The Holy Qur’an, through and through, with all its stories of the Prophets and the previous nations, keeps pointing out to the fact that Allah sent his messengers to all those nations who were involved in injustice and oppression. It was only after those nations denied His messengers and the warnings, that Allah inflicted his punishment and wrath upon those nations.
One of the most fundamental duties of a Muslim is that when he or she sees an injustice taking place by another’s words, actions or deeds, he or she should immediately try his or her best to stop that from taking place. The Prophet (S.A.W.) has said that even if one’s own brother is an oppressor or is oppressed, it is our duty to help him. To help him out of the oppression is a good deed but to help a brother to stop oppressing someone is also a good deed.
Those who oppress may feel overjoyed and strong because of the power at their command, but remember, the outcome and the consequences of their actions will be very dangerous. No matter how popular one is, how strong one is, how high one’s rank is, if they have been involved in any kind of injustice or oppression, Allah will definitely bring them to account. This is a lesson we’ve learned from history. Oh Muslims, bear in mind that if there’s ever an injustice or oppression taking place, Allah the Almighty gives the oppressors some time and opportunities to repent. If they repent and regret sincerely within that frame of time, Allah may forgive them. However, if they still stand by their oppression, the consequences will definitely bring about their downfall.
Abdul Muttalib, the then trustee of the Ka’bah had 200 of his camels captured by Abraha who wanted to those camels and his elephants to destroy the Ka’bah. When Abdul Mutallib heard of this, he went and demanded Abraha to immediately return his camels to him. 
Abraha shockingly asked him, “I’m here to destroy the Ka’bah and you are concerned about your camels?
”Abdul Mutallib replied: “The camels belong to me so I’m responsible and have to take care of them. The Ka’bah is Allahs’ house so He will take care of that.”
At the end of this discussion, you will understand that we are a people that will always express our gratitude for the favours that have been done upon us but we are also a people that will not stay put in the face of injustice and oppression.
The Dambulla Jummah Masjid is under attack from certain oppressors. We have been informed of certain activity that is a cause for concern. Dear Muslims, let me remind you that just last week, the President and I were together for the opening of a new Masjid in Nuwara-Eliya. His Excellency spoke of many good aspects about us Muslims, especially the amount of support we and our Muslim brethren worldwide gave our country in Geneva. Thus, we firmly believe that His Excellency and his regime will definitely assist us when we Muslims are oppressed and are dealt with unjustly.
However, if they too go along with the oppressors and unjust racists, let me only remind you of how Allah brought down his wrath upon the world’s most dangerous terrorist unit, the LTTE, and its leader Prabhakaran. Therefore, remember that no matter how much we say or do, those who were denied their right of fulfilling their Jumuah prayer and those that were inflicted with harm as a result of this injustice, Allah will never let them down. My request from all of you right now is to turn to Allah for succour.
Allah’s help and mercy descends upon us in ways unknown to us. Very recently, some of those very people who wanted to demolish one of the masajids in India, accepted Islam. We have seen time and again in history that whoever tries to mess with Allah’s houses and his Qur’an, their consequences have been dire.
Dear Muslims, let me also remind you that our Prophet (S.A.W.) has said that just like attacking the house of Allah is injustice, hurting a mu’min is also considered oppression. Denying the rights of a mu’min is oppression. Abu Dhar (R.A.A.) once insulted Bilal (R.A.A.) by calling him “son of a black woman”. When the Prophet (S.A.W.) heard of this incident, he was in distress and worried much. He called for Abu Dhar (R.A.A.) and inquired “O Abu Dhar, has not the lowness of the Jahiliyath (ignorance) escaped you yet?” The Prophet (S.A.W.), to correct Abu Dhar (R.A.A.), advised him to share his clothing and food with his slaves as penance until death overtook him. Abu Dhar (R.A.A.) was one of the early Muslims and hence understood the advice of the Prophet (S.A.W.). He did exactly as he was instructed to.
It is human to err. We have been made in a way that we are bound to sin, wrong and oppress. Remember that just because we have been given authority, it does not give us the right to oppress others and deny them their fundamental rights. Such acts are carried out only by those who have secret agendas and those that have evil intentions. These are those who want to create friction in a peaceful land. However, no matter who does these things, Allah will never leave them unpunished.
We are Muslims and we are taught to live respectfully by abiding by the commandments of Allah. We can never oppress anyone in any instance. Even if we are a majority community, it does not give us the right to oppress a minority community. This is what Islam teaches us. The Tartars were a people that killed Muslims en masse. However, when the Muslims did innumerable injustices to the tartars and they were on the brink of subjugation, they themselves raised their hands to Allah and proclaimed: “Oh God of the Muslims, if you are a just God, you will definitely teach these Muslims a lesson”. Allah changed their situation in such a way that in just 40 days, 2 million Muslims were murdered.
The Tartars were so rampant in their oppression that they used to hang the Qur’an on the necks of dogs. One of the Tartar leaders once saw a Muslim in his ordinary state worshipping Allah. This leader asked him “Who are you?” The man replied: “I’m a Muslim”. Then the leader, out of his arrogance and attitude towards Muslims, asked him: “Is my dog better, or are you better?”. The Muslims replied: “If I die in the state of eaman, I am better but if I die without eaman, your dog is better”.  This reply touched his heart so much that he told this man to come to him to remind him of this when he becomes a higher ranking leader. That led to the Tartars accepting Islam and also became those who were responsible in spreading and assisting the call of Islam. That is Allah. Indeed, He is the best disposer of affairs.
There was a time when the Masjid in Madina required some land to be expanded. Umar (R.A.A.) requested Abbas (R.A.A.) to hand over the land owned by the latter to the Masjid. Abbas (R.A.A.) declined. Umar (R.A.A.) was angry and demanded Abbas (R.A.A.) to either sell the land to the Masjid or give it as Hadhiyah. Abbas (R.A.A.) declined once again saying he would neither sell it nor donate it. Umar (R.A.A.) had no choice but to take this matter to the Qazi of the time. The decision made was that Umar (R.A.A.), the leader of the time, had no right in acquiring this land for the Masjid without the permission and will of Abbas (R.A.A.). Umar (R.A.A.), out of his fury over the decision inquired from the Qazi on what ground he made that decision. The Qazi pointed out that when the Baithul Muqaddas was being built, Sulaiman (Alaihissalam) wanted to acquire the land and at the time, the price quoted for that land kept increasing by the day. Sulaiman (Alaihissalam) said that he would not pay this price. Allah (SWT) immediately revealed to Sulaiman (Alaihissalam) saying: “Oh Sulaiman, if it is your own wealth that you intend on buying this land, then do not do it. But if it is from the wealth we gave you that you intend to buy this land, than you HAVE TO pay its price and acquire it with the permission of the owner”. Allah (SWT) also points out in the Qur’an that nobody is allowed to acquire anothers property unjustly.
One of the biggest injustices being witnessed in today’s time is that many people unjustly acquire the properties that they have been using on rent. Dear Muslims, remember that even if you live a 1000 years on rented property, that property will never become your own.
Some sahabah brought some non-Muslims to the court of Nabi (S.A.W.). Those non-Muslims complained to the Prophet (S.A.W.) that these Sahabahs did not even introduce them to Islam, neither spoke to them about it but unjustly captured them and brought them along. Nabi (S.A.W.) immediately instructed these Sahabahs to escort these non-believers back to the place where they were and then invite them to Islam.
As we have seen, Islam has always showed us a way of handling and avoiding injustices. It may be a property, a Masjid or an individual’s honour; Islam does not tolerate any injustice to anyone.
Amrah bint Abdul Rahman, a woman who lived during the time of Nabi (S.A.W.), once argued with her husband on the distribution of his wealth to his 2 children from 2 different wives. She argued that he should not be unjust in distributing equal wealth to the child from his first wife and she was his second wife. When this issue was taken to the Nabi (S.A.W.), he said; please do not make me a witness of this injustice. If you are to distribute, everyone deserves an equal share. If one were to distribute his wealth among his children during his lifetime, the wealth has to be distributed equally. However, if ones wealth was to be distributed after death, his/her wealth shall be distributed as per Islamic rulings.
Saad ibn Abi Waqqaas, at the time of his Sakharath told the Prophet (S.A.W.) that he wanted to donate all his wealth to the cause of Islam. Prophet (S.A.W.) refused. Then he said that he wanted to donate at least half his wealth. Prophet (S.A.W.) refused again. Saad ibn Abi Waqqaas then said he wanted to donate 1/3rd of his wealth. Nabi (S.A.W.) told him that if you are to leave this world, make sure you do not leave your children in such a state that they have to stretch their hands in front of others. But for Allah, you may donate only 1/3rd or 1/4th and that is enough. That was the way of our beloved Nabi (S.A.W.). That is what Islam teaches us.
Dear Muslims, remember that if you live strictly by the commandments of Allah and lead your life according to the frameworks of the Sharia, you will never be able to do injustice to anyone; neither will you be subject to any sort of oppression or injustice.
We have made measures to communicate with the leadership of this country. The same leadership that was part of the opening of a Masjid the previous week, will never tolerate the breaking down or the attacking of an existing masjid. We will definitely request the authorities to take a decision in this regard.
Those that have oppressed have never lived peacefully. Allah has never left those people unaccounted for. We are not a people that will resort to violence to gain our just rights. We are a people that will engage in peaceful dialogue and negotiate to achieve what we want to. What we require from all Muslims is that they keep calm during this time and keep making dua. I remind you again and again that Allah will not leave the unjust unpunished, no matter what part of the leadership they are.
We, the Muslims of Sri Lanka, have lived here for over a 1000 years. We have never been a cause of trouble to the people of this land. We have lived here as respected citizens and never been a nuisance to any of the several different authorities that have been in the leadership. Islam very clearly points out that we have no right to oppress the adherents of other religions. We are to respect them. If you insult their idols, they will insult Allah. The Qur’an is very clear when it says “There is no compulsion in religion”. Even our Prime Minister pointed this very same verse the previous week.
The Qur’an says: “To you is your faith and to us is ours”. This teaches us that Islam accommodates the adherents of other religions and that we are to respect them and live freely along with them. Even in Geneva, I was very clear in pointing out to the President that we, Muslims, will always lend our fullest support in resolving the problems of this country. No other country needs to get involved in cleaning our mess. We said this publicly and also on an individual level to the leadership.
We finally raise our hands to Allah that; “Ya Allah, do not make us subject to any kind of injustice in this peaceful land and shower us with your divine protection .” May Allah protect us and all the Muslims of this country. May He protect our masajid. May He protect our madrasas. May He protect all our places of worship. May He free the Baithul Muqaddas for us. May He protect Masjid Al Haraam. May He make those who attacked the Masjid in Dambulla realise their mistake and regret the incident and repent. Ya Allah we leave this matter in your hands. You are watching over everything and You are in absolute control of everything. Ya Allah we hand over this responsibility to you. Aamen.
Sermon Delivered (in Tamil) by Ash Sheikh M.I.M. Rizwe Mufti (President  – All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama)
Transcribed to English by Brother Sameer Yunus  (SLHub Team)
Listen to the Lecture / Download PDF Version