Muslim Response to Global Threats

 The world woke up on Sunday morning, June 22nd, to news of the American targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities. This news caused widespread fear, especially in Arab and Islamic countries, where people view the "nuclear bomb" as the greatest threat humanity faces in the modern era. It poses a risk that threatens human existence and civilization with annihilation, especially as we live in a world teeming with conflicts and tribulations, with war raging in the Middle East amidst threats of a third world war that could uproot nations from existence and surround human lives with destruction and demise.

Here, the most important question arises:

From where does a Muslim draw the strength to face the specter of nuclear war and the dangers that threaten the entire human race?

In this article, we try to invoke the most important means by which a believer gains strength in confronting the fires of war that surround them everywhere:

1. Faith in God is a Lifeline

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Wondrous is the affair of the believer, for there is good in every matter for him, and this is not the case for anyone except the believer. If he is met with good fortune, he is grateful and that is good for him; and if he is met with hardship, he is patient and that is good for him." (Narrated by Muslim). This Hadith makes it clear that the believer faces both ease and hardship with contentment and acceptance of what God has ordained, because they draw their strength from God alone and are completely certain that all their affairs are in God's hands, in compliance with the Almighty's saying: "Say, 'Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has decreed for us. He is our Protector; and in Allah let the believers put their trust.'" (Quran 9:51).

This absolute faith in God is what grants the Muslim the strength to face life's greatest threats, even the threat of losing life itself, due to their certainty that their lifespan and appointed time are written with their Lord, and no one can add to or subtract from it, not even for a second. So, what is there to fear?!

2. Steadfastness in Times of Hardship is a Source of Strength

Here, we recall the scene of the Prophet (peace be upon him) participating with the Muslims in digging the trench around Medina during the Battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates). He joined them in carrying and moving the earth. Despite the cold weather, the strong winds, and the confederate armies surrounding Medina, the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged and prayed for them, saying: "O Allah, there is no life but the life of the Hereafter, so forgive Ansar and the Muhajireen." (Narrated by Bukhari). He also gave them good tidings of the conquest of Syria, Persia, and Yemen, despite the complete siege they were under!

This scene is enough to grant a Muslim all the strength to face difficulties, just as their Messenger and role model spoke to his companions about victory and conquest and urged them to be steadfast while they were besieged in their city and the confederate armies surrounded them from all directions!

But it is trust in God and absolute certainty in His victory and empowerment, following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him), as Allah Almighty commanded us in His saying: "There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often." (Quran 33:21).

3. Self and Community Reform

The Almighty says: "And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers." (Quran 11:117). God created humans and made them His vicegerents on Earth to spread goodness and prosperity. Indeed, He linked their survival and protection from destruction to their striving on Earth to reform themselves and others. From this, the great role of a Muslim in times of trials and crises becomes clear; their role extends beyond self-reform to encompass the reform of all humanity. Therefore, they bring good tidings to people even in the darkest circumstances and strive diligently to develop the Earth, certain that human lifespans are in the hands of their Creator alone.

4. Planting a Sapling, even if Doomsday is at the Gates

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If the Hour (Judgment Day) is established while one of you has a sapling in his hand, let him plant it." This means that a Muslim strives and exerts effort in life despite all the worries and tribulations that afflict it, out of certainty that they are required to act, while the results proceed according to the will of Allah Almighty. Therefore, it is not surprising to find them building and developing despite war and destruction, and planting and cultivating despite killing and devastation, because the Muslim's creed makes them view matters from another perspective: everything that happens in this life proceeds according to the will of Allah Almighty, and no one possesses destiny, sustenance, life, or death except Allah Almighty. Thus, you will find them planting a sapling in the earth even if Doomsday is at the gates.

5. Adhering to Ethics Despite Chaos

The greatness of Islam is manifested during wars and tribulations, as it urges Muslims to cling to their noble ethics despite the rampant corruption around them. Islam has established ethics for war: a Muslim should not kill an old man, a woman, or a child, nor cut down a tree, burn, or destroy. Islam also commanded its soldiers to treat prisoners well and not to terrorize those who are safe. What ethics are these?!

A Muslim does not act like their enemies, nor do they return evil with evil. Rather, they respond with goodness and kindness. The Almighty says: "And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that which is better." (Quran 41:34).

Perhaps the most prominent example of this is the good treatment of prisoners by the people of Gaza, despite the enemy's mistreatment of their own prisoners. But these are the ethics of Islam.

6. Striving in Knowledge and Action

The spiritual strength of a Muslim and their absolute faith in God are inseparable from their material strength, in terms of knowledge, work, and preparing all means of power, as Allah Almighty commanded us: "And prepare against them whatever you are able of power." (Quran 8:60).

A strong Muslim is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak Muslim. Therefore, a Muslim is required to possess all means of material strength to be an active force, not a passive one. This enables them to make their own decisions, and no one, no matter how powerful, can impose a reality they do not accept, or threaten them with nuclear war or otherwise.

The Muslim in Times of Tribulations

A Muslim lives in a world teeming with conflicts and tribulations, and they are an integral part of that world, inseparable from it. Yet, despite the tribulations and threats surrounding them, they remain a beacon of light amidst the darkness, the hand that builds and develops despite destruction, and the one who extends good to all humanity because they strive for reform alongside their diligent pursuit of righteousness.

In light of the threats of a third world war facing the world, the Muslim remains steadfast in their principles, adorned with their ethics, believing that what missed them was not to befall them, and what befell them was not to miss them. This is the will of God proceeding in His creation. If God wills life for them, then let life be for God as He loves and is pleased with. And if God wills to take it, then let death be the greatest message for humanity, from which they draw values of patience, steadfastness, and adherence to principle.