Page 370 - A Helping Hand for Refugees

is to embrace people fleeing their homes out of a fear
of death and seeking a safe haven with love and affec-
tion, and to share all the means at our disposal with them.
It is a precondition of being virtuous to put the safety of others
above one's own interests when they are in danger. Moreover,
we have a responsibility in the context of Islamic and moral values
not just to open the borders to refugees, but to treat them well and

make them feel at ease as if they were in their own homes.

At this point, a major responsibility is incumbent upon gov-
ernments, civil society organizations and the world media. When
the refugee problem is regarded as a human one, when an attitude
based on love and affection is adopted toward these people who
have had to leave their countries, homes, families and possessions,
there is no doubt that the issue will be completely resolved. It must
not be forgotten that love is the solution to all difficulties. Initi-
ating a campaign of love that will revive mutual aid and altruism
across the world will be an important step in the resolution of the

refugee problem.

The present age is not one when we can remain silent in the
face of injustice and violence or behave as if nothing were hap-
pening while millions of people are being persecuted; the refugee
problem is one that demands that we do not remain silent.
Everyone with a conscience has a responsibility to do all in
his power to assist our innocent refugee brothers, remem-
bering the fact that turning a blind eye to persecution is,
morally speaking, the same as committing it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/bur-
mamyanmar/11942819/Burma-election-Rohingya-Muslims-look-to-sea-
not-ballot-box-as-new-wave-of-Asian-boat-people-prepares-to-flee.html

368 A Helping Hand for Refugees