The recent spike in COVID-19 cases in many parts of the United States is at once surprising and expected. It is surprising to many that the most wealthy nation on earth with the most expansive health care system is now the global epicenter of this pandemic. Yet we are not shocked considering how irresponsible the average American has been in taking precautions to prevent the spread. Somehow our society has turned wearing a mask into a symbol of political affiliation rather than medical precaution.

Tafseerah with Imam Azeez

Tafseerah with Imam Azeez

Tafseerah with Imam Azeez

Next to the word Deen, no other word in the Islamic tradition brings warmer feelings to our hearts than the word Ummah. The notion that one belongs to a nation that surpasses time and space, that is not bound by geographical boundaries, language or ethnicity, where people are unified by their worldview and sense of mission. But do we really know what the Ummah is? What it represents? And how far it expands? What does the concept of Ummah mean for us Western Muslims today as we pledge allegiance to Western flags? What instructive value does the “Ummah” bring to our modern struggles for equality and social justice?

At times, we want to take it a bit easy. Sometimes we need a break or a little vacation after a period of serious hard work or a great achievement! But what if that little break ends up undoing all the efforts we’ve made and the hard work we've put in? Today we examine one of the most powerful prophetic traditions: going above and beyond with the extra mile!

It has been reported that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “The best you can ever ask Allah is to ask Him for Aafiyah!“ In times when we’re surrounded by insurmountable challenges, eating away at our physical, mental, and spiritual health, seeking the protection of the Creator becomes an often forgotten remedy that many neglect. What is Aafiyah? And what can it do to preserve us from pandemics, mental health crises, and the erosion of faith?

Ask any Muslim and they’ll tell you that Islam’s rituals and guidelines are grounded in a deeper moral code that we learn from the Qur’an and Sunnah. When taught properly, that morality settles in our hearts and whenever we see something wrong, we can feel it even if we are not sure what to call it. Islamic morality compels each of us to work for the restoration of justice. Throughout our history, this deep morality has given rise to institutions that have sought to restore justice and right wrongs at a systemic level. So for Muslims in America, what cause does our morality compel us pursue? Have we felt that moral awakening in our hearts or are we still dormant with the comforts of life?

In the Qur'anic paradigm, طغيان, tyranny is one of the most destructive forces that man has ever wielded. He reminds us that our duty is to confront this corruption in any way that we can. But what would happen to a people who do not stand up to the tyrants and to the systems that create injustice? What are the consequences to remaining silent and accepting the status quo? As for those who refuse to remain idle in the face of tyranny, what example can we draw from Muslims of the past who made it their mission to dismantle the systems of injustice?

As the country descends into turmoil, and the historic lack of leadership, the search for divine guidance becomes of paramount importance. How can we engage in the cause of social justice full-throttle in the most effective way, while maintaining the boundaries of the Deen?