The Sunnah of Activism

Quick Recap – Winning the Hearts

The model for meaningful change, derived from the Prophetic example, is built on a foundation of credibility earned through selfless service. It presents a holistic vision where spreading peace fosters social cohesion, feeding the hungry builds intimate trust, and nurturing a private spiritual life through night prayer fuels public action. This approach engages every level of society, from the broader community to one’s immediate family, insisting that true activism must be rooted in divine consciousness, impeccable manners, and a tangible sense of communal responsibility.

The Social Responsibility of Muslim Activists

Responsibility at All Levels

أَلا كلُّكُمْ راعٍ وكلُّكُمْ مسؤولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ فَالْإِمَامُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مسؤولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَهُوَ مسؤولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ وَالْمَرْأَةُ رَاعِيَةٌ عَلَى بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا وولدِهِ وَهِي مسؤولةٌ عَنْهُمْ وَعَبْدُ الرَّجُلِ رَاعٍ عَلَى مَالِ سَيِّدِهِ وَهُوَ مسؤولٌ عَنهُ أَلا فكلُّكُمْ راعٍ وكلكُمْ مسؤولٌ عَن رعيتِه

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Umar RA reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader of people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects. A man is the guardian of his family and he is responsible for them. A woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and his children and she is responsible for them. The servant of a man is a guardian of the property of his master and he is responsible for it. No doubt, every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.’ (Bukhari)

People often associate activism with the political arena and the public space, and this may cause the rest of the Muslim community to belittle their roles and feel left out. What about the professional people who are busy in making a living, mothers who are taking care of their babies, and the youth who do not have a say in public affairs? In this beautiful hadith, the Prophet ﷺ emphasizes leadership at all levels, even when it comes to servants who are entrusted with the property of their masters. It all depends on understanding that our position and role in life is not disconnected from the act of service that is needed from us. In other words, you are already a shepherd, and you do have responsibility, so go ahead and start tending to your flock.

The journey of faith is not a solitary one, nor is leadership confined to the pulpit or the political stage. The profound wisdom of the Prophet ﷺ, redefines activism and responsibility, placing a sacred duty on every single individual, regardless of their station in life. This is a call to recognize that we are all shepherds, entrusted with a flock, and that true righteousness requires us to care for it.

This universalizes leadership, dismantling the notion that only those in the public eye have a role to play. The mother nurturing her child, the professional excelling in their work with integrity, and the youth managing their affairs—all are activists in their own right, tending to their God-given responsibilities.

In addition, this Hadith tells every shepherd to take care of his or her respective flock first! This may have been obvious for the ancient Arabs not to be consumed by how others tended their herds. However, in our modern world, some of us may forget or ignore this important point. Muslim activists need to stay in their lane and understand their roles and responsibilities in the grand scheme of things. When someone is focusing on their own flock, their own family, or their own task and duties, they are less likely to criticize others and interfere with their flock. They will be truly minding their own business and hence implementing excellence in their faith.

However, perfecting one’s own flock is only the beginning. This is where the concept of the righteous individual (the Salih) evolves into that of the reformer (the muslih). This can be understood through a sobering warning through the question of Umm Salamah RA: “O Messenger of Allah! Shall we be destroyed while there are righteous people among us?” The Prophet’s reply is definitive: “Yes, if wickedness prevails.”

This draws a critical distinction. A salih person may pray, fast, and be morally upright individually, but if they remain silent in the face of spreading societal corruption, their personal righteousness may not be enough to avert collective punishment. The Qur’an affirms that Allah does not destroy a people while they are actively reforming (11:117). The reformer, the muslih, goes beyond personal duty to actively “enjoin good and forbid evil” within their community. This is not an optional add-on to faith; it is a divine command essential for the community’s spiritual survival. The warning is severe: failure to do this can lead to a state where even the most sincere prayers go unanswered.

Therefore, a toned-down, comfortable activism that only encourages good but shies away from challenging evil is insufficient. The Qur’an criticizes past nations precisely for this failure: “they did not forbid each other to do wrong.” True Muslim activism is a holistic nurture and protect mission —it is about feeding the community with good while also courageously curing it of its diseases, be they oppression, racism, or immorality.

This is a call to move from simply being good to doing good, ensuring that our flocks are not only well-tended but also protected from the prevailing wickedness that threatens us all. Your activism begins at home, but it must not end there.