2nd Safar 1447H |
Assalamu'alaikum, |
We're all feeling it. That knot in our stomach whenever we see pictures of the unfolding genocide in Gaza and witness the hunger, starvation, and death. |
It's a heavy weight that presses down on us whenever we go through our daily routines. Unimaginable images flash through our phones between meetings, meals, and our comfortable beds. |
"What kind of Muslim am I that I'm sitting comfortably while my brothers and sisters are suffering?" |
Today, I want to talk about this guilt. Not to make it disappear, but to help you understand why it might be one of the most important spiritual signals you're receiving. |
The Guilt We Try to Escape |
Our natural instinct is to run from discomfort. |
When guilt about Gaza hits us, we often try to reason it away: |
"What can I really do? I'm just one person." "It's the governments who need to act, not individuals like me." "I've already donated, shared posts, and made dua. What more can I do?"
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We search for ways to feel better, to lighten this emotional burden so we can return to our normal lives without this pain. |
But what if I told you that we shouldn't try to eliminate this guilt, instead, we should use it as a spark for our hearts and the Ummah's transformation. |
The Guilt That Connects Us to Our Ummah |
Prophet Muhammad ï·º said: "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy are just one body. When a limb suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever." (Bukhari & Muslim) |
The guilt you're feeling is not a malfunction. It's your spiritual immune system working exactly as Allah designed it. |
When your physical body is injured, pain signals alert your brain that something needs attention. Similarly, when part of our Ummah is suffering, that spiritual discomfort you feel is your soul recognizing that the body of believers is wounded. |
This guilt is actually a sign of healthy iman. It means your heart is still connected to the global community of believers. It means you haven't become spiritually numb to others' suffering. |
The Prophet ï·º also said, "Whoever does not care about the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them." (Tirmidhi) |
Your guilt is proof that you do care. Don't wish it away, channel it. |
From Guilt to Immediate Action |
Yes, there are immediate actions we can take. The guilt should drive us to: |
Donate consistently: Rather than one-time emotional giving, set up consistent daily/weekly donations that you can sustain. At the time of writing this newsletter, aid is starting to trickle into Gaza. Support reputable charities here. Amplify with knowledge: Share what's happening, not just the horrors but educate the uneducated about the history and the context for current events. Make dua intentionally: Dedicate specific sujoods and portions of your tahajjud or post-salah time exclusively to making dua for Gaza.
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Do the above but don't stop there. |
From Guilt to Long-Term Transformation |
The most profound action you can take is to let this guilt transform you into a better Muslim, not just for Gaza, but for the long-term strength of our entire Ummah. |
Your discomfort about Gaza should drive you to strengthen your own relationship with Allah. Use this guilt as fuel to pray your five daily prayers with focus, pray tahajjud consistently, memorize Quran with renewed purpose, and study Islamic scholarship seriously. Every spiritually strengthened Muslim adds to our collective resilience. |
Moreover, this crisis has exposed how intellectually, politically, and economically colonized we've become, dependent on others to resolve our own suffering. Let this guilt drive you toward civilizational consciousness. Start simple, like learning Arabic to understand the Quran or adopting the Hijri calendar more seriously. This isn't just symbolic, it's rewiring your mental framework toward an Islamic worldview. |
Also, ask yourself, "What seeds can I plant today that might benefit the Ummah in 10, 20, or 50 years?" |
Maybe it's: |
Writing that book you've been thinking about Starting a business that creates halal employment opportunities Raising your children to be confident, capable Muslims who will serve the Ummah Developing skills that could contribute to Muslim communities worldwide
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Your guilt about Gaza shouldn't paralyze you or drive you to despair. It should drive you to plant seeds of positive change, both immediate and long-term. |
When Guilt Becomes Sacred |
The difference between ordinary guilt and sacred guilt is direction. Ordinary guilt turns inward, making us feel helpless and inadequate. Sacred guilt turns outward and upward, toward Allah (SWT) and toward service. |
Ordinary guilt paralyzes us or leads to despair. Sacred guilt energizes us toward action. |
Sacred guilt asks: "How can this pain I'm feeling be transformed into something beneficial?" |
I'm not trying to make your guilt disappear so you can sleep better at night. |
What I'm suggesting is that you sit with this sacred guilt and let it be a catalyst for both immediate action and long-term transformation. |
This guilt is your soul's way of saying: "I am connected to something larger than myself. I am part of an Ummah. What happens to them, happens to me." |
Don't numb that feeling. Don't run from that responsibility. Channel it into becoming the Muslim that can rise to meet moments like these with strength, wisdom, and meaningful action. |
The guilt you feel today could be the spiritual fuel that transforms not just your own life, but contributes to the eventual victory and dignity our Ummah desperately needs insha'Allah. |
May Allah accept our efforts and grant swift relief to our brothers and sisters in Palestine, Sudan, and everywhere Muslims suffer. May He transform our sacred guilt into sacred action, and may we be among those who answer the call of our wounded Ummah with both our hearts and our hands. Ameen. |
Sincerely, |
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