Defend the vulnerable and oppose injustice
“Dhulm can be translated in many ways: it's injustice, it's wrongdoing.”
Muslims should learn from the Qur’an’s accounts of injustice, reject oppression and possessive greed, and follow the Prophet’s example by defending the vulnerable and solving community problems.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Current crises require Muslims to understand their context and seek peace and security.
- Prophets brought tawhid alongside tactics, strategy, and solutions to their communities’ social ills.
- Qur’anic history connects past human behavior with present choices and consequences in the Hereafter.
- The Prophet’s warning against dhulm and shuh links injustice and greed to darkness, exploitation, violence, and destruction.
- The Prophet’s Makkan example shows him publicly defending orphans and outsiders whose rights were violated.
In the khateeb's words
“But they were also sent with tactics, they were also sent with strategy, and they were also sent as problem solvers.”
“Beware, be fearful, guard yourselves, protect yourselves from dhulm, and dhulm can be translated in many ways, it's injustice, it's wrongdoing”
“This is what destroys all those people that came before you. All these nations, all these people, Whether it's on a personal, you know, a capacity where a person behaves like this personally, They're going to be destroyed.”
“Every single person has a role. Either you be that good neighbor. You be that good employee. You help someone on the street.”
For the dinner table
Imam Arshad reminded us that the prophets called people to worship Allah and helped them solve the problems in their communities. He urged us to learn from their stories and guard against injustice, including taking someone else's rights or giving credit where it does not belong. He also warned against greed that makes us want another person's blessings for ourselves while ignoring their suffering. The Prophet showed us how to stand up for vulnerable people, even while facing hardship himself. Each of us can follow that example by being a good neighbor, helping someone in need, and asking Allah to help us recognize and follow the truth.
- When could you give someone the credit they deserve at school or at home?
- What helps you feel happy for someone who has something you wish you had?
- Who could we help together this week, and what could we do?
More on Civic engagement
If you don't utilize your vote, you have no power.13:23MIC · Malden, MA · Oct 24, 2026Voting is an amanah for justice
CLIC · Clear Lake, TX · Oct 31, 2026Vote patiently for justice and less harm
The only way to change policies is through elections, through voting.24:31Medical Center Islamic · Houston, TX · Oct 30, 2026Voting helps protect religious freedom