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Name
muqtadis
- Pakistan
Profession
marine officer
Question
Dear guest, assalam o alakum.
I'm 53 year-old Muslim. I have seen Arab's defeat in 1967 war, disintegration of Pakistan, occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and Chechnya ethnic cleansing of Bosnians, and now massacres of Lebanese people. What next or any hope?.
Wasalam o alakum
Answer
Assalam alaikum, and thank you for your question. This is a very good question to start our live dialogue with because it touches upon what lies at the heart of the issue.
As Muslims we are best with all kinds of problems in the world. What is happening in Lebanon and Palestine at the present time is heart-breaking. The images of innocent women and children that we see on our television screens would touch anyone with a heart. If we did not have faith, such images would lead us to despair. Without faith we would see no solution to these problems. Without faith we would only see a bleak future for Muslims in the Middle East.
However, we are Muslims. We know with total certainty; sure faith (yaqeen) that Allah is in control of this world and of all the people and events in it. His plan is not always clear to us and often we don't understand why things are happening. As Muslims though we have sure faith (yaqeen) that the victory belongs to Allah and those who follow Him.
Leaders and governments may let us down, but Allah is Sure to His Promise and always Just. Wicked people will be judged for their wickedness and will be punished for it. Good people, who patiently suffer the injustice of others, whilst doing everything they can to resist oppression and injustice according to Allah's boundaries, will inherit a beautiful reward.
At present time Muslims are suffering due to hypocrite Muslim governments such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE,… etc including their paid scholars. At the end, if Allah wills, Muslims will be victorious. What is your comment and required duty of other believing Muslims (not hypocrites) all around the world.
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. You are right. As we said in the last answer, Muslims who are faithful to Allah's commands will inherit Paradise and will be victorious over evil. Those who suffer at this time will be rewarded greatly for the trials which they have had to endure.
You are right too that not everything in the Arab and Muslim world is perfect, but Allah is Perfect and the religion He has given to the world is perfect. As Muslims we are called upon to put aside the responses that the world would want us to take and instead respond in a way that Almighty Allah wants.
It is difficult for a Muslim living in Australia, for example, to physically do anything to prevent the atrocities and the wickedness which we see taking place daily in the Middle East. Every Muslim, though, wherever he or she is, can influence the world in which we live by living as good Muslims. In a world of nearly 2 billion Muslims, what a difference we would make if we were to live and speak as Islam asks us to! We can't as individuals change the course of world events, but we most certainly can influence all of those around us - in our schools, in our streets, in our cities and so on.
Name
Hanan
- Australia
Profession
Question
Assalaamu Alaikum brother,
When I see the violence on TV. in Lebanon my heart breaks and I feel so helpless. What can I do from so far away? How can I help my brothers and sisters who are suffering? I think we all suffer when we see suffering, and we suffer more if we can't help and we suffer the most when we cause others to suffer. I hope that makes sense.
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. You are right that what we see on our television screens is heart-breaking. It is a temptation to feel helpless in the face of over-powering forces that always seem to have the upper hand.
There are ways though in which we can respond. One way in which the powers of this world can be made to sit up and listen is when things touch their pockets and their economies. It doesn't necessarily take government action for this to happen. Individuals can choose what they buy and what they spend their money on. Individuals can choose very carefully products and brands which are acceptable and they can choose to ignore products and brands of companies who support, directly or indirectly, aggression against Muslims.
During the first Gulf war in the 1990s people on the Arab streets chose to boycott a particular brand of burgers, made by one of the most famous fast food chains. The resulting loss of millions of dollars in revenue, made this particular company announce that they would donate a certain percentage of the cost of each burger to victims in Palestine.
Why can't we do the same now? Young people have a very powerful effect on the economy. They buy jeans, trainers, soft drinks, burgers, and many many other things which the West urges them to buy. By choosing carefully, we can make these countries listen to what we are saying. Long ago, for example, I stopped drinking a certain brand of fizzy brown soft drink. This was my way of protesting. What a fantastic difference it would make if millions of young Muslims were to do the same.
For other ways of making a positive difference check out this link with Youth 4 the Future - Islamonline.net
Since the beginning of the recent offensive by the Jewish force we have no clear solidarity by the powerful Muslim nations why? It is crystal clear that USA is the chief supporter of the Israel by arming them with smart bombs and arsenal. Why is the Muslims nation still in bed-relation with the chief supporter of our cruel enemy?. Please I want to know if there is any nation that can confront Israel for not honoring dozen UN resolution about prisoner, land… etc. If not then lets have our UN like body.
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. We don't live in a fair world, do we? It seems that every time Muslims come under attack, their attackers come out as the victims! Much of the media, as we know, is backed by forces hostile to Islam. There are obvious double standards at work.
Nations come and go, kingdoms rise and fall, and some countries experience importance on the world's stage for a limited time. In Allah's plan of eternity, their power disappears like the blinking of an eye. We should never forget that all authority and all power comes from Allah and just as He gave power to some, He can take it away just as easily. Similarly, those who are suffering injustice now, will have their rights restored by living according to Allah's commands, trying their best in this present age to resist evil, and praying for the ultimate victory, which Allah guarantees.
Name
jenna
-
Profession
Question
Salams, since this war in Lebanon started I have the feeling that it's going to lead to a third world war and that everything we know now will either change or be gone. How can I feel better about this?
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. Sometimes it seems that events around us are more than we can cope with and it seems as though they are going to crush us. Whether we are in the heat of the action or are made to watch it as bystanders, we nonetheless feel the pain. Worrying about all the possible scenarios and solutions can make us despair, unless we cling to our Islamic faith. Godless people have nowhere to turn. For them, power and strength come from weapons and armies. For Muslims, there is neither strength nor power save in Allah.
It is pitiful that many Muslim nations can only offer words in support of the Lebanese and Palestinian people - when they can even manage to achieve that. Muslim and Arab nations often look weak in front of the powers of the West when they do nothing practical to help their Arab and Muslim brothers and sisters.
Subhana Allah, ordinary Muslims in the street see the injustice and beg Allah in their prayers that He will act. As Muslims we never despair. We know with a sure faith (yaqeen)that this injustice cannot prevail and that evil will ultimately destroy itself.
Name
Paul
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Hello, I can't help but think that the Muslims are to blame for all this commotion. It's going to destabilize the world and I feel quite a bit of resentment. What do you suggest?
Answer
Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatutu, thank you for visiting Islamonline.net and thank you for your question. Before I became Muslim I used to live in London and I watched events from the Middle East at a distance on my television screen. The way these events were presented made me feel that somehow Muslims were bringing all this upon themselves. Television and newspapers presented to me an image of Muslims and of Arabs both violent and aggressive.
I watched a documentary from Qatar recently, showing ordinary Palestinian women and children rummaging through the rubble of their destroyed houses. They were asking the camera man why the West sees them as terrorists. "We were just going about our daily business," they said, "when a rocket came from the sky on our house."
No longer living in London, I now look upon events in the Middle East from a different perspective and I know that most Muslims are neither violent nor aggressive and, indeed, that Islam is a religion of peace. Many Muslims just wish that the foreign powers who so obviously interfere in their affairs would go away and leave them alone. There are problems here, yes, but they are our problems and Muslims and Arabs can sort them out themselves. Former colonial powers are not needed here and we only wish that they could concentrate on their own problems and not ours.
Name
Soha
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Salam alaikum, when I see all these dead little children I feel I want to rush around and do something but I feel helpless in not being able to help. What can I do?
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. Take a look at the link we gave earlier on, which suggests many many things which Muslims can do to help their brothers and sisters at this time.
Never forget that as Muslims we pray five times a day and that Almighty Allah listens to our Prayers. We can as Muslims, when our foreheads are touching the ground in prayer, beg Almighty Allah to help us. He will help us, insha Allah, in the way in which He knows is right.
Assalam aliakum, I really feel like the world is closing in and things are getting out of control. Some of my friends are taking on the attitude that it doesn't matter anymore - just do whatever you like because the world is stuffed up. What do you think about that attitude?
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. Many people in the world are wandering around in a fog of bewilderment, not knowing what to make of events. Many of them don't know why we exist, nor what the purpose of our life on this earth is. To such people, the only course of action to just to whatever they want in this present time because there are no consequences.
As Muslims, we should never lose our nerve in the face of such ideas and such people. We know with a sure faith (yaqeen) that Allah created the world and that we will all return to Him. He has given us ways of behaving and ways of understanding which are at odds with people who have no religion.
It does matter how we behave and what we do. It matters because Almighty Allah has told us how to behave. He asks us to be an example not only in supporting our Muslim brothers and sisters, but also an example to those who are not Muslim of the sweet and gentle message of Islam. Never despair. Take our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as a role model, not godless people who would seek to destroy faith. Don't allow yourself to be dragged down by people who are blind and lost. Subhana Allah, Islam provides everything we need to live in this world and to appreciate it and to cope with its calamities.
Name
sameer
-
Profession
Question
Salams, since all this violence and injustice erupted in the Middle East I feel so filled with anger. I'm beginning to understand why some Muslims take extreme measures to fight back and stop the atrocities. I know that is not an excuse, we should be patient and wise, but things are boiling and so am I.
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. When I taught in the schools in London I would often see fights break out in the playground. Someone would say or do something and someone else would react with a fist or a kick. Whilst not condoning such behavior, it's easy to see why it happens.
In the same way, whilst not condoning violence in the Middle East, we can see why it happens. When people are confronted by naked aggression they respond violently and angrily. In some circumstances we have to defend our wives and children, our property, our land. We can never be the aggressor, since Islam is a religion of peace, but there are times when we have to stand up against aggression.
In the face of injustice and aggression we can all understand why some people are driven into corners where it seems the only way out is through violence. Let us never forget, though, that this way of looking at things leaves out one very important factor; Allah. Allah is in control and Allah will punish the evil-doers and reward those who do good. We are all 'boiling' with righteous indignation, but we are Muslim and we never despair. The victory belongs to Allah.
Name
SHAREEF
- Singapore
Profession
Travel Industry
Question
Dear Br. Idris. Assalamu alaikum,
Why the Arab leaders behaving like slaves in front of USA? Are they that much worthless? based on the rising oil price. They have enough wealth at their disposal to do lobbying and buying political support from the white house...for solving the Lebanese and Palestinian problems. Then why they are behaving like buffoons??
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question and observation. It is a sad fact of life that money talks. Sometimes, governments are more keen to maintain loans and handouts than to stand up for what is right. People do this too, don't they, on an individual level? When offered a bribe or a financial inducement to do something wrong, not everyone is strong enough to resist. It is easy to judge. It is easy to see the mistakes which others are making. Sometimes it is more helpful, though, to ask what we are doing to put things right and what we are doing to give good examples in word and deed.
I still firmly believe that boycotting the products of the aggressors is a very powerful tool in the hands of ordinary Muslims. It would work overnight if we were to use it.
Name
Mostafa
-
Profession
Teacher
Question
As-salamu alikom
Although there are many losses but I feel that this war has many benefits for the Muslim Ummah like unity, hope for victory. Do you agree with me? And why? Please explain.
Jazak Allah khairan
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thank you for your question. At the top of this page there is a banner which reads 'Hope Springs Eternal'. As Muslims we are ever hopeful and are always able to see the goodness in Allah's creation.
You are right that the concern we feel for our Muslim brothers and sisters is both real and immediate. However, crying out of concern is not enough. We need to act, either by prayer, by words, or by deeds. You are right that Almighty Allah can make good come out of all things. The trials which the people of Lebanon and Palestine are facing at the present time will, insha'Allah, bring forth good. Allah alone knows how.
Name
Sami
- India
Profession
Engineer
Question
It is very clear from The Holy Qur`an and Hadiths (the guide for muslims for all times) that unless we are one ummah under one leadership (Khalifah), there will be corruption and mischief in the world. The outcome of this corruption and mischief is the result we are seeing now in Lebanon, Palestine, and have already seen in many places recently in last 25 years. What we have now is corrupt and hypocrites leaders and their regims such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,... etc with many faces. What common Muslims should do to contribute towards the goal of bringing one Khilafah while helping in the just cause of Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and elsewhere.
Answer
Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Thank you for your question. I heard a very good Juma'ah sermon two weeks ago. The speaker was reminding us all of times in Islamic history when we have been weak as an Ummah. He pointed out very clearly that when Muslims are not united and more especially when they do not practice their faith steadfastly they become prey to other forces. The history of Islam shows that Muslims suffer when their eyes are not firmly fixed on Almighty Allah. What we see in the Middle East at the present time is perhaps this sort of situation.
The mighty powers of the West and their friends in other parts of the world, would not behave as they do toward Muslims if Muslims were strong and united. How these powers would sit up and listen if Muslims could show them how strong Islam really is. Strength does not come from bombs and bullets, nor armies or rockets, but true strength comes from within and it comes from Allah. Each one of us could make a real difference by being faithful to prayer, to recitation of the Holy Quran, to fasting, and to helping our brothers and sisters in their needs.
Spending too much time concentrating on the shortcomings of other Muslims is a trap we can fall into which can divert us from the important task of living with all our hearts as good Musilms ourselves.
