FRIDAY SERMON: Rohingya: The tears of oppression, by Arc. Abdullah Musa Abdul

I begin with the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

From time immemorial, the world has been witnessing human oppression against other humans, either inspired by the quest for territorial dominance, ethnic cleansing, racial superiority or even religious dominance. Each time such occurs, there are always those that have traces of humanity left in them that speak out against the oppression in order to re-establish the sanctity of human life, the freedom and right to live.

Our time is witnessing yet another brutality, a wanton massacre against an innocent defenseless population – the Muslims of Myanmar – the Rohingyas. This is indeed a bleak time we are living in, a time where those championing the affairs of humanity claiming to be advocates of human rights have turned a blind eye to the worst oppression of the 21st century or at most they make a rhetoric presence.

Reports indicate that since 2012 more than 140,000 Rohingyas, defenseless men, women and children have been forced by state sponsored terrorism to flee Myanmar altogether to neighboring countries where sometimes they face utter rejection and marginalization. They have been stripped of any national identity, they are stateless even though every sane man knows that no man or woman came down from the sky, each has ancestors. Richard Weir, who covers Myanmar for Human Rights Watch said: “the lack of status bleeds into all aspects of their lives: they face restrictions on freedom of movement; their rights to health, education and religion; deprivation of their livelihoods; and constant harassment by security forces.”

The emotions of the Muslims have been awaken, the media footage of what is happening to one of them sends excruciating pains down their emotional make up. With the silence of the international world nay a subtle provocation in support of such acts of terrorism against the Muslim minority of Myanmar, one is left with no hope for humanity. An inquisitive mind might ask what is the crime of the Rohingyas? the one answer that will resonate is that, the state-sponsored ultra-nationalist buddhists oppression against the Muslims is for no reason order than what Allaah Exalted be He, says regarding the companions of the Ditch (Ukhdud), “They had nothing against them, except that they believed in Allaah, the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise!” Qur’an 85:8

Islam is a religion that preaches justice and practices justice, it equally preaches against oppression and does not condone it. In the system of Allaah Exalted be He, there is no escape nor room for oppression and oppressive state, if justice is not achieved in this world for the oppressed, then it will never go unchecked in the Court of Allaah in the Hereafter. An apt illustration of this is the hadith in Sahih Muslim On the authority of Abu Dharr al-Ghifaari (may Allaah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace be upon him), from among the sayings he relates from his Lord (may He be glorified) that He said, “O My servants, I have forbidden wrongdoing for Myself and I have made it forbidden for you. Therefore, do not wrong one another.”  Also in Sahih Al-Bukhari, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When the believers pass safely over (the bridge across) Hell, they will be stopped at an arched bridge in between Hell and Paradise where they will retaliate upon each other for the injustices done among them in the world. When they are then purified of all their sins, they will be admitted into Paradise.” If this is the case of believers that will be entered into Paradise what about the non-Muslim oppressors? The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said in a narration recorded by Muslim that: “Beware of dhulm (oppression), for dhulm is darkness on the Day of Resurrection.”

The importance of establishing justice and avoiding any kind of wrongdoing is so great in the Shareeah that ibn Taymiyah in Majmoo’ concluded that “Allaah would establish and support a just nation even if it were non-Muslim while He would not establish and support an oppressive nation, even if it were Muslim.” Allaah does not give success to the oppressed, He says: “Verily, the people who commit dhulm (oppression) will never be successful” Qur’an 6:21. He does not like them: “And Allaah does not like those who commit dhulm” Qur’an 3:57

The Muslims are pretty much concerned about the happenings in Myanmar and in all parts of the world where Muslims live and are facing persecution because they are not restricted by any geographical boundary, the Islamic brotherhood transcend beyond all physical boundaries, it is spiritually rooted. It is sufficient to note the authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace be upon him): “The believers, in their mutual mercy, love and compassion, are like a (single) body; if one part of it feels pain, the rest of the body will join it in staying awake and suffering fever.” 

We call on the leaders of the Muslim world to rise to the occasion to ensure that this carnage and unprecedented massacre against the Rohingyas is brought to a halt and justice be served against the perpetrators. The Muslim world must through her foreign mission form a coalition of a common voice to ensure that justice be served against those championing the affairs of Myanmar Military. The Rohingyas are Muslims like us, humans like us and most be protected. What are we doing as individuals? Do we pray for the Rohingyas in our Sujud – prostration? have we stood up at night to offer Tahajjud and cry out to Allaah not because of wealth or power but just because of the oppressed Muslims?

The Muslims must not become psychologically despondent, Allaah Exalted be He, is fully Aware of what is happening and will always aid the believers and provide succor for them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allaah gives respite to one who commits dhulm (oppression) but when He seizes him, He never releases him.” Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited the verse, “Such is the seizing of your Lord when He seizes the [population of] towns. Verily, His seizing is painful and severe” Qur’an 11: 102. Recorded by al-Bukhari.

To say that there is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi living there and witnessing this carnage is the biggest joke of 21st century.