Assalamu Alaykum, Eid Mubarak! After two years, we sent our Hajis to the holiest of places, and with much difficulty, they will have completed their pilgrimage Inshallah. Hajj is not an easy task; it requires strenuous exercise, focus, discipline, and patience- it is, like life itself, a trial with a sweet reward. Today, I would like to take you back to the one and only Hajj that was performed by our Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him]. After years of displacement, exile, and rejection, the Prophet [pbuh] finally got the opportunity to make his pilgrimage to Makkah, and pray in the Holy Mosque once again. At Arafat, on the mountain, he made a speech addressing not just the Muslims, but all of Humankind. He began by reminding us that the rights and property of our Muslim brothers and sisters are a sacred trust from Allah and that we cannot take away from anyone what is rightfully theirs. He continues, reminding us about the importance of fearing Allah with regard to those under our care- the women, who were considered inferior during the era of jahiiyaah, and who were given their complete rights under the laws of Islam. Finally, he reminds us that we must eradicate the notion of one race being superior to another. All are equal in the eyes of Allah, except by piety and good action. This final address to the Muslims is a reminder to us about the importance of equity and justice. It is an ode to the Islamic principles of giving every person their due and fearing God with regard to the treatment of people. It reinvigorates the message that racism is incompatible with the correct practice of our deen, and assures us that standing for justice is a work of good that is necessary and valuable for our ummah. I hope that while celebrating Eid today with your family and friends, you remember the lessons of the last sermon of the Prophet [pbuh] and apply them in your life. Remember those in your communities whose rights have been violated, who are not cared for properly, and who are affected by the biases of superiority. Stand up, raise your voice against injustice, and be a voice for the voiceless. Sincerely, and with best wishes Dr. Zahid Bukhari
Executive Director
ICNA Council for Social Justice
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