Voting is an amanah for justice
“If you don't utilize your vote, you have no power.”
Muslims in the United States must treat voting and sustained civic engagement as an amanah, using their political power to pursue justice and protect their community.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Frames voting as an amanah in a system where citizens choose leaders.
- Connects civic participation to justice, family concerns, and community representation.
- Grounds action in Quranic commands to uphold justice and fulfill trusts.
- Addresses objections about democracy and imperfect candidates through the principle of choosing lesser harm.
- Uses the story of Musa and al-Khidr to illustrate preventing greater harm.
- Calls listeners to research ballots, vote, follow up with officials, and remain civically engaged.
- Urges attendance at a Malden school meeting to advocate for Eid recognition.
In the khateeb's words
“Justice requires action. It does not just require just sitting down and feeling bad about the injustices that are happening to other people.”
“And if you don't utilize your vote, you have no power.”
“You need to follow up and make sure these people who promise things to our community actually fulfill these promises.”
For the dinner table
Today the imam reminded us that in this country our vote is an amanah, a trust from Allah, just like money or children someone leaves in our care. Staying home and doing nothing means wasting that trust. He said it's normal to feel tired or discouraged by all the injustice in the world, but we should never let that stop us, because standing up for justice takes effort even when it isn't easy or convenient. He told the story of Al-Khidr making a hole in a boat so a cruel king wouldn't take it, which teaches that when every choice has some harm, we pick the one that does the least harm instead of walking away. He asked everyone who is registered to vote on Tuesday, November 3rd, and to go to the school meeting this Tuesday evening to ask that Eid be made a school holiday in Malden.
- Besides money or keeping someone's things safe, what is something people trust you to take care of?
- If you were on Al-Khidr's boat, would you rather have a damaged boat or no boat at all, and why?
- What is one way you could stand up for what's right at school, even if it's hard or nobody notices?
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