SWEDEN 2015

It has been truly shocking and saddening to see Sweden, a country that has reportedly taken in 160,000 Syrian refuges, recently being a target for senseless violence.
The recent attack on the streets of Stockholm was exactly where over 6000 of us Muslims walked together in a huge peaceful Muharram procession (juloos) under the title of “In the Footsteps of Zaynab a.s” just two years ago in October 2015. We gathered in a massive area and people all over the downtown area (and from the windows and balconies of high glass buildings) watched us curiously.
It was an incredible moment indeed and I was blessed to have the opportunity to speak about Bibi Zaynab a.s and the legacy she has left for us all, Muslims and non-Muslims.
What I am most thankful for is that I spoke directly to the people of Sweden and told them not only how great their country is to care for the oppressed of this world but also how we, as Muslims, are eager to give back to society.
I also drew comparisons between what the compassionate nations of the world are doing and what the message of Bibi Zaynab a.s was.
Here are some key excerpts from my 13 min speech and some of the amazing pictures of that most memorable day of my life.
“Brothers and sisters of Sweden, this most beautiful land. Our greetings to you
You make us proud!
Long Live Sweden! We are proud to live here.
We love this land you know why?
Because, you, my brothers and sisters of Sweden
You stand for justice
You stand against oppression
You stand for human rights
You have shown the world how to accept the people who are oppressed
People of Sweden you make us proud
You have taken in over 65,000 oppressed people into your shores
You have opened your hearts, your homes, your land and you continue to do so
My greetings and a salute to your Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, who has said in the meetings that “we want to set a standard, a Europe-wide solution for hosting refugees.”
And your Foreign Minister has said that “it is important we signal being a community that rests on common values of democracy and defense of human rights.”
Subhnallah! Praise be to God that Sweden is a land that stands for human rights for that is what we Muslims stand for us well
We love people who have shared values of morality, of democracy, of helping the oppressed. We respect you, we love you, we are with you, we will show you what the true name of Islam is, what the true essence of Islam is.
“Praise be to God that Sweden is a land that stands up for human rights for that is what we Muslims stand for as well. And this name that you see here today and the name that you hear, the name of Hussein. THIS is why we love Hussein, for Hussein too stood up for human rights, he stood up against oppression, he stood up for freedom. He stood for a dignified human being”
We speak for all the oppressed people of the world, we will give you our support, we will give you a hand so that you can stand beside us and give back to the society
Oh People of Sweden we invite you to learn more about this great personality and understand why 1,400 years later we shed tears for this great personality of Lady Zaynab
May Allah swt, May God the Glorified help this world to bring justice and may He swt help us all to walk in the footsteps of those who help the oppressed, who stand up for the oppressed.”