We organised an iftar last Sunday which really showed me how the brotherhood amongst the Muslims continues to grow stronger even though some of the Western Governments have intensified their efforts to divide this Ummah.

Muhammad (saw) said: “The example of the believers in their mutual love, compassion and empathy is like that of a body. If one part is hurt then the rest of the body calls out in sleeplessness and fever.”

If that is the case, then I saw believers that day.

Even though most of the people there were youth, a substantial amount of money was raised for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan and I also found out that some of my friends had raised £46,000 in one iftar in Luton. Allahu Akber!

We’ve been told that certain charity organisations waste a lot of the money on expensive admin costs that were not really necessary but only exist in an attempt to emulate western charities, so some brothers volunteered to go to Pakistan themselves this weekend.

On the news, a woman was pulled out of the rubble, alive after two days. She said she stayed alive by reading Qur’an until Allah saved her. Another man lost his entire family and although he wished he had died instead of his wife, he ended by saying that he knew it was the will of Allah. As a child was found still alive after three days, I could hear my beloved brothers shouting “Allahu Akber”.

SubhanAllah! That trust and dependence on Allah that they still had after everything they’d been through brought tears to my eyes. Islam is coming back!

So what about Musharraf? Even if he suddenly has a change of heart and wants to help, how can he when he has continued to destroy the economy of Pakistan by implementing Capitalist policies that has left the country weak and feeble?

The Prophet (saw) said: “By Allah you have to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and hold against the hand of the unjust ruler, and force him on the truth strongly”.

How many of us actually obey this command of our Prophet (saw) as diligently as we observe the fast? Even though here the Prophet (saw) has taken an oath by Allah!

What about the Western Governments? I’ve always known that their contributions were politically motivated. The fact that they didn’t help during the massacres of Rwanda and Bosnia, are a clear example of this. However, I couldn’t believe my ears when the MPs were actually discussing that sending aid to Muslim countries will help integrate the Muslims here, which will also help the War on Terror (Islam). They were openly admitting that they were sending aid purely for their own political benefit!

What about the Governments in the Muslim world? What have they done or even said! They remain as silent as ever. What an opportunity they had to redeem themselves. Allah is so merciful that He (swt) brought this upon us in the month of Ramadhan so that those who wish to repent and change could do so. But no, the only thing they are willing to give to this Ummah is more oppression and torture.

Without the power of a State, there is only so much ordinary citizens can do. Nevertheless, I’ve seen there is still good in this Ummah and there is still good in the armies of Pakistan. Even though the Government ordered certain ranks within the armies not to move, they went against orders to help the people. Going against orders is a big step for a soldier… I saw believers that day.

And today I see the beginnings of a State”¦ a State that is there only to look after the people and help them fulfil their responsibilities to each other and to the rest of mankind. Yes, earthquakes will continue to come but no longer will they be man-made disasters inshAllah.