Faith, Justice, and Conscience at Year’s End: A Moral Reflection on War, Peace, and Accountability
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By Mohammed Khaku, Copy Edited by Adam Rizvi, The India Observer, TIO: As Dr. Muna Mushahwer reminds us, righteous anger has long been part of the moral tradition. “Yes, we are angry—furious, even,” she writes, recalling how Jesus himself grew angry in the Temple, as recorded in Matthew 21:12–13, when a sacred place of prayer was turned into a den of thieves. One cannot help but ask: how would he respond today, witnessing land revered by billions transformed into a landscape of death, displacement, and despair? From this anguish emerges a moment of truth—a cry of steadfastness and resistance rooted in conscience.
With Christmas approaching and 2025 drawing to a close, finding the right words feels difficult. It has been a turbulent year, marked by major geopolitical shifts, global realignments, and deepening fractures. Yet nothing weighs heavier than the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, alongside continued violence affecting civilians in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and beyond. Each passing day seems heavier than the last.
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Greetings from Allentown, USA. I extend heartfelt thanks to subscribers and supporters, and warm wishes for a peaceful and reflective holiday season.
As we push forward with Speak Up! Silent No More, our focus remains on what truly matters to everyday Americans: family stability, affordability, accountability in leadership, the dignity of work, and the moral responsibility to question endless war, proxy conflicts, and the unchecked influence of the military-industrial complex. These priorities are essential if we are to protect democratic institutions from the outsized sway of billionaires and the erosion of accountability.
As my family and I prepare to observe the Islamic holy months of Rajab, Shaban, and Ramadan, I am struck by how deeply intertwined our nation’s challenges are—politically and spiritually. Across the country, many churches are consolidating, while youth participation in local mosques continues to decline. These are not merely demographic shifts; they reflect a deeper crisis of meaning and connection.
Also Read, Tweet & Share: No Dates to Break the Fast in Gaza!
Politics alone cannot repair what is broken. For our society to thrive, we need spiritual renewal—one that inspires virtue, strengthens communities, and restores shared ethical ground. Such communities must be built on enduring values of Truth, Trust, and Transparency (TTT). Like oxygen, water, and food sustain the human body, TTT sustains healthy institutions. Though often invisible, this moral thread binds communities together and has repeatedly driven social progress throughout history.
Many people of conscience believe peace cannot exist without justice, and that justice requires honest reckoning with systems of power, occupation, and inequality. From this perspective, sharing stories, amplifying voices, and sustaining civic engagement are acts of responsibility. The struggle for accountability does not end when attention fades; history shows that progress requires persistence.
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For more than seven decades, critics argue, a system of occupation and inequality has been maintained through military force, surveillance, diplomatic cover, and the silence—or paralysis—of international bodies tasked with upholding human rights. If public pressure falters, such systems can reassert themselves with even greater force. But sustained advocacy can redirect resources away from destruction and toward homes, healthcare, education, and human dignity.
It is difficult to celebrate ceasefires, or even sacred holidays, when civilian lives continue to be lost. Many Americans are themselves struggling—living paycheck to paycheck, burdened by student debt, facing rising rents, housing insecurity, and gaps in healthcare—while billions of taxpayer dollars flow into overseas conflicts. These realities demand honest debate and moral courage as we look toward 2026.
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The work continues: defending free speech, the right to protest, and the rights of students, immigrants, and all those resisting racism, poverty, and perpetual war. Faith communities, civil society groups, and everyday citizens all have a role to play in advocating nonviolent pressure, lawful accountability, and adherence to international human rights standards.
People of conscience are called to build broad coalitions against injustice, tyranny, and oppression wherever they appear. The timeless words of Imam Ali offer guidance: “A person is either your brother in faith or your equal in humanity.” Within these two circles—faith and humanity—no one stands outside moral concern.
Imagine the world as a vast garden, where every person is a unique flower—rose, sunflower, tulip—each rooted in their own soil, each deserving care, dignity, and the chance to flourish.
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To be continued: A Vociferous and Thunderous Silence — Church Leadership in the Face of Occupation and War.
Editor’s Note:
This article is published as a guest commentary to encourage thoughtful dialogue on faith, justice, and global human rights. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The India Observer. We believe in providing space for conscience-driven perspectives while upholding the principles of free expression, lawful debate, and ethical journalism.
About the Author:
Mohammed Khaku is the publisher of Speak Up! Silent No More, a Substack platform focused on faith, justice, human rights, and civic engagement. His writing reflects a conscience-driven approach to global and domestic issues, drawing on interfaith values and moral accountability.
This commentary was originally published on the author’s Substack, Speak Up! Silent No More, and is republished here with permission.
Also Read more from this Author: Hajj Message
Curated by Humra Kidwai
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