Muslims must confront injustice through lawful action
“Political participation is much more nuanced.”
Muslims must not compromise themselves through passivity, but should combine charity with lawful political participation, courage, gradual action, and alliances to confront injustice.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Frames Islam as positive through the hadith about planting a seedling at the end of the world.
- Introduces self-compromise as accepting marginalization and connects the theme to Gaza and the upcoming midterm election.
- Distinguishes civic participation from political participation and presents data about Muslim community engagement.
- Uses Quran 9:19 to argue that charity and service cannot replace confronting unjust authority lawfully.
- Rejects weakness and silence, urging Muslims to vote, influence elected officials, and respond to oppression.
- Draws on the Prophet’s courage, gradual reform, and alliances before closing with prayer.
In the khateeb's words
“Our deen wants us to be positive at all times.”
“Political participation is much more nuanced. The definition of political participation is either helping to decide by voting, of course, helping to decide who gets in office.”
“He was not passive. He had an opinion. He had action in every situation where he could make a difference.”
For the dinner table
Dr. Abbasi began with a hopeful reminder: even when the future looks bleak, planting something good still matters. He urged Muslims to respond to suffering in Gaza and injustice through lawful action, including voting and continuing to speak to elected officials. He explained that helping neighbors and participating in politics are distinct ways to serve, and he encouraged both. He warned against letting feelings of weakness keep us silent or inactive. Drawing on the Prophet’s example, he encouraged courage, gradual change, and cooperation with others on shared concerns.
- What small good deed could you do even if you might never see its results?
- When someone is treated unfairly, what could help you speak up kindly and bravely?
- What could you and someone who thinks differently from you work together to improve?
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