When You See Suffering, What Do You Do?

This is contributing to the downfall of the Muslim Ummah and there are a number of ways that Muslims are responding:

• Some Muslims withdraw and stay on the fringes of society. This results in feelings of alienation and makes the others suspicious about them; not understanding how they think.
• Some Muslims give up practicing Islam and there is little difference between them and the non-Muslims. Therefore it's not possible for them to share Islam and stop the misinformation because people need to see actions, not just hear words.
• Some Muslims react emotionally to the machinations of those who take Islam as an enemy and get into arguments and fights with ignorant or evil people. This kind of behavior rarely has positive results and usually feeds the fire of contempt, giving non-Muslims the chance to call Muslims aggressive and irrational.
• Some Muslims try to be a good example and give advice wherever possible and this is a good way but they fail to coordinate their efforts and consult with each other; building up the community, so there is little fruit.
• Some Muslims face the storm head-on but in an organized way. They try to bring other people together and build their efforts on consultation. They take a spiritual/intellectual approach to life and spreading Islam and are not afraid to reach out and talk about issues – asking Allah to guide them to the right answers. Their approach is based on gaining knowledge and following the Qur'an and Sunnah every step of the way. This is the way of success.

In this dilemma, Muslims are sometimes confused about whether or not to help non-Muslims in humanitarian projects. Perhaps this confusion lies in them feeling like the victim in the worldwide community and perhaps they feel that if they help the others, they will be helping their enemies. However, this is not always true. As mentioned earlier, misinformation about Islam is rife and so we must conclude that many people simply don't understand the beauty and grace of its message. So the answer……we have to stop thinking like victims and reacting emotionally and defensively – and reach out to others. The message of Islam is for all the worlds:

[And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the `Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).] (Al-Anbiya 21:107)

And that means spreading goodness and piety, peace and wisdom, good advice and knowledge. It means helping each other, being responsible about the environment, helping the poor and needy, and forgiving those who harm us personally.

Such behavior requires great self-discipline and control that can only come by enjoying the fruit of faith and closeness to Allah the Almighty; trusting in His guidance and continually seeking His help. It's not easy to see one's people being subjects of oppression and aggression, to see homeless people, and hungry children. It's not easy to have to watch injustice and feel helpless to come to the aid of the victims.

When things happen on the other side of the world or in any inaccessible place, we feel frustrated but if we don't act positively, that feeling of frustration can turn into something much worse. Apathy! And that's largely where we are now. Quite often we get so used to feeling helpless that we simply switch off and fail to react appropriately.

So if there is nothing you can do today for the prisoners in Guantamano look around your own community seeking those who are confined (perhaps the elderly or the sick in hospital) and do something to help them. If there is nothing you can do to help the starving kids in Africa and the tsunami victims, (apart from giving donations!) you can help the kids in your own neighborhood. Look for orphanages, youth programs, organizations for the homeless and so on. Find parallels in all fields of life – there is no shortage of distress, pain, and need. Form the intention to help those near at hand and those far away in any way you can, remembering that if you alleviate the burden of a person in this life (with the intention to please Allah) He will alleviate some of your burdens on the Day of Judgment, when the results of our lives will catch up with us.

Selma A. Cook is an Aussie Muslim writer who lives and works in Egypt.  She has written a number of books including: Buried Treasure (An Islamic novel for teenagers), The Light of Submission (Islamic Poetry). She has also edited and revised many Islamic books. She can be contacted at: youth_campaign@iolteam.com.