State of the Ummah

Bismillah wa-Saalat wa-Salaam 'ala Rasulillah,

As-salaamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu:

The toppling causalities and devastation our dear Muslims in Gaza have been met with during the brutal air strike by the illegitimate state of Israel has wrought upon us much grief, frustration and reflection. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala increase us in our patience and gratitude in these trying and most cruel times. The call for us, as Muslims, to unite under one banner, "la ilaha ill Allah Muhammad-ar Rasulillah" trumpets louder and louder it seems with every passing moment. To speak and act against the injustices committed by the enemies of Islam, not merely as Gazans, Palestinians, Somalis, Kashmiris or any other superficial, nationalistic reason. But because we are Muslim. Period. May there not be a single Muslim upon a single square inch of this planet where this call is not received and properly comprehended. Ameen!

There is nothing more noble, more rewarding, more honorable, more fulfilling than obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And there is nothing more repugnant, more vile, more demoralizing, more destructive, more compromising than disobedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. A point that is critical we ponder as Allah will not change the condition of a people until they have changed what's within themselves (Surah al-Rad ayah 11).

What best summarizes my ultimate point is addressed in a letter from the Amir ul Mu'mineen, Umar ibn Al-Khattab radiallahu anhu to to his commander Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas radiallahu anhu who was the commander of the Muslim Army during the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah around the year 636.

In light of these times, the message in this letter from this great sahabi, whom our beloved Rasul salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam said of him:

"Among the nation of Bani Israel who lived before you, there were men sent who used to be inspired through guidance though they were not Prophets, and if there is any of such persons amongst my followers, it is Umar."

I believe it's significance and warning remains applicable to our situation today. We truly need to evaluate ourselves and commit earnestly and entirely to the guidance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. There then would be no doubt Allah will make us victorious. In'sha'Allah!

Umar the Great radiallahu anhu writes:

"…Then after, I order you and all troops that are along with you to be obedient to Allah, in all circumstances, as this is better than the weapons against the enemy and a strong stratagem in the war. I order you and the soldiers who are with you to be more cautious and afraid of your own crimes and sins than your enemy, as the crimes and sins of the soldiers are more dangerous to them than the enemy.

The Muslims are victorious only because their enemies are disobedient to Allah and had it not been so, we have no power over them, because neither our number is equal to their number, nor are our weapons like theirs. If we commit crimes and sins as they do, then they (our enemies) will have superiority over us in power and we will not gain victory over them. WE DO NOT OVERPOWER THEM WITH OUR STRENGTH.

And you should also know that in this marching of yours, there are guards upon you from Allah and they all know what you do. So be shy from them and do not commit Allah's disobedience while you are going in Allah's Cause and do not say: ' Our enemy is worse than us, so they will not overpower us.' Perhaps some people who are worse than the others may overpower the others as the (disbelievers) Magians overpowered the Children of Israel when they (the latter) involved themselves with disobedience to Allah. So they (disbelievers) entered the very innermost parts of their homes and it was a promise fulfilled.

And ask Allah the assistance over your own selves, just as you ask Allah for the victory over your enemies. I ask Allah for that, both for you and for us."

Watch the nasheed here:


May we all take from this its maximum worth. May Allah grant ease to the surviving victims and families of our brothers and sisters in Gaza; aid them and grant them victory. Ameen.