In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our beloved master Muhammad, the last of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, joining hands to end violence, killings, and bloodshed in society requires a comprehensive approach that combines community action, policy change, and support for vulnerable populations.
Allah the Most High says:
“Whoever kills a soul… it is as if he has killed all of humanity. And whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.” [Qur’an, 5:32]
These Qur’anic words are not just scripture; they are the foundation of a civilised society. Islam holds that the life of an innocent person is sacred, regardless of their background. When we join hands to stop the killing, we are not just saving one person; we are protecting humanity itself. It is high time to move from silence to action, from division to unity. A single drop of innocent blood is a heavy burden on the Day of Judgment.
We are one Ummah, one family, and one body. If the head hurts, the whole body suffers. When blood is shed in our streets, it is our own blood that is flowing. Let us stop the blame game now and unite against the culture of violence. Allah hates the killers, and He hates the destroyers of peace. Let us grab the hands of our brothers and sisters to foster love, not hate.
When Kabila (Cain) threatened his brother Habila (Abel), Abel said:
“If you should raise your hand against me to kill me, I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds.” [Qur’an, 5:28]
This is the ultimate Islamic response to violence: restraint and fear of Allah. True power is not in killing; it is in refusing to kill. It is in being the one who breaks the cycle of revenge.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“A true Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands people are safe.” [Bukhari]
Let your hands build schools, not graves. Let your hands heal wounds, not cause them. Join hands to stop the violence, killing and bloodshed.
Dear brothers and sisters! In the face of widespread violence, silence is not safety—it is complicity. If we see evil and do not stop it, we become part of it. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) told us to change evil with our hands, or our tongues, or our hearts. Let us use our influence, our positions, our words, and our unity to demand peace.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) warned:
“The first matter concerning which scores will be settled among the people on the Day of Resurrection will be bloodshed.” [An-Nasa’i]
Think of the terror of that day. Let us stand together now to stop the killings so we are not standing alone on the Day of Judgment.
Let’s join hands to stop supporting revenge: let’s forgive and seek justice through lawful means. Let’s speak up: we shouldn’t be afraid to condemn the violence. Let’s unite: let’s work across community lines to protect the vulnerable.
Allah Almighty says:
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” [Qur’an, 5:2]
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
