I want to first acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Indigenous Australian peoples, to whose land we live on. Sovereignty was never ceded, and Australia was and always will be Aboriginal land.
I mention our Aboriginal population first because Australia too has a history of genocide and human rights violation against its Indigenous population. The specific facts of Australia’s crimes may be different to the ethnic cleansing occurring in Palestine, but the sentiment at the core of it remains the same.
Imperialist powers wanted something, and so they took it. With no care for human life.
As Edward Said eloquently outlines, “imperialism after all is an act of geographical violence through which virtually every space in the world is explored, charted, and finally brought under control.”
The Nakba, which loosely translates to ‘catastrophe’, was a horrific moment in which more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled, forced to flee their homes. This event, which first started in 1948, marked on ongoing displacement and dispossession of the Palestinian people from their homeland. Their land was stolen, with a continually growing percentage of Palestine forcibly seized and declared as ‘Israel’. 500 Palestinian villages were depopulated and destroyed, and the Palestinians were denied the right to return to their homes.
Palestinians are still to this day being murdered by the ‘Israeli’ government in their homes. We have witnessed the genocide broadcasted live since 2023, a sickening insight into the century-old violence of the settler state.
Invasion Day, was a catastrophe in which colonial forces violently took over Australia, leading to the massacre of over 190,000 Indigenous peoples. This event, which occurred with the arrival of the British forces in 1788, triggered an ongoing dispossession of Aboriginal people, disrupting their sacred connection to their lands. Their homes were stolen, justified through the unlawful doctrine of terra nullius. Over 500 Indigenous groups were forced to leave their land, and Indigenous children were and are continued to be stolen from their families, brutally assimilated into Western society. Aboriginal Australians are still to this day being murdered by law enforcement whilst in custody. In the last 30 years there have been 634 completely un-investigated Indigenous deaths in custody.
It is by no mistake that our government has chosen to partner themselves with Israel. Australia has a history of genocide, and that violent colonial attitude has not seemed to fade.
So where does that leave us as Muslims living in Australia? We watch as our fellow Muslim brothers and sister are being massacred in every continent. The Koshurs in Kashmir, the Ughyurs in China, the Arabs in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen and all cross the Middle East.
Our own Indigenous population right here in Australia.
The overwhelming grief for our Ummah is paramount. It is devastating and consuming and paralysing.
Yet, we need to try and make some noise anyway. For social justice and activism are rooted within Islam, our beautiful religion of peace.
In his final sermon to the sahaba, the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) made explicit mention to the significance of fighting racism. This was the final time he was formally addressing his Ummah, us, and he made a specific point to stress the importance of treating all humans as equals.
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety (taqwa) and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.”
(Sahih Al–Bukhari, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361)
The Quran emphasises the same idea. Balance is at the core of our religion, humans must strive for balance within ourselves, as Allah (SWT) has created the universe in a perfect balance.
“Allah raised up the heavens and established the scales of balance.”
(Qur’an 55:7)
In Tafsir al-Jalalayn, it is commented that this verse is referring to Allah (SWT) establishing justice. Through an understanding of “scales of balance’, Allah (SWT) is intrinsically linking a perfectly balanced universe with justice. Justice becomes an essential element of our world running smoothly, needed for society to remain in the balanced fashion for which it is supposed to be in.
We cannot lose sight of this as Muslims. The strive for justice is the strive to be closer to Allah (SWT). To fight for the oppressed is to protect ourselves from punishment.
“Oh you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”
(Qur’an 5:8)
We cannot just remain passive bystanders. As the Prophet (saws) remarked:
“Whoever witnesses something evil, let him change it with his hand, and if he is unable then with his tongue, and if he is unable then with his heart, but that is the weakest form of faith.”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 49a)
So, if activism is so important what do we do now? Where do we go from here? Is a tangible solution even possible?
Unfortunately, I don’t have any concrete answers. Trust, as always, must remain solely in Allah (SWT) alone.
But I’m reminded that there are so many Palestinians who have held onto the key to their homes. Who believe, without a shred of doubt, that they will return to their homeland once again. The Palestinians who are out there smiling in the face of the IDF soldiers, with no chance of showing fear.
I’m reminded of our Indigenous population, continuing to teach their sacred traditions, and maintaining their intrinsic connection to the land despite their dispossession. The relatives of those who died in custody spending decades organising protest after rally after protest, to obtain justice for their family.
And I can’t help but be captivated to share in their strength.
Whether activism to you means attending protests and rallies and raising your literal voice up against the government, or financially supporting those who need it, or speaking up when a friend or family member says something unjust or harmful, every small effort amounts to the larger cause of justice.
May Allah (SWT) accept all our efforts at justice, and help strengthen and protect the Muslim ummah and all those who are being oppressed.
Be as kind and as just as possible, for verily to Him we shall return.