It feels good to be back after a long hiatus from blogging on Patheos. It was not because of the “writers’ block” or anything like that. It’s just that the daily grind and the rat race got in the way in a big way. As I started thinking about the topic of the next post, I turned back to a trusted guide- the Qur’an, something I read every single day. The title of this post is basiacally a part of the verse from the Qur’an that we can all use on a regular basis.
O you who believe ! if you help (the cause of) Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet.
The Qur’an 47:7
Even though the verse was revealed in the context of battles with the disbelievers, the message is far reaching. One may ask, why would God, the Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Seeing and All-Hearing need the help from us– His creation. God is the cherisher and sustainer, and has promised to provide for the poor, the needy, the hungry, the thirsty, the destitute and the immigrants.
If God wanted to, He could have done this directly through divine intervention. But God invites us to be His helper in carrying out His divine plan. If your neighbor is hungry, God does not come down in person to feed them. If we see an old woman fall down, God does not come down personally to pick her up. If a cat is thirsty, God does not come down in person to quench his thirst.
How about the poor who are struggling to put put the food on the table for their family. God will not come down personally to help him financially.
He has delegated all that to us.
And he has promised reward for doing all the good deeds. So in fact by helping God, we are not helping others, but we really helping ourselves as well- not to mention all the good feelings we get when we help those in need of help.
And who provides voice for the voiceless? Who stands up for justice and calls out the tyrants? Who comes to the aid of the oppressed when the whole world seems silent in the face of occupation? When thousands of children are bombed in Gaza, God is not going to come down personally and protect the innocent women and children. God will nt come down and speak for the voiceless.
God has delegated that to us- the people of conscience.
Palestinians have been under seige and occupied long before the October 7 attack on innocent Israeli citizens. However the collective punishment the innocent Palestinians are receiving at the hand of Israeli forces has no justification. What is even worse is that our own government is aiding this, directly and indirectly, despite the public outcry. We had a chance to help the ceasefire but the United States vetoed the UN resolution calling for ceasefire. Since then, thousands more have died. More than 70% of Palestinians are not displaced from their homes. To make the matters worse, we are not going to help fuel the Israeli war machine to the tune of over 10 billion dollars!
We need to stop the massacre of children, women and other innocent civilians. We are the voice for the voiceless. If we remain silent in the face of injustice and tyranny, we are siding with the oppressors. Let’s call for the immediate ceasefire and a peaceful, REAL solution for the Israeli-Palestine problem, so the people on both sides can live with freedom and dignity. Please call on to president Biden and your representative to push for an end to the killing and an immediate ceasefire.
You will be helping God.
Even if you are not a believer, you will be helping your fellow humans.
Thank you!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In