Kashmir Khutbah Talking Points

As we all prepare for Eid, millions of Kashmiris are on lockdown in their own homes, with the Indian army being ordered to shoot them on sight if they step out. 

Thank Muslims and together thank Allah

Hajj is an exercise in struggle and sacrifice while we remember Prophet Ibrahim, Ismail, and Hajjar’s struggle and sacrifices. 

Muslims are successful people, mashAllah. 

Thank God for our freedoms, our life and our iman. 

We are free to pray Muslims in Kashmir are not allowed to leave their homes and are shot on sight. So while we thank God, we remember and support freedom movements around the world.

Quran and Sunnah references:

• As Muslims, we are obliged to stand for justice as is mentioned in the Quran (4:135). In addition to spiritual solitude, ritual prayer, and fasting, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) also played an active role in his community by which he sought justice for both Muslims and non-Muslims. 

• God says in the Quran, as in the earlier revealed Scriptures, that saving one life is like saving all of humanity, and letting one person die is like letting all of humanity die. We are required to uphold life's sanctity. (Quran 5:32)

• Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said “whomsoever sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and 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 with his heart - and that is the weakest of faith” (Sahih Muslim). 

First Class Muslims and First Class Citizens:

We care for our country and we care for the Ummah. We must stand up for truth, peace and justice at home and abroad. 

We, Alhamdulillah, speak up for Palestine, for Muslims in Burma and for Uighur people in China-occupied East Turkistan. Today I would like to share something about a people we rarely talk about. 

Muslims in Kashmir.

As we all prepare for Eid, millions of Kashmiris are on lockdown in their own homes, with the Indian army being ordered to shoot them on sight if they step out.

India is invading Kashmir which it already occupies.

38,000 heavily armed military officers with tanks have been brought into Kashmir in the last couple of days. This is despite the fact that Indian-occupied Kashmir is the most militarized zone in the world: There is one armed Indian soldier for every 10 Kashmiris

Here is what is happening right now:

• India has closed down all media in Kashmir

• No journalist is allowed by India to enter Kashmir

• India has shut down all cell phone and landline service

• Internet service in Kashmir has been blocked by India

• The Indian government has evacuated all tourists and Hindus from Kashmir

• India has refused the United Nations’ request to investigate

So far 96,000 Kashmiris have been killed. And Kashmiri Muslim leaders are appealing to the world for help. 

Action Items:

• Mobilize members of your communities to contact congressional representatives in order so that they may contact Indian officials to defuse the situation in Kashmir

• Remember the Muslims of Kashmir in your du’as