The concept of supporting the oppressed holds a central position in the Islamic conception of social justice. Islam has made advocating for the oppressed a part of faith and a fundamental principle of Quranic ethics. With the arrival of Ramadan, attention to this duty is heightened, not only as an ethical act but also as a harmony with the philosophy and ultimate goal of fasting, which is God-consciousness (Taqwa). This drives Muslims to empathize with the needs of the weak and the suffering of the oppressed.
In this context, Ramadan becomes a season for reviving the value of supporting the oppressed through every possible means, especially amid ongoing humanitarian crises, with the tragedy of Gaza at the forefront. Islamic texts emphasize that supporting the oppressed is a form of worship in itself, as expressed by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed." (Sahih al-Bukhari).
When the Prophet ﷺ was asked about supporting an oppressor, he clarified: "By preventing him from oppressing others." This shows that resisting injustice and lifting harm from the oppressed is a form of worship that transcends seasonal actions. Nevertheless, Ramadan remains a spiritual opportunity to reaffirm its importance and its connection to the value of promoting social justice in our nation.
Social Justice
A deep reflection on Quranic verses presents a complete picture of social justice as an inseparable part of faith. It is consistently linked in the Quran with establishing prayer, giving Zakat, and enjoining justice and kindness: "Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression." (An-Nahl: 90). Vulnerable groups are placed at the heart of the moral project of the Muslim community.
During Ramadan, in particular, these values are strongly evoked as fasting is associated with what can be called voluntary deprivation. This makes the believer more aware of the suffering of the oppressed, explaining the significant increase in charitable spending during Ramadan compared to other months in Muslim societies.
However, this reality underscores the need to rethink Ramadan as fertile ground for activating support for the oppressed through practical tools, rather than mere seasonal sentiment. Historical examples reinforce this perspective. For instance, in Ramadan 584 AH, Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi established new endowments to assist the families of martyrs and those freed from Crusader captivity, inspired by the spirit of the holy month in strengthening communal solidarity. Similarly, Ottoman historical sources indicate that sultans issued pardons for unjustly imprisoned individuals during Ramadan, a tradition rooted in the understanding that social justice is essential for genuine religious practice.
Amid the ongoing aggression against our people in occupied Palestine, supporting the oppressed becomes one of the most important manifestations of Ramadan's values, with the necessity of expressing these values through systematic institutional practices rather than isolated acts of charity. Organized falsehood cannot be countered except by organized truth.
A Ramadan Worship
So, how do we transform supporting the oppressed into a sustainable Ramadan worship? The greatest challenge lies in moving beyond seasonal actions to building a comprehensive project that makes supporting the oppressed a part of Ramadan’s culture first and the rest of the year second. A gap still exists between the emotional enthusiasm for supporting the oppressed and the presence of strategic plans to sustain this enthusiasm after Ramadan.
We draw inspiration from the story of Bilal bin Rabah’s oppression, may Allah be pleased with him. He was a slave tortured by his master, Umayyah bin Khalaf, because of his Islam. However, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, stood by him, purchasing and freeing him, thereby establishing a practical approach followed later by wealthy Muslims in rescuing their brothers from the tyranny of disbelievers.
Thus, supporting the oppressed in Ramadan is not merely a voluntary option but a form of worship deeply rooted in the Islamic conception of justice and kindness. From the verse: "And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children?" (An-Nisa: 75), we learn that supporting the vulnerable is part of striving in the path of Allah.
As oppression escalates in our Islamic world, particularly in Palestine, Ramadan becomes a season for re-educating the Ummah on the values of effective advocacy, rather than limiting it to symbolic gestures.
Advocacy Skills
In this framework, Islamic institutions can launch training platforms during Ramadan to teach youth advocacy skills from an Islamic perspective. For example, linking these efforts to Suhoor programs and Ramadan sermons can embed supporting the oppressed into collective awareness, rather than treating it as a temporary response to political events.
In our view, leveraging technology is crucial in advancing this goal. Social media platforms have become indispensable tools for raising awareness about the issues of the oppressed and coordinating supportive efforts. This can be achieved by creating electronic applications that allow supporters to track how aid reaches the vulnerable, often without requiring government approval.
Supporting the oppressed is not merely a political or relief act but an integral part of the believer’s faith. Fasting, which teaches patience, prepares the soul to embrace the idea of sacrifice for justice. Just as a Muslim sacrifices permissible pleasures during the day to seek Allah’s pleasure, they are also called to sacrifice comfort and indifference to stand with the oppressed. This interplay between the spiritual and the social is the essence of our Islamic understanding of the obligation of fasting.
If Ramadan is a season of worship, then supporting the oppressed today is the foremost act of devotion required by the conscience of the Ummah. As aggression intensifies against Gaza and injustices persist in many parts of the Islamic world, every bite of Iftar, every Rak’ah of Taraweeh, and every word of admonition becomes an opportunity to remind the Ummah that its worship is incomplete unless it transforms into a shield protecting every oppressed person. Only then does Ramadan return to its original form as an ethical school that produces a nation witnessing to humanity, upholding justice, and supporting the oppressed on earth.
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