Page 204 - A Helping Hand for Refugees

For that reason guardianship for the refugees will be an impor-
tant opportunity for gaining profundity in faith. God informs us of this
superior morality in the Qur'an with the following verse:

Those who have faith and have emigrated and striven with their
wealth and themselves in the Way of God, and those who have given
refuge and help, they are the friends and protectors of one another.
But as for those who have faith but have not emigrated, you are not
in any way responsible for their protection until they emigrate. But
if they ask you for help in respect of the religion, it is your duty to
help them, except against people you have a treaty with. God sees
what you do. (Surat al-Anfal, 72)

E Everyone has a responsibility for the lives of
refugees

There is but one reason why people in various parts of the world
migrate and become refugees; the fear of death. These people living in
Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria or Rakhine risk being killed at any
moment. They therefore set out on these dangerous journeys that often
end in death in the hope perhaps being rescued. Since these people have
no other option, the priority issue is for countries to review their refugee

policies. European countries in particular must immediately stop
ignoring the refugee question and adopt the idea that "everyone's life,
be he Afghan, African or Syrian, is valuable."
The priority in the search for a solution is not to close off the routes

by which refugees arrive, but to take measures to ensure their lives are
not endangered on the trip. Last year alone, more than 3500 people lost
their lives while trying to cross from North Africa to Europe. The details
in the headlines were chilling.

Hundreds of people on the open seas in tiny boats at risk of
sinking…

202 A Helping Hand for Refugees