When we look at the reality of the current state of the Muslim Ummah with open eyes, it’s truly sad and heartbreaking. In various parts of the world, including India and Kashmir, the Xinjiang region of China (Uighur), and Myanmar (Rohingya community), Muslims are experiencing tremendously painful pressures and injustices. Our brothers and sisters in Palestine (Gaza) have been suffering for almost 80 years at the hands of the Zionist Israeli occupiers. All of this seems to be happening without the Muslim Ummah being able to stop it. We are weak and powerless to take “real action” to stop the genocide against the Palestinian people.
We often say that this is because of the strength of the enemies. The Zionist Israeli occupiers, for example, are strong because they are supported by the world’s strongest country, the United States. Because of their strength and support from powerful countries, our brothers and sisters in faith are experiencing inhumane treatment.
The reality is the situation in Gaza which is not just about occupation and ethnic cleansing, it is an attempt for a total elimination through genocide and starvation. It is not because the enemies are powerful. But because the Ummah is weak and powerless. The powerlessness of the global Muslim Ummah is beyond our human rational comprehension. Considering that Muslims are a large community of almost 2 billion people, Muslims are in countries rich in natural resources. The number of Muslim-majority countries is significant, making them the second-largest organization within the United Nations (UN) after the Non-Aligned Movement.
With the paradoxical reality of the Ummah, where Muslims are large in number and should be strong, but are instead weak and powerless, experiencing poor treatment, it reminds us of the heavenly guidance guidance, both through the Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This Ummah will never solve its problems without divine guidance.
This time, I want to remind us all of a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that predicted the future state of his followers. He predicted this more than 15 centuries ago saying:
“The nations are about to call each other to attack you (Muslims) as eaters call each other to their food.’ Someone asked: ‘Will that be because of our small numbers on that day?’ He said: ‘No, you will be numerous, but you will be like the foam of the sea, and Allah will take the fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and cast weakness into your hearts.’ Someone asked: ‘What is the weakness, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Love of this world and dislike of death”. (Narrated by Abu Dawud)
If we read this hadith carefully and look at the current reality of the Muslim Ummah, we will find the answer to the paradoxical puzzle. The Muslim community is large and should be rich and strong, but in reality, they are weak and experiencing poor treatment from other nations.
There are several important points to underline from this hadith:
- The nations will gather (collaborate) to attack Muslims like people gathering to eat food. This is exactly what is happening today, with nations uniting to attack Muslims not just militarily but in all aspects of life, including politics, economy, media, culture, and even religion.
- The phrase “eat food” indicates that Muslims are like delicious food, with abundant resources that many nations want to exploit. The Muslim world is full of resources, from oil and gas to gold and other minerals, to agricultural and marine resources.
- Muslims are not small in number; they are a large group, even the largest or will be the largest in a short time. Currently, there are around 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, and this number continues to grow.
- Muslims are like foam on the surface of the sea, meaningless and without value, floating aimlessly with the currents and winds. This describes the Muslim community’s lack of significance, dignity, and position in the world affairs.
- Allah will remove the fear of Muslims from the hearts of their enemies. As we see today, enemies are not just fearless but have reached a point where they are convinced that Muslims will not respond to their evil actions.
- Allah will instill a mental state called “wahan” in the hearts of Muslims. When the companions asked about “wahan,” the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not provide a direct translation or definition but described its symptoms.
- The direct phenomenon (symptoms) resulting from “wahan” is “love of the world and hatred of death.” When this disease is embedded in the soul, the result is greed for the world and fear of death. This is real and it is happening to the Muslim Ummah today.
Wahan is Inferiority complex
“Wahan” is a feeling of inferiority. In fact, if we understand it more deeply, the term “wahan” mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him) has become a phenomenon of the modern world today. “Wahan” comes from the word “wahana-yahinu-hinatun,” which can be interpreted as a mental attitude that feels humiliated.
Another term for it is “inferiority complex.” This “inferiority complex” mentality and character are what afflict the Muslim Ummah today. There’s a feeling of weakness, powerlessness, and even a lack of feelings of honor and dignity with faith and Islam. As a result, other nations can easily humiliate the Ummah with various forms of humiliations.
The inferiority complex that afflicts this Ummah is a direct result of the two symptoms mentioned earlier in the hadith: “love of the world and hatred of death”. This excessive love of the world not only leads to a materialistic lifestyle but also causes the community to lose its sense of humanity. A common phenomenon happens when humans are consumed by worldly tendencies and the love for it they will lose their sense of humanity. This disease is known as “maaddiyah” or materialism.
It’s time for the community to stop only lamenting and blaming others. Religion teaches that Iblis and his soldiers are given ample opportunity to act. Therefore, those evil enemies will certainly do everything to attack and destroy this ummah. That’s natural and certain. The Ummah shouldn’t waste energy thinking about what Iblis and his soldiers do and will continue to do. But rather should focus on empowering themselves against these attacks.
Unfortunately, the Ummah today is not only weak in defending itself but also (many of them) shamelessly collaborates with enemies to satisfy their worldly greed and avoid death.
O Muslim Ummah, it’s time to wake up!*
Manhattan City, April 8, 2025
Director of Jamaica Muslim Center & President of Nusantara Foundation
