Have you ever wondered what it must be like to watch your whole life crumble before your eyes? To watch as your city is burnt to ashes, to see your parents, children, spouses, siblings, loved ones dying all around you and right before your eyes, to witness acts so horrific that one simply cannot fathom the extent to which humanity has come, to be part of an ongoing, live slaughter and genocide for years, and to be so terrified of the torture and death that awaits you beyond your front door that you contemplate taking your own life and the lives of those beloved to you…

No. You could never have imagined it. It is too far fetched for your imagination. Too bloody and gory for your mind to accept it. Too frightening and horrific for your eyes to imagine it.

And yet, this is the stark reality of thousands of innocent mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, grandparents, grandchildren… in Aleppo.

As we get on with the daily grind, let our hearts be with our brethren in Aleppo facing killing and repeated atrocities. Do not ignore their pain, do not become numb to their suffering, do not forget them in your supplications. Raise your hands and make du’aa for them every minute of the day that you can. Pray Tahajjud for them and wake your family members too. Let your heart ache for them and try your best to increase your worship to the best of your ability.

 

 

And remember: their lives are in turmoil, they are uncertain every minute whether they will live or die, while you and I are comfortable and safe. Show Allah gratitude with your words and actions, seek forgiveness for your shortcomings, and remember Allah frequently. Spend from your wealth and assist those who are living day to day on minimal supplies. Raise awareness and get involved with humanitarian aid. And above all else, aim to change yourself and become a better person.

May Allah save us from abandoning our brothers and sisters and protect us from ever being cursed by them. May Allah give the oppressors what they deserve and shower patience and ease on the oppressed.

Whatever happens, never lose hope and never feel helpless. Whatever Allah does, He does good and in every circumstance Allah provides us with an opportunity to build our Jannah through either being grateful or being patient.

Today, I read some verses from Surah Ibrahim and would like to end off by sharing the meaning of them with you. Ponder and reflect over them, as you endevour to set your plan moving forward in helping Islam and the Muslim Ummah for the sake of Allah:

‎وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ اللَّـهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ ﴿٤٦﴾ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّـهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِ رُسُلَهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انتِقَامٍ ﴿٤٧﴾ يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ الْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ ۖ وَبَرَزُوا لِلَّـهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ ﴿٤٨﴾ وَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ ﴿٤٩﴾ سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ ﴿٥٠﴾ لِيَجْزِيَ اللَّـهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ ﴿٥١﴾ هَـٰذَا بَلَاغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿٥٢﴾

“And, [O Muhammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, “Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers.” [But it will be said], “Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation? (44) And you lived among the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, and it had become clear to you how We dealt with them. And We presented for you [many] examples.” (45) And they had planned their plan, but with Allah is [recorded] their plan, even if their plan had been [sufficient] to do away with the mountains. (46) So never think that Allah will fail in His promise to His messengers. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution. (47) [It will be] on the Day the earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens [as well], and all creatures will come out before Allah, the One, the Prevailing. (48) And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, (49) Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire. (50) So that Allah will recompense every soul for what it earned. Indeed, Allah is swift in account. (51) This [Qur’an] is notification for the people that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is but one God and that those of understanding will be reminded. (52)

Let us raise our voices to Allah with sincere Du’aa. For indeed Du’aa is the weapon of the believer. Never feel as if you cannot assist or help in some way, for as long as you have Du’aa, you can make a difference.

Please remember to also pray for our brothers and sisters and children in Yemen, Iraq, Burma, Afghanistan, Palestine and other areas where oppression continues today.

Finally, many of you have asked for supplications that can be recited during our dua and I share with you some supplications in Arabic – with English translation – that are effective for times like these InShaAllah. Please make an effort to learn them and teach them to those around you.
‎اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ الأَمْرَ أَمْرُك،
‎وَالحُكْمَ حُكْمُك،
‎وَالخَلْقَ خَْلقُك،
‎وَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ بِيَدِكْ،
‎لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكِ، إِنَّا كُنَّا مِنَ الظَّالِمِيْن
‎اللَّهُمَّ عَجِّلْ نَصْرَكْ لِِأَهْلِنَا فِيْ حَلَبٍ وَالرِّقَّة وَالمُوصَل
‎اللَّهُمَّ فَرِّجْ كَرْبَهُمْ وَاَخْذُلْ عَدُوَّهُم.

‎‏يَاحَيُّ يّاقَيُّوم بِرَحْمَتِكَ نَسْتَغِيْث، اللَّهُمَّ لاَتَكِلْ إِخْوَانَنَا فِي حَلَبٍ وَالرَّقَّة وَالمُوصَل إِلى غَيْرِكَ طَرْفَةَ عَيْن .

‎ ‏اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ البَلاءَ قَدْ بَلَغَ بِإِخْوَانِنَا فِي ⁧ حَلَبٍ ⁩مَبْلَغُه، وَأَنْتَ نَاصِِرُ المَظْلُومِين وَمُنْجِيْ المُسْتَضْعِفِين وَمُغِيث المُضْطَرِّين ، فَأَرِنَا فِي الظَّالِِمين مَا يَشْفِي الصٌّدُور

‎ اللَّهُمَّ انْصُر المُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي حَلَبٍ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ قَادِرٌ عَلى نَصْرِهِم ِإلاَّ أَنت
‎كَفَىٰ بِكَ وَلِيَّا وَكَفَىٰ بِكَ نَصِيراً

‎حَسْبُنَا اللهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكِيل حَسْبُنَا اللهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكِيل حَسْبُنَا اللهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكِيل

‎اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعْتَذِرُ إِلَيْكَ مِن تَقَاعِسِ القَادِرِين

‎وَنَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِن ظُلْمِ المُتَجَبِّرِين

‎وَنَسْتَغِْفرُكَ مِن كُلِّ تَقْصِيرٍ
‎وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُعِينَنَا على بَذْلِ وُسْعِنَا فِي نَصْرَةِ إِخْوَانُنَا

O Allah, indeed the matter is Your matter, and the judgement is Your judgement, and the creation is Your creation and everything is in Your hands.

There is no One worthy of worship except for You, Glory be to You. Indeed we were from among the wrongdoers.

O Allah hasten your victory for our family in Aleppo, Raqqa and Mosal. O Allah grant them relief for their anguish and humiliate their enemies.

O the Ever Living, O the Self Sustaining and Supporter of all, by your mercy we seek assistance, O Allah do not leave our brothers and sisters in Aleppo, Raqqa and Mosal to those other than You for even the blink of an eye.

O Allah, indeed the test for our brothers in Aleppo has reached its height and You are the Protector of the oppressed, and the Saviour of the weak and vulnerable ones and the One who delivers help to the helpless, so show us in the oppressors (ie. deal with them in a manner) that which will console the chests (hearts).

O Allah grant victory to the weak and destitute in Aleppo for indeed none has power over their victory except for you. And sufficient are You as a Protector and sufficient are You as a helper.

Surely Allah is enough for us and He is the best Disposer of affairs. Surely Allah is enough for us and He is the best Disposer of affairs. Surely Allah is enough for us and He is the best Disposer of affairs.

O Allah, we apologise to you for the failure of those who are able-bodied amongst us and turn to You in disassociation from the oppression of the tyrants, and we seek forgiveness from You from every shortcoming and we ask you to aid us in our efforts to do our best in supporting our Muslim brothers and sisters.

May Allah Almighty forgive our past and inspire our futures. May He shower upon the innocent a great victory and deliver to the oppressors what they deserve. Ameen.
Your brother,
Sajid Umar