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Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, thanks for contacting us, and we earnestly implore Allah, our Lord, to guide humanity to the straight path, and to remove oppression from all the oppressed peoples in the world.
Not only Muslims who are supposed to back the fellow oppressed Iraqis as well as the humiliated peoples all over the world, but rather the whole humanity should play a positive role that is urged to step forward with the innate power to reject injustice, oppression, atrocities committed on every inch of today's world.
It is the innate conscience, the pulsating peaceful heart whose calls go unheard. Here and there, there are millions of peace-loving peoples, Muslims and non-Muslims, who stage peaceful demonstrations, make themselves 'human shields' to prevent the military action of the aggressor who is careless to the untold human suffering in Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan and many other countries.
Thus, when we (Muslims and non-Muslims) join hands together, when we say an emphatic NO to the aggressor, when we clarify to what extent our religions condemn aggression and to what extent they criminalize human rights violations, then our demands, our calls and our efforts will reap fruits one day.
Focusing more on the role of Muslims as far as the question in point is concerned, it’s to be stressed that one of the main duties of Muslims is to support their Muslim brothers and sisters in all parts of the world, to provide them with the means to regenerate their strength, and support them until Allah grants them victory over the aggressive enemy. An-Nu`man ibn Basheer (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as saying: "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves, and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
For sure, Muslims can help ease the suffering of their fellow Muslims in Iraq through the payment of their zakah, charity, yields of their endowments, etc. Allah Almighty says, (…And whatsoever you spend (for good) He replaces it. And He is the Best of Providers. ) (Saba’ 34: 39)
Muslims outside the USA and Britain should boycott the products of those who launch attacks against Islam and Muslims. This is the least that we can do so as to deter the enemy and help ease the dilemma Muslims are facing.
Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a Senior Lecturer and Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following:
Here are some of the things that we can realistically do:
1. We must join hands and voices with those peace-loving citizens who oppose the occupation.
2. We must bring out the truth and facts about the situation through whatever media or means that are available to us. The media, in general, systematically distort and project a false image in order to sell falsehood.
As Muslims, we must take the initiative to mobilize our resources in order to convey the truth objectively.
3. We must come to the help of all those who are oppressed by providing all humanitarian aid that is possible.
4. We must come forward and participate actively in politics and make sure to contact our elected representatives to stand for truth and justice.
5. Lastly, and not the least, we must sincerely pray to Allah Almighty to send down victory to the oppressed. We should read qunut an-nazilah, which is a kind of special prayer recommended in time of calamities and tragedies. Usually, qunut an-nazilah is done while standing straight after bowing. As Muslims, we must close our ranks and pray from our hearts for the brothers and sisters who are suffering most terribly; it is our duty to pray to Allah to grant them victory and relief. Qunut an-nazilah can be recited both individually and collectively. While reciting it collectively, it is best that we choose to read it during Fajr, `Isha’ and Friday Prayers.” You can also read:
Two Levels of Backing Oppressed Muslims
Ulama’s Fatwa on Boycotting Israeli and American Products
Working in the States and the Boycott Campaign
Boycotting Israeli and American Goods
How to Perform Qunut
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