Shift away from performative grief, focus on lasting action for justice - Nouman Ali Khan
Living under an unjust roof gave rise to many conflicts, including the insecurity of people’s rights.
SHAH ALAM - Justice starts at home, in how individuals treat those closest to them.
American Muslim preacher Nouman Ali Khan said living under an unjust roof gave rise to many conflicts, including the insecurity of people’s rights.
This is observed in Gaza, where people are not only stripped of their basic needs but also their lives, leaving many families hanging and desperate for justice.
He said people should shift away from performative grief and focus on building sustainable power through thoughtful, long-term action instead of reacting emotionally.
He urged Muslims, especially the youth, not to be paralysed by the weight of global injustices like the genocide in Palestine.
Instead, he encouraged people to take purposeful action grounded in Islamic values and efforts that go beyond momentary reactions and lead to lasting, meaningful change.
"I believe justice begins with how you treat those closest to you. The foundation of justice is giving people their due rights. But often, there’s tension when you give one group their rights, another may feel theirs are being neglected.
"Justice doesn’t mean making everyone happy; it means giving people what they deserve and not wronging anyone," he said during his visit to the Karangkraf Complex.
He stressed the importance of continuing to do what was right, highlighting how guilt was often misused to manipulate others in the name of justice.
He added that being able to step back from both personal emotions and the emotions of others allowed a person to practise justice more fairly, making sure no one was treated unfairly whether it was a spouse, child, parent, or sibling.
He said it was important not to let guilt dictate what was right, as Allah’s words in Quran were clear and offered direct guidance on justice.
"Allah's words are clear. The religion is clear. The guidance is clear. So follow the guidance and don't let yourself be swayed by your own emotions or the emotions of others," he said.
He added that global conflicts have shown how hard it was to achieve true justice.
He said the issue was no longer about recognising whether injustice was happening, as that was already clear to everyone.
The real question now, he said was what actions will be taken in response.
He emphasised that the responsibility fell largely on the youth, who shaped much of today’s narratives.
"If you truly care about justice, you have two choices, you can cry about justice, or you can build the power to execute it.
"If you think crying is enough, go ahead. But if you believe something needs to be done about it, we must build power and understand how it controls everything.
"Power is not just about fighting. It is about building something sustainable, something that lasts beyond the moment.
"We need to develop a Quran-inspired, Sirah-inspired worldview. One that shows us how Muslims can build lasting power. Only then can we be in a position to implement the justice we so desperately need," he added.
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