By: Irbaz Jadoon
Islam teaches that when we witness injustice, we must act. If we have the strength to stop it with our hands, we must. If not, we must speak out. And if even that is beyond our reach, we must at least condemn it in our hearts. According to a well-known Hadith, this is the weakest level of faith. As Muslims, this is not optional—it is a moral obligation. Yet today, both individually and collectively, the Ummah remains silent in the face of oppression and tyranny.
The Qur’an commands:
“O you who believe! Stand firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, or your relatives.”
— Surah An-Nisa, 4:135
How far we have strayed from this command. Oppressors will continue their tyranny—it is in their nature. But silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality; it is complicity. It invites the oppressor to target us next. Whether small or large, injustice remains injustice. Today, Muslims are being persecuted across the globe, and these atrocities are not limited to our community—they are crimes against humanity. Reports of mass killings surface daily. Yet we remain spectators. This silence has grown so deep that even silence itself seems to cry out.
Islam does not teach passivity—it teaches moral courage. History offers a luminous example in the justice of Caliph Umar (RA), where not only elders but even youth were encouraged to speak. On one occasion, a young man spoke in the presence of elders. Umar (RA) advised him to let the elders speak first. The youth replied, “There are people older than you—why are you the Caliph?” Umar (RA) smiled and allowed him to continue. If a youth could speak freely before a Caliph, why are Muslims today unable to speak before the world?
The silence of the Muslim Ummah does more than enable injustice—it emboldens the oppressors. It signals that we are no longer the Muslims who once stood firm against tyranny. Instead, many have come to equate silence with safety. We neither act nor speak, content with the thought that we ourselves are not being oppressed. But the brutality inflicted upon Muslims worldwide—especially in Palestine—is visible to all. Our silence dishonors our claim to be followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. If Palestine is the target today, another region may be next. The question remains: is any Muslim country truly safe?
Muslims of the past did not fight only for themselves—they fought wherever justice was denied. This was an Ummah that set global standards for courage, integrity, and moral leadership. History bears witness to leaders like Salahuddin Ayyubi (RA), generals like Khalid bin Walid (RA), and caliphs like Ali (RA), who not only triumphed in battle but also exemplified true jihad and justice. Yet today, many Muslims struggle to raise their voices even for their own dignity.
In 1099, Crusader forces captured Jerusalem and committed atrocities not only against Muslims but even against their own religious kin. For nearly 90 years, Jerusalem remained under Crusader control. In 1187, Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi (RA) decisively defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin and reclaimed Jerusalem without bloodshed. His treatment of the defeated—with fairness and forgiveness—was praised by both Muslim and non-Muslim historians.
Today, we turn away from injustice, while men like Khalid bin Walid (RA) once charged into battle alone. Known as the “Sword of Allah,” he never lost a war. History records that he entered the Roman emperor’s court alone and declared, “If you do not abandon oppression and establish justice, your fate will be humiliation.” His faith and courage were so overwhelming that no one dared meet his gaze. This stands in stark contrast to our silence today, reminding us that constant silence breeds cowardice. With firm faith and courage, even one person can stand against the world.
Both history and the Qur’an teach us that Muslims have never remained silent in the face of injustice. Tariq bin Ziyad burned his ships to eliminate the thought of retreat. Muhammad bin Qasim, in his youth, led a campaign against tyranny and established justice—proving that faith and resolve are not tied to age or circumstance but to the strength of conviction. Today, we need that same spirit—not silence, but action. We must raise our voices, take steps, and prove that we are the Ummah that never bows before oppression.
Remaining silent defies not only our history but the command of Allah Himself:
“O you who believe! Be steadfast in your devotion to Allah and bear witness to justice. Do not let hatred of people lead you to injustice. Be just: that is nearer to righteousness.”
— Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:8
The Qur’an commands justice. Today, it is our turn to act.
Leave a Reply