Some Thoughts on Activism & Recharging
In all my years of activism, I haven’t seen this kind of outpouring before. So many of you are reaching out to me in your anger and outrage. I understand completely!
I think this one hurts differently than when I talk about abuse or domestic violence or the migrant worker situation because it was so BLATANT and coarse and so unapologetic, and therefore hits a lot closer to home. A lot of my friends who reached out are also educators and extremely concerned for their students.
Some things to note:
1 — Find out where you can make the most meaningful change. We all have our roles to play.
No one has the temperament to do this all the time (Why do you think the migrant workers one is done only during Ramadan, and my domestic abuse campaigning has been quiet for really long? Because it’s extremely heavy on the heart even if it’s necessary!). My public Facebook posts are not where it’s making the most difference. It is in my peer support for abuse survivors which happens year-round. Activism/dakwah continues long after the social media debacle is over.
2 — The basis for all activism/dakwah is love.
You are angry because you care. Caring is good! Don’t let anyone make you feel like you cannot make a difference or that it’s a waste of time. Channel your emotions and use it as fuel to carry on.
3 — Resilience is about how you recharge, not how you endure.
Yes, there is a time to read and share posts and have difficult conversations and mobilise. But the only way I could have continued this long is because I take time-outs from social media to pray, read Dua an-Nasiri and sing along to salawat and qasidah and read poetry and laugh. I read my Facebook bio and thought how apt it was that it says “Giggler, hoper, high-fiver, kindness enthusiast.” Haha. Laughing/giggling is so important!! Yes, everything feels very serious and very important right now, but we also need to find the humour and joy in how ridonkulous it all is. (Also why I made memes!)
Recharge and continue!
4 — I keep typing activism/dakwah. That’s because to me, it is the same thing!
My faith is what motivates me to hope and strive for a better society for everyone. (Also why I get extra extra mad when people use religion to justify their nonsense!) Our years of Islamic study, or long prayers, or zikr means literally nothing if it leads us to being a crappy human being! The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam was literally sent “to perfect good character”.
Have humility knowing that you might be wrong and apologise quickly. And when striving for a better society, don’t look down on others. It all has to come from a place of love and wanting the best for another. It would be so easy for shaytaan and our nafs to come in and make us believe that our anger is solely for God but be careful if it makes you feel like you are better than others, even if that ‘others’ is currently doing the harm. You can expect better from someone without judging them.
5 — Hope is a good thing.
Hope helps me carry on long after people go on to talk about the next thing (and they will very soon). Meaningful change happens over years, not one social media or crowdfunding campaign. I always think about the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam when activism stuff gets hard because he was steadfast and was it for YEARS.
Hang on for the ride!
