Again and again, countless testimonies, clear observations, overwhelming evidence highlight the insufferable oppression of ordinary Muslims across the world be that in Syria, Myanmar, China, Central African Republic, Palestine and India.
Yet, acting under the dubious cloud of self-interest either unilaterally or through a toothless and defunct United Nations – the de facto moral conscience of world governments –nation states oversee these human rights abuses with inaction. What continues to be heart breaking is the overwhelmingly cowardly silence and tacit approval of Muslim Nations to the plight of the crying and dying voices of the millions of fellow Muslims whom Islam commands they protect and unite because they are brothers and sisters bonded by Islam and the unity of humankind.
Repeatedly, the Qur’an makes it clear that “This Ummah of your is One Ummah” [Surah al Mu’minun Ayah 52].
Furthermore, the noble words of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings upon him) confirmed:
Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfil his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.
[Sahih al Bukhari]
In the dire absence of this leadership, we see prominent individuals such as Mesut Ozil, Sonny Bill Williams and Shahid Afridi conscientiously speaking out and shouldering this burden with all the admiration, love and support of over a billion Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide who stand firm for equity, justice and enfranchisement as they would for themselves and their loved ones.
We are also incredibly indebted and grateful to the Gambian Muslim Government – a state of only 2.5 million people and considered insignificant by many – for its fearless leadership in so publicly calling to account Aung San Suu Kyi and the Government of Myanmar for its genocidal action against the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar. You may be a small nation but the Muslims consider you principled giants on the world stage behind whose humanitarian and Islamic actions far wealthier States quiver.
We sincerely hope that the Gambian High Commissioner in London will accept our invitation to the Lewisham Islamic Centre so that we can personally thank him on behalf of every Muslim the world over appalled by the terrible suffering of their fellow brothers and sisters in different parts of the world.
And surely this Ummah of yours is a single Umman, and I am your Lord, so worship Me
[Surah Al Anbiyya Ayah 21]