In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Asalaamu Alaiakum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu

I hold a small, white book in my hands. A book so small, I can squeeze it into my jacket pocket. On the front cover is a picture of an African child, apparently starving and afraid, clenching it's mothers beaded necklace. The title: The Cries of Injustice, a Plea for Peace by Nimo Abdi Warfa. I beam with pride not only because she is Muslim but also the fact that she's my very own cousin. Although she is young in years (only a junior in high school) she is old in experience and wisdom, masha'Allah.The passion and courage Nimo has for speaking for the voiceless fills me with such admiration for her. I can only hope to reach such a level of compassion and dedication for my Brothers and Sisters all over the world. 

She has dedicated this book to her cousins who were killed recently. Along with a customer and friend, they were gunned down by robbers. May Allah Azza wa Jal grant them Jannah, ameen.

In this book, Nimo uses personal stories and poems not only to educate the reader but also encourage them to speak for the oppressed, as they have very few to do that for them, keep them in mind, as they are forgotten; to at least sympathize with them, as they are living in the harshest of conditions.

As I read each chapter of this book, I can tell Nimo has poured her heart out. Each word, each line is heartfelt. Nimo didn't leave a stone unturned; she wrote about all the oppressed peoples of the world. From the orphan child, widowed mother to the persecuted man, woman and child.

Not only does she mention places such as Palestine, but she also discusses the situation in Ogadenia, an occupied region in Ethiopia. Unlike other lands, Ogadenia hardly gets any 'news coverage'. However their condition is just as bad, if not worse, than other Muslim lands. This region was originally a part of Somalia until it was colonized and assigned to the Ethiopian government by the colonial powers. Today many Ogaden refugees have fled their home in search for peace. This region is enduring much more than genocide, yet the world has not given it any attention nor has it helped any of its people. In this book Nimo has given this region which remains in the darkness of tyranny, some light. Many of Nimo's and my own family members actually live there. They have been jailed, tortured or killed. May Allah Azza wa Jal grant them victory over their oppressors, ameen!

 
This book has truly opened my eyes. Upon finishing each chapter, I started to realize how consumed I am by this dunya. How little thought I give to my Brothers and Sisters overseas. In one chapter Nimo writes about 'a blind world' . She writes: "A blind world knows not the victim from the oppressor. A blind world understands not the cries of women men and children. A blind world understands not the meaning of peace, of tranquility and ease." 

This world and it's people have truly become blinded! In another chapter, Nimo writes:

"My wealth I would give to you if it were to make you smile and wipe away your tears. My food I would give to you if your empty belly it would satisfy. My books and pens I would give to you if it were to heal your wounds."

SubhanAllah. If only such thoughts ran across my mind! Through all of our minds!

Opression continues each day and all we can worry about is our own food, drink, sleep and money.

This reminds of something Imam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah) wrote in his book A'alaam al-Muwaqqi'een (volume 2, page 176):

"...Isn't the misfortune of Islam due only to those who whenever their life and food are secure, would not care about what happens to the religion? The best among them would offer a sorry face. But if they were challenged in one of the things their heart is attached to like their money, they would spare no efforts to get it back. These people, besides deserving the anger of Allah, are afflicted with the greatest calamity without even knowing it: They have a dead heart. Indeed the more alive a person's heart is, the stronger its anger for the sake of Allah and the more complete his support to Islam and Muslims."

SubhanAllah! I couldn't help but think most of do in fact posses a dead heart! All we can think about is dunya, dunya, dunya!. When will the next check come? When will the latest iPhone be out? These things occupy our mind while Muslims worldwide are suffering. When the innocent are crying with no one to comfort them. When millions go hungry as we waste and throw out tons of food! Our minds are on the dollar, their minds are on surviving each day.

A very frightening hadith:

'Amr ibn Auf al-Ansaaree radiallaahu 'anhu related that the Prophet Salalahu Alayhi wa Salam said: "....by Allaah I do not fear poverty for you, but I fear that this world will be opened up for you, just as it was for those before you. So you will compete with one another for it, as they competed for it; and it will destroy you as it destroyed them."

[Related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

May Alah save us from such destruction, ameen!

Alhamdulilah, and again Alhamdulilah, this book was a wake-up call for me. It has opened my eyes to the horrible conditions of my Muslim Brothers and Sisters. It has also inspired me to make a change, even if it may seem small in my eyes; it's better than nothing. Even feeling sadness and sympathy is better than nothing.

On the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, Salalahu Alayhi wa Salam, say: "When any one of you sees anything that is disapproved (of by Allah), let him change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his heart, though that is the weakest (kind of) faith."

[Muslim]

I would recommend this book to everyone, whether they are Muslim or not. As Martin Luther King once said: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

I ask you to support this young, inspiring author and activist. Help her to help this Ummah. All proceeds will go to ordering and writing more books, setting up events for awareness and helping needy Brothers and Sisters worldwide. 

A website is being set up for this Book, insha'Allah. Till then you can contact the author directly to order a book. 

Contact Nimo: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=373534177906&ref=mf

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/Mujahidah4life

May Allah reward her and all those who speak the truth in the face of oppression,
May Allah make affairs easy for our Brothers and Sisters worldwide, 
May Allah grant us victory over the oppressors, ameen!

I conclude with a beautiful, uplifting verse from the Book of Allah Azza wa Jal:

"Sufficient is Allah as an ally and sufficient is Allah to bring victory" (4:45, Al-Quran)

BarakAllahu Feekum
Wa'Salaamu Alaaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu
Sister Anisa