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How to Help Oppressed Syrians

14 December, 2016
Q As-salamu `alaykum. Scholars of Islam, we hear and read the news about the daily killings and targeting of thousands of innocent people in various cities at the hands of the Syrian army. In the light of these inhuman and disastrous conditions, what should we do to help the oppressed people in Syria?

Answer

Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Thank you, dear brother, for your question and concern about your brothers and sisters in Syria. May Allah Almighty free them of the tyranny and oppression they are facing.

It is the well-established duty of every human, man or woman, to help his or her fellow brothers and sisters in Syria who are facing one of the most brutal and corrupt regimes and dictators of the world. All free people of the world bear the responsibility of aiding and defending the helpless innocent Syrians.

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As for your question, Dr. Wael Shehab, PhD in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Imam of the Downtown Toronto Masjid in Canada, states:

In fact, our hearts bleed for and we are so worried about the suffering and pains of our brothers and sisters in Syria. Innocent and helpless people of Syria are facing inhuman and brutal capital crimes at the hands of one of the most corrupt and oppressive leaders and regimes of the world. The Syrian dictator is severely and mercilessly attacking people’s lives, honor, and properties.

According to human rights reports, thousands of people have been killed by security forces in various Syrian cities.

Given the above, it is the duty of all peoples of the world to hasten to aid and protect the suffering Syrian people. Necessary collective and individual measures should be taken to stop the regime’s horrible massacres and capital crimes against the helpless Syrians.

Moreover, this is more than enough reason for us Muslims to stand with our hands raised in the night and to make qunoot, praying for the safety, victory, and freedom of the Syrian people.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) described our Ummah (Muslim community) as a single body which ails as a whole when a part of it is afflicted. So, it is our established duty to feel this pain, and respond to it.

Therefore, Muslims and all free people of the world should:

1- Exert their utmost efforts to request their governments to take an immediate action on Syria in order to stop capital crimes that are taking place there.

2- Offer whatever possible legal help and assistance to alleviate the suffering and pains of the oppressed Syrians.

3- Launch awareness campaigns to introduce and present the Syrian case to the world community.

4- Actively interact with the Syrians in their crisis and respond to their legal calls and meet their needs

5- Pray for the Syrians’ wellbeing, victory, freedom, and security.

6- Let’s all hurry to earnestly make du`aa’ to Allah, particularly in the good times where du`aa’ will be answered by Almighty Allah, to help the oppressed people and end their suffering.

Du`aa’ on the time of breaking one’s fasting will be answered by Allah’s grace and favor. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A fasting person, upon breaking his fast, has a supplication that will not be rejected.” Therefore, those who are observing optional fasting—on Mondays, Thursdays, and other recommended days for fasting—should remember their fellow brothers and sisters who are suffering in Syria and other countries of the world.

Moreover, we should recite Qunoot An-Nazilah. This is the kind of special prayer recommended in times of calamities and tragedies. As a community we must close our ranks and pray from our hearts for the brothers and sisters who are suffering most terribly; it is our duty to pray to Allah to grant them victory and relief. Qunoot An-Nazilah can be recited both individually and collectively in Prayers.

There are two valid ways of reciting qunoot; it must be done in the last rak`ah, either before going to ruku`, after finishing the recitation or after rising from ruku` and saying “rabbanaa laka al-hamdu“, and prior to going to prostration; both are perfectly valid options.

Qunoot An-Nazilah has no specific wordings. Here is a sample of Qunoot An-Nazilah in transliteration:

Allaahumma innaa nasta`eenubika wa nastaghfiruka

Wa nu’minu bika wa nuthnee `alayka

Wa nakfuru wa naturuku man yafjuruka

Allaahumma iyyaaka na`budu walaka nusallee wa nasjudu

Wa ilayka nas`aa wa nahfidu

Narjoo rahmataka wa nakshaa `adhaabaka

Inna `adhaabaka al-jidda bi al-kuffaari mulhiq

Allahumma `alayka bi al-mu`tadeena al-mujrimeena

Alladheena istabaahoo al-hurumaati wa qataloo wa sharradoo al-mustadh`afeen,

Allaahuma innahum laa yu`jizoonaka

Allaahumma rabba al-mustadh`afeen

Unsur al-mustadh`afeen (three times)

Allaahumma arinaa feehim `ajaa’iba qudratika Allaahumma ij`al tadbeerahum tadmeeran alayhim

Wa ij`al jundahum jundan `alayhim

Wa ij`al sijnahum sijnan `alayhim

Allaahumma unsur al-mustadh`afeen fee kulli makaani (three times)

Allaahumma unsurhum nasran mu’azzaran (three times)

Alllaahumm irham ummata Muhammad (three times)

Allaahumm farrij `an ummati Muhammadin (three times)

Allaahumma yaa muqalliba al-qulooba thabbit quloobanaa `alaa al-haqq

Allaahumma ij`alnaa hadeen muhtadeen

Allaahumma salli wa sallim `ala nabiyyika wa rasoolika Muhammadin wa `alaa aalihi wa sahbihee ajma`een.”

(O Allah, We seek Your help; we beseech Your forgiveness.

We affirm our faith in You; we praise You.

We reject and abandon everyone who forsakes You.

O Allah, You alone do we worship; unto You alone we pray, and before You alone we prostrate in worship.

Unto You alone we strive and implore.

We cherish hope in Your mercy; we fear Your chastisement.

Most certainly, Your stern punishment will overtake those who reject the truth.

O Allah, we ask Your help against the aggressive oppressors who have committed crimes (against the oppressed), who have violated the sanctities, and killed, and dispersed the oppressed.

O Allah, they cannot overwhelm You.

O Allah, You who are the Lord of the oppressed, Help the oppressed (against their oppressors).

O Allah, show us Your miraculous powers in dealing with them (i.e. the aggressors).

O Allah, make their plans a plan for their destruction.

Make their armies a source of their own defeat.

Make their prison a prison for them.

O Allah, help the oppressed against the oppressors in all parts of the world.

O Allah, have mercy on the Ummah of Muhammad.

O Allah, bring relief to the Ummah of Muhammad.

O Allah, You are the twister of hearts, make our feet steadfast on the path of truth.

O Allah, make us all guides unto truth and make us rightly guided.

O Allah, bless and send peace on Your Prophet and Messenger Muhammad and his entire family and Companions.)

May Allah accept your and our good deeds!

Allah Almighty knows best.

About Dr. Wael Shehab
Dr. Wael Shehab has a PhD in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Imam of the Downtown Toronto Masjid in Canada.