Dhul-Hijjah: The holiest ten days of the Islamic calendar. A golden opportunity to rack up spiritual points like it’s Ramadan 2.0. Day 4, and the timelines are flooded with reminders: “Fast the first nine days!” “Don’t forget extra dhikr!” “Do all the good deeds!”

The race is on — everyone’s trying to outdo each other in acts of worship. Halal dopamine hits, courtesy of tasbih counters and “Jannah Goals.”

But here’s a question: while we’re all busy spiritually high-fiving ourselves, where’s the outrage for the actual commands of the Qur’an?

Where are the viral infographics about standing against tyranny? Where are the trending hashtags for the voice of the voiceless? Where’s the khutbah titled “Your Qurbani is Invalid if You Ignore the Oppressed”? Oh right — that’s not aesthetic enough for reels and reminders.

Let’s be real, we’ve turned these ten days into a productivity sprint — with fancy checklists, mood boards and “Dhul-Hijjah goals.” Yet we ignore the blood on the streets of Gaza, the silenced cries in Sudan, the caged Uyghurs, the brutal occupation in Kashmir, and every other community left to rot under oppression while we argue over whether to fast eight or nine days.

And what do the scholars do? Beautiful reminders about Hajj rituals, history of Ibrahim (AS), and the virtues of Takbir. Not a peep — not a whisper — about political crimes or colonial puppets running the Muslim world.

We get spiritual Prozac, not the thunderous calls of prophets who confronted tyrants.

But Allah didn’t just say to remember Him. He said:
“And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, ‘Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people’…”
— Surah An-Nisa (4:75)

Apparently, that verse didn’t make the Dhul-Hijjah productivity planner.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“The best jihad is a word of truth in front of a tyrant ruler.”

But who needs that when you can just upload your Qur’an recitation to TikTok?

We’ve become experts at ritualism and amateurs at resistance. The same community that claims to follow Ibrahim (AS) — the rebel against idols and empires , now acts like rituals are the goal, not the training. We imitate his sacrifice but ignore his defiance.

“Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture—those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:159)
So let’s ask plainly: why is your favourite scholar talking about the reward of dhikr but silent on the state-sanctioned murder of innocents?
Why is your masjid content with a superficial dua for the oppressed?
Why are we treating these 10 days like a gym membership for our souls — get fit, get forgiven — while turning a blind eye to those being crushed?
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah aren’t just a time for ritualistic isolation — they are a time to embody the legacy of the prophets. And that legacy is soaked in resistance, courage and truth-telling — even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it costs you.

So fast. Pray. Sacrifice. But don’t you dare pretend your deeds mean anything if you are silent when it’s time to speak.
“O you who believe, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents or relatives…”
— Surah An-Nisa (4:135)

If your worship doesn’t make you stand up for the oppressed, then maybe it’s not worship. Maybe it’s just noise. And Allah knows best — even if your favourite influencer doesn’t mention it.