Civic engagementFrom the masjid's own video, Jun 27, 2026.
Islam commands safety for refugees
“A refugee is a refugee even if they don't share your beliefs.”
In one sentence
Islam honors and commands the protection of refugees, and Muslims today must treat displaced people, Muslim and non-Muslim, with safety, dignity, and compassion rather than exploitation or rejection.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- The global scale of forced displacement and its causes
- The Prophet Muhammad's own experience as a forcibly displaced person
- Umm Salama and Abu Salama are separated and she flees Mecca alone with her child
- Modern parallels: ICE detention, family separation, exploitation of refugees
- Uthman ibn Abi Talha escorts Umm Salama honorably across the desert
- Lesson for men: do not exploit vulnerable women, but protect and help them
- Because Uthman honored a refugee, his family kept the keys to the Kaaba
- Quranic command to grant asylum even to non-Muslims, and closing prayers
Try this week
Welcome and grant safety to refugees, including those who do not share your beliefs
Do not exploit vulnerable women; protect, help, and preserve their dignity
Refuse to use dehumanizing labels like 'illegal' or 'alien' for displaced people
Support and advocate for holders of temporary protected status
Pray for refugees, separated families, and those working in detention and policy
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 9:6Allah commands granting asylum to polytheists who seek it and delivering them to safety, used to argue refuge is owed even to non-Muslims
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“honorable men do not do that honorable men protect they don't take advantage they help they don't exploit”
“nobody wants to come to a place where they are referred to as alien nobody wants to come and be told that they are illegal”
“a refugee is a refugee even if they don't share your beliefs give them that make them feel safe”
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