestinians with many concerned citizens and people who have had enough of the bias and unconditional support our country has had for Israel's actions making their voices heard. People who are standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people and sending a message that we do care about them and that we do feel their pain and that we do want to do what we can to end this genocide.

But something that has concerned me is that many of my Muslim brothers and sisters who want to help the Palestinian people and are trying their best to make a difference are themselves openly transgressing the laws and regulations of Allah swt.

I'm not saying this because I feel that I am on some high horse, wallahi I know how deficient I am and how far away I am from where I should be with regards to my Lord. But with the advent of sites like myspace and facebook I see major sins broadcast day in and day out through news feeds, pictures, wall posts, etc.

I remember reading the story of a famous Mujahid of our time who went to fight in the '67 war with Israel and during the night time he would notice that the 'mujahideen' were not spending their nights praying to Allah and making dua as was the example set forth by the true mujahideen of the past, and when he called them out for it they told him "this is not an Islamic war, this is an Arab war". At that point he said that he knew this was not where he wanted to be and he left them and ultimately the Israelis won.

So as a reminder to myself first and to anyone who may be reading this, lets rectify our selves and re establish our relationship with Allah swt. How can we possibly think that anything will change in the long term when Allah swt has promised us in His Book that He will not change a condition of a people until we change what is within our selves?

How can we have pictures posted of us drunk and passed out from New Years partying and at the same time wonder why our brothers are going through these difficulties?

How can we openly commit illicit acts with the opposite gender, be proud of it to the point where we have our haram relationship status for everyone to see along with pictures showing us engaging in acts that would require serious repentance to Allah swt while at the same time wonder why our mothers and sisters in Ghazza are being buried alive?

We need to take a long look at ourselves and ask the question: Am I contributing to this genocide by my lack of a relationship with my Lord?

Before we march on Washington demanding the administration change their policies, we need to raise our hands in dua and implore our Lord to change the situation of our brothers. And before we raise our hands in dua to Allah swt, the All Able and All Powerful, to change this situation, we need to ask ourselves if we are even in a state of being that our prayers will be answered.

As Muhammad PBUH told us in the famous hadith which Imam Nawawi collected in his 40 regarding dua:

"Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has
commanded the faithful to do that which he commanded the messengers, and the
Almighty has said: "O ye messengers ! Eat of the good things and do right". And
Allah the Almighty has said : "O ye who believe! Eat of the good things
wherewith We have provided you"Then he mentioned [the case of] a man who, having
journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky
[saying] : "O Lord! O Lord!" - while his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful,
his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered
!"

Do we fall in to this category as well? Do we openly commit sins which become part of us to the point that when we raise our hands our prayers aren't even accepted?

I pray that Allah swt strengthen the defenders of Ghazza, increase them in Iman, pour upon them patience, make their feet firm, straighten their backs, and grant them victory...ameen

And I pray that Allah swt destroy the oppressive regime attacking my brothers and sisters, make the ground under their feet shake, cloud their judgement, make their arms futile and inaccurate, and fill their hearts with terror...ameen