By Sheikh Abdul-Bari ibn Awwad al-Thubaiti – 26 Rajab 1436

His Eminence Sheikh Abdul-Bari ibn Awwad al-Thubaiti, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday Khutbah entitled, “Ways of Helping Our Fellow Muslims”, in which he talked about the dutythat Muslims have to support their fellow Muslims, stating that Muslims should work together to establish solidarity, sympathy, and compassion among themselves. He highlighted the different aspects and signs of such support, as well as the means through which Muslims can provide support to one another.

Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah, Who has shown grace to His servants by lavishing His bounties upon them and Who called the believers to cooperate and support one another. I praise Him, Glorified be He, and I thank Him morning and evening. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners. He created us, granted us provision, and made us the best Ummah. I also bear witness that our master and prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, the noblest prophet and the best example to follow. May Allah bestow His peace and blessings upon him and upon his family and Companions, the best model to follow after him.

Now then, I advise you and advise myself to fear Allah. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“O You who Believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for tomorrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Acquainted with what you do.”(Al-Hashr: 18).

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed.” A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should I help him if he is an oppressor?” He said, “By preventing him from oppressing others. This is how to help him.”

Providing support to our fellow Muslims is a mark of faith and a sign of being a true Muslim. It was narrated by an-Nu‘man ibn Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah’s messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “In their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy, the believers are like one body. When one of the limbs aches, the whole body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever.” He also said, “A believer to a believer is like the bricks of a building which support each other”, and he, peace and blessings be upon him, interlaced his fingers.

When the Ummah supports the oppressed and prevents the oppressor from wronging others, it will be spared the punishment of Allah. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong (but it may afflict all the good and the bad people), and know that Allah is Severe in punishment.” (Al-Anfal: 25)

Whoever supports the oppressed will be supported by Allah, Who will also assign for him those who will help him in this worldly life and in the hereafter. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If a person supports his brother in his absence, Allah will support him in this life and in the hereafter.”

Giving support to our fellow Muslims is a form of alliance on the basis of Islam and solidarity on the basis of faith. It strengthens Muslims and gives power and glory to the believers. It revives determination and unifies Muslims to serve one common cause and share the same concern. This would preserve their dignity and maintain their spirit of sacrifice.

“… to threaten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy …” (Al-Anfal: 60)

Supporting Muslims is a religious obligation as well as a worldly necessity.Aggression and plotting against Islam have become the feature of our age, in which they take different forms and come in various ways. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Nations will soon summon one another to attack you as people who are eating would invite others to share their dish.” Someone asked, “Is it because we will be few in number at that time?” He replied, “No, you will be numerous at that time, but you will be like the scum that is carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take out fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and cast weakness into your hearts.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allah! What is that weakness?” He replied, “It is love for this world and hatred for death.”

If Muslims’ support of one another weakens, their enemies will tyrannize over them and will increase their violence and exceed all limits of oppression against them. They will crush innocent people, humiliate upholders of true monotheism, usurp their land, and violate their honour. The greatest form of corruption and the fire of sedition that is kindled in Muslim countries are mainly attributed to neglecting the fundamental principle of mutual support among Muslims. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, (and) if you (Muslims of the whole world collectively) do not do so [i.e. become allies, as one united block under one Khalifah (a chief Muslim ruler for the whole Muslim world) to make victorious Allah’s religion of Islamic monotheism], there will be Fitnah (wars, battles, polytheism) and oppression on the earth, and a great mischief and corruption (appearance of polytheism).” (Al-Anfal: 73)

Islam forbids us to forsake our fellow Muslims or abstain from supporting and helping them. The Noble Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim. He should not wrong him or hand him over to enemies.” He also said, “I witnessed with my uncles the Alliance of the Perfumed (Hilf al-Mutayyabin). I would not wish to break it, even for red camels (the most precious wealth).” Reference in this Hadith is to Hilf al-Fudul, a pact which was formed before the Prophetic mission to support the oppressed and give them back their rights.

Anyone who abstains from offering a helping hand to the oppressed will be humiliated in this life and will be a loser in the hereafter. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No Muslim forsakes another Muslim in a situation where his respect is hurt and his honour is violated but Allah will forsake him in a situation where he wishes to have His support. And no man helps a Muslim in a situation where his respect is hurt and his honour is violated but Allah will help him in a situation where he wishes to have His support.”

The Muslim Ummah has been afflicted with some dishonourable men who ally themselves with the enemies of their nation, treacherously take up arms against their fellow citizens, sow the seeds of sedition among them, plan coups against the legitimate rulers, and spread chaos. They do so out of thirst for power and presidency, only to wear medals of disgrace and shame, even if this comes at the cost of killing innocent people and helpless children. How can one trust a traitor who has deceived his own people, betrayed his own nation, and sought the support of the proponents of falsehood against his own folks and neighbours? Another dishonourable man is crushing his people and killing and destroying his own folks with incinerating bombs, explosive barrels, and poisonous gases. All this is happening in Syria, the land of patience and pride. The Gaza Strip has also been suffering an unjust blockade and has been subject to an evil plot, in whichoppression has gone beyond all bounds through preventing the entrance of all the necessities of life, including food, water, and medicine. These events constitute a real test to Muslims, so that Allah may know who will support the oppressed, repress the oppressor, and hold fast to the truth in the face of falsehood. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“… that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.” (Al-Hadid: 25)

While we show solidarity with the oppressed, giving them support is a dutyin Islam. Muslims all over the world are part of the large body of the Ummah, by virtue of the bond of brotherhood among Muslims, which requires them to help and support their oppressed fellow Muslims.

Supporting the oppressed means taking care of them, providing them with anything that will give them strength and power, with a view to strengthening the weak; protecting their religion, honour, lives, and homelands; and giving them solace by spending on them, helping the grieved among them, and renewing hope to them.

The Prophet’s honourable Companion Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, was an example to follow with respect to providing financial support to Muslims. He once brought one thousand dinars to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and placed them in his lap. He also volunteered to dig the Well of Rumah after the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever digs the Well of Rumah will enter Paradise.” He also equipped the Army of ‘Usra, which fought the Battle of Tabuk, when Muslims suffered much distress. The Prophet’s wife, Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her, used to console the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, support him, and sacrifice her wealth for him.

One aspect of providing support to Muslims is to abstain from helping an oppressor against his fellow Muslim. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you …” (Hud: 113)

Supporting the oppressed also includes boycotting the products of the enemyalong with those who support him financially, morally, and ideologically and conspire with him against Muslims. A boycott is a powerful, effective weapon when it is governed by the Islamic criteria, for it is bound to teach the enemy a lesson and allow the Ummah to remain invincible in the face of those who harbour evil intentions against it.

Support for the Muslim creed is realized by explaining its true tenets and concepts, dispelling all doubts cast on it, and exposing innovations in religion and the deviant methods espoused by the different sects, which the enemy has found appropriate to achieve his goals, and so he allied with them and implanted them in the body of the Ummah. The enemyis moving such sects as he wishes to destabilize the Ummah’s security, spread turmoil in its countries, pillage its wealth, and undermine its strengthso that it may keep lagging behind and live as a follower rather than a leader, controlled by others rather than guiding them.

Support can also be given through the use of the media. It is clear to all how hostile media obliterates the truth, distorts the religion, and denies Muslims’ rights, so much so that it has ascribed any deviant behaviour to the Muslims. The media depicts Muslims as bloodthirsty murderers and those who defend their country and honour as terrorists. It presents murderers and criminals as peace doves and presents occupying transgressors as the party of resistance and defiance. The media can be used to support oppressed Muslims by documenting the oppression of wrongdoers, exposing their scandalous acts, uncovering their true intentions, and unmasking their falsity. The pen is sometimes mightier than the sword. A word has its power, a picture has its enormous effect, and a poem can change the whole scene.

‘Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “I heard Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, say to [poet] Hassan ibn Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, “Ruh al-Qudus (i.e. Angel Jibril, peace be upon him) will continue to support you so long as you defend the cause of Allah and His Messenger [with your poetry].”

Supporting the causes of the Muslim Ummah can be realized by raising people’s awareness of such causes, by fighting for them, and by exposing the plots and conspiracies of evil instigators and uncovering their evil ways by every means, at every gathering, and on every occasion. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners) may become manifest.” (Al-An‘am: 55)

We can also provide support and assistance, servants of Allah, through supplication, which is an effective weapon in times of misfortune and a remedy for distress. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to support the oppressed by reciting the Qunut, or “Obedience Supplication” said during prayers. One of the features of a true believer is that he seeks Allah’s support in times of afflictions and strengthens his relationship with Him in times of adversity. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“The people of Nuh (Noah) denied (their Messenger) before them. They rejected Our slave, and said: “A madman!” and he was insolently rebuked and threatened. Then he invoked his Lord (saying): “I have been overcome, so help (me)!” So We opened the gates of the heaven with water pouring forth. And We caused springs to gush forth from the earth. So the waters (of the heaven and the earth) met for a matter predestined.” (Al-Qamar: 9- 12)

May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah, the Most Great, for myself, for you, and for all Muslims for any sin we have committed. Ask Allah for forgiveness. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.