Dear Friends,

Here’s a little anecdote to ponder: In a small town, a patient suffering from severe diarrhea visited an inexperienced doctor. The doctor prescribed antidepressants instead of proper medication and said, “Take these, morning and evening. You’ll be fine in no time.” The patient, grateful, left with prayers for the doctor.

A week later, the doctor bumped into the patient and asked curiously, “How are you feeling? Did the medicine work?”
The patient replied, “Doctor, I’m living neck-deep in filth, but thanks to you, I don’t care anymore. I’m very happy!”

Doesn’t this story describe the state of Muslims today? Gazans are dying—babies left to perish in incubators, women’s honor trampled, hospitals bombed into oblivion. And what are we doing? We’re watching. That’s it. Watching the horror unfold on live broadcasts and social media while sipping our coffee and nibbling on snacks.

Then, one day, a wildfire breaks out in Los Angeles. Thousands of homes burn, including that of a certain washed-up celebrity. And what do we do? We clap our hands in joy, exclaiming, “See, Allah has punished them! He even burned that celebrity’s house!”

But think about it for a second. That celebrity will claim their insurance, build an even grander home, and move on with life. Meanwhile, when they see Muslims rejoicing over their loss, they won’t think, “Oh, maybe the Muslims have a point. I should reconsider my beliefs.” No. Instead, they’ll probably say, “I always knew Muslims were backward, but I didn’t realize they were this foolish.”

We all know the famous hadith:
“When you see a wrong, correct it with your hands. If you cannot, then with your words. And if you cannot even do that, then hate it in your heart, and this is the weakest level of faith.”

So, where do we stand in this hadith? Are we correcting wrongs with our hands? No. Are we raising our voices against injustice? Rarely. Are we at least hating it in our hearts? Not really. Instead, we’re bystanders—silent, passive, and complicit.

While Gaza burns, we sit comfortably, finding solace in the misfortunes of others. If our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) were to appear in your dream tonight and ask:

“What did you do for your brothers and sisters in Gaza?”
“Did you attend a single protest?”
“Did you send even one email or message advocating for them?”
What would your answer be? Would you say, “O Messenger of Allah, we just watched. We stayed in our cozy beds, ate lavish meals, and caught the news highlights. And when California burned, we even thanked Allah for His justice!”
How pathetic would that sound? Rejoicing over the misfortune of others while ignoring the plight of our own is neither Islamic nor humane.

We are the followers of a beautiful religion. We have the most noble of Prophets, the timeless guidance of the Qur’an, and the mercy of a Lord who promises to protect His Word. Yet, we fail to live up to these blessings. We fail to be exemplary Muslims. Worse, we tarnish the image of Islam with our ignorance and misdeeds.

Let us reflect and pray:
“Ya Rabb, make us Muslims who understand the value of our faith. Help us live and share the beauty of Islam with others. Allow us to be positive examples, spreading love, compassion, and justice. Aid the oppressed in Gaza, Los Angeles, and everywhere in the world. Grant patience to those who’ve lost their homes and fill their hearts with Your light. And grant us the willpower to stand for what’s right, to act, and to make a difference.”

Ameen.

Stay safe and may Allah guide us all.