Everyday Muslims take part in an auspicious act where they show their obedience and gratitude to Allah and pray five times a day. This beautiful gift from Allah was handed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he made the blessed ascension to Heaven.

However, before we were ordered to face the Kaabah in Makkah, the Muslims used to pray towards Al-Aqsa in Palestine. When the revelation came to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to face towards the Kaabah, he did so immediately (during his prayer as a matter of fact) because when Allah commands us to do something we must act on it straight away.

But I don't remember Allah telling the Prophet (PBUH) to forget about Palestine.

Everyday, another Palestinian child is shot in the head, another Palestinian mother is forced to give birth at an Israeli checkpoint so that some sick-minded soldier can get some cheap laughs at her pain, and yet another Palestinian man is taken away, never to be seen again by his loved ones.

What is their crime? Simply that they are Palestinians.

But where are the Muslims to help them? Even though our backs are turned to Palestine five times a day, it doesn't mean we must forget about the relentless injustices that rain down on them. We are Muslims. Allah has given us a trust and we cannot let go of it.

Allah has on so many occasions told us to stand up to the oppressor, yet our mosque leaders do nothing apart from telling us about the length of our trousers or how black a sister's hijab should be. Allah has on so many occasions told us to stand up to the oppressor yet we Muslims sit idle and hope that maybe, just maybe, if we keep praying hard enough Allah will come down Himself and end these issues which plague our hearts.

What kind of faith is it that we claim to follow which would allow its followers to sit back while Palestinians are systematically tortured and massacred under the apartheid regime of Israel? I know Islam isn't that type of faith.

"Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew."
The Glorious Qur'an, Surah 9 (Surah Al-Tawba), Verse 41

"Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,- Ranks specially bestowed by Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy. For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."
The Glorious Qur'an, Surah 4 (Surah An-Nisa), Verses 95-96

If the Word of Allah commands us to tackle the social injustices around us, then why don't our scholars and mosque leaders know that? Did they skip the many pages in the Qur'an which compel Muslims to take action? I highly doubt it.

If they live and breathe the Qur'an and Sunnah, and the Qur'an and Sunnah compel us to take a stand then why aren't they doing something?

Our backs are turned to Palestine - have our hearts turned away too?

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