Answer: It's a really, really long topic which has many different parts to it, but I’d like to share a few key points in a couple of minutes.
1. Feeling for Our Brothers and Sisters is an Individual Obligation:
It is an individual obligation for every Muslim to feel for their brothers and sisters in Islam who are suffering oppression around the world. We must have genuine concern for them and do whatever is within our ability—permitted by Allah—to help correct their situation.
However, one of the biggest problems arises when emotions take over. While it is good to feel empathy for those suffering, we must not let our emotions justify haram (forbidden) actions in the name of helping them.
2. The Example of the Prophet ﷺ and the Family of Yasir:
The Prophet ﷺ once passed by the family of Yasir while they were being tortured. Sumayyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was tortured to death, with a spear driven through her private parts. The Prophet ﷺ witnessed this horrific scene but did not take up arms or resort to violence.
Instead, he said to them:
"Be patient, O family of Yasir, for your destination is Paradise." (Mustadrak al-Ḥakim: 5666)
This story is crucial because it teaches us that even in the face of extreme suffering, the Prophet ﷺ did not act beyond what Allah had permitted.
At that time, Allah had not given him permission to fight, so he comforted them, made dua for them, and reminded them of Paradise. He did not justify haram actions, even when witnessing such brutality.
3. The Danger of Letting Emotions Overrule the Commands of the Sharia:
When we see the suffering of Muslims around the world, it is natural to feel emotional. However, we must not let these emotions lead us to justify haram actions, whether it’s terrorism, unlawful protests, or other forms of disobedience to Allah.
For example, some people may say, “I’m going to do this or that,” even if it goes against Islamic principles.
But such actions will never bring about the correction of the Muslims’ situation. Instead, they will only worsen it.
4. The Root Cause of the Muslims’ Suffering:
The biggest mistake we make is not where we buy our food or where we go on holiday.
The root cause of the Muslims’ suffering is our sins. Allah says in the Quran:
"Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by what the hands of people have earned, so He may let them taste part of what they have done that perhaps they will return to Allah in repentance." (Quran 30:41)
Our sins are the reason for the suffering of Muslims worldwide. When we repent to Allah and correct ourselves and our families, Allah will correct the situation of the Muslims.
5. A True Story of Emotional Overreactions:
I once delivered a lecture, and afterward, a brother approached me. He was deeply emotional, likely due to the suffering of his people, possibly in Palestine. He said, “I want to kill a lot of children.”
I won't give the real thing of what he said. It was pretty horrific what he said.
I responded, “Don’t you know that the Prophet ﷺ prohibited killing children?”
He angrily replied, “Don’t talk to me about that! Don’t talk to me about what the Prophet ﷺ said. These people are being killed!”
This brother, I'm sure went through a lot. And I'm sure he didn't mean what he said, perhaps he even saw some of his family members killed. Maybe even some of his own kids were killed. But he was dreaming of and fantasizing of doing something that is from the biggest of the forbidden acts that a person can do.
He lost control of what is right and wrong in the Sharia, and he was willing to openly disobey the Prophet ﷺ.
We must never lose sight of what is right and wrong in the Sharia, no matter how emotional we become.
6. What Can We Do?
- Make Dua: Supplicate to Allah for the relief of our brothers and sisters.
- Give Sadaqah: Donate to reliable organizations that can help those in need.
By disobeying Allah, we only worsen the situation. Our focus should be on doing what is permissible and within the boundaries of Sharia to help those in need.
And Allah knows best.
— Answered by Ustadh Muhammad Tim Humble
