I think what I've learned since Oct 7 (only after which I learned of Sudan and now a growing list of horrors) that boycotting and checking who owns what company and where their money goes and so on and so forth is part of what it means to have taqwa. We cannot become God-conscious if we do not become aware of the ripple effects of our daily actions.
It's absolutely absurd that buying a regular pair of pants somehow means someone somewhere continues to live the insufferable life of a slave, but that's the world we live in. So we ought to try to become aware, and then do better. Those who could change everything tomorrow for the better never will, so the average man has to blow bubbles at the mutant grizzly bear that is capitalism, colonialism, and all other evil systems, and play his part in righting the wrongs of those in power.
Supply chains! SubhanAllah. I think I've always been turned off by consumer culture but it's so heartening to see more people understanding this. Alhamdulillah. We do what we can!
Boom! On the button. And when will we link or delink the everydayness we live, happily trundling along in the marketing bleached blood of innocents? Whilst we deliberately avert our eyes and never expect the debts to come due. As Bob Marley said rain doesn’t fall on one man’s rooftop!
Agreed. We're really past the point of ignorance here. Especially if we live in any sort of privilege. We have to contend with the reality of a connected world - there are truths we have access to that we just cannot ignore if we want to be forces for good. There's just no excuse.
Yes it's a shame how blind we are to the reality of our actions. We truly are consumer cyborgs programmed to serve the genocidal capitalist master. We must seek to break away from this by overgrowing.
Very true. There's just no hiding from the consequences of our actions, no matter how innocent we think they are. I hope this piece inspires people to look a little deeper into their lives...!
Since I was probably 6 or sometime early in my childhood, my family would huddle around whatever device we were watching YT on, and watch the Dubai International Quran Competition. Eventually my brother competed and placed 20-something, and I joked with him then that imagine I compete too someday and bring home the "gold medal."
I can now. I could potentially win 1st (I have in Egypt, so I know it's possible, only thanks to God and the effort of my parents and teachers), win probably close to a 100 thousand Canadian dollars, and make history (Canada has never won 1st or even top 10 as far as I know).
I'm almost out of time to go (age limit), but since I learned that the UAE is responsible (at least in big part) for the genocide in Sudan, I really don't know if I want to try and make my childhood dream come true. Would the prize money be tainted by innocent blood? What good can there be in a Quran competition hosted by a genocidal government?
I don't have an answer yet, and this might be a cop out in disguise because preparing to win an international Quran comp is no easy task. My parents say I should still go. Would donating some of the prize money to orgs aiding displaced Sudanese people balance the scale?
First of all, allahumma barik and mabrook on your achievements!
Yes this is a difficult situation and one I would definitely do istikharah about. Of course we see sportsmen taking principled stands at times but as you've said perhaps taking the money and donating it would be better. Many of those sportsmen get paid an obscene amount of money so perhaps it doesn't hurt them so much. Allah knows best what will suit your choice and He will surely guide you.
Perhaps you could use your acceptance speech (in'shaa'Allah and if there is one!) to show solidarity.
I think what I've learned since Oct 7 (only after which I learned of Sudan and now a growing list of horrors) that boycotting and checking who owns what company and where their money goes and so on and so forth is part of what it means to have taqwa. We cannot become God-conscious if we do not become aware of the ripple effects of our daily actions.
It's absolutely absurd that buying a regular pair of pants somehow means someone somewhere continues to live the insufferable life of a slave, but that's the world we live in. So we ought to try to become aware, and then do better. Those who could change everything tomorrow for the better never will, so the average man has to blow bubbles at the mutant grizzly bear that is capitalism, colonialism, and all other evil systems, and play his part in righting the wrongs of those in power.
Supply chains! SubhanAllah. I think I've always been turned off by consumer culture but it's so heartening to see more people understanding this. Alhamdulillah. We do what we can!
Boom! On the button. And when will we link or delink the everydayness we live, happily trundling along in the marketing bleached blood of innocents? Whilst we deliberately avert our eyes and never expect the debts to come due. As Bob Marley said rain doesn’t fall on one man’s rooftop!
Agreed. We're really past the point of ignorance here. Especially if we live in any sort of privilege. We have to contend with the reality of a connected world - there are truths we have access to that we just cannot ignore if we want to be forces for good. There's just no excuse.
Yes it's a shame how blind we are to the reality of our actions. We truly are consumer cyborgs programmed to serve the genocidal capitalist master. We must seek to break away from this by overgrowing.
Very true. There's just no hiding from the consequences of our actions, no matter how innocent we think they are. I hope this piece inspires people to look a little deeper into their lives...!
Since I was probably 6 or sometime early in my childhood, my family would huddle around whatever device we were watching YT on, and watch the Dubai International Quran Competition. Eventually my brother competed and placed 20-something, and I joked with him then that imagine I compete too someday and bring home the "gold medal."
I can now. I could potentially win 1st (I have in Egypt, so I know it's possible, only thanks to God and the effort of my parents and teachers), win probably close to a 100 thousand Canadian dollars, and make history (Canada has never won 1st or even top 10 as far as I know).
I'm almost out of time to go (age limit), but since I learned that the UAE is responsible (at least in big part) for the genocide in Sudan, I really don't know if I want to try and make my childhood dream come true. Would the prize money be tainted by innocent blood? What good can there be in a Quran competition hosted by a genocidal government?
I don't have an answer yet, and this might be a cop out in disguise because preparing to win an international Quran comp is no easy task. My parents say I should still go. Would donating some of the prize money to orgs aiding displaced Sudanese people balance the scale?
Allahu a3lam.
First of all, allahumma barik and mabrook on your achievements!
Yes this is a difficult situation and one I would definitely do istikharah about. Of course we see sportsmen taking principled stands at times but as you've said perhaps taking the money and donating it would be better. Many of those sportsmen get paid an obscene amount of money so perhaps it doesn't hurt them so much. Allah knows best what will suit your choice and He will surely guide you.
Perhaps you could use your acceptance speech (in'shaa'Allah and if there is one!) to show solidarity.