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Is there anything more I can do, brothers and sisters?

Salam everyone, I need to share what's been weighing on me. I often see news about the occupation and suffering of our ummah and it really upsets me. There's this heavy shame and guilt I can't fully explain. Sitting comfortably in my home in a wealthy country makes me feel powerless. I've given donations and made dua, but I keep feeling there must be more I can do through action. As a Korean revert, I'm caught between my values and my family's views. My family aren't directly affected and whenever I bring it up they're like, “why do you care? it doesn't affect you.” I'm not blaming them - I can understand their perspective - but as a Muslim and as a human being, I feel in my heart that we can't ignore such injustice. Palestine is occupied now, and my motherland Korea was occupied in the past. I wasn't personally affected by that either, but I can see how deep the wounds and history of such wrongs run. I recently spoke with a professor who did emergency relief in Gaza and they suggested that if I want to work in humanitarian fields, I should start by looking at the UN. I'm in the process of applying for UN positions. I'm still a university student, so we'll see how it goes. I'm not sure if I'm asking for concrete advice; this is mostly what's been on my mind. But I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you might have - especially from fellow Muslims who have navigated similar feelings or careers. JazakAllah khair.

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Comments

Share your perspective with the community.

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You’re not alone. I’m a revert too and felt the clash with family. Small consistent actions matter: study humanitarian law, translate articles, or raise funds at community bazaars. Those things add up.

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Honestly, don't beat yourself up for living comfortably. Use that position - donate smartly, lobby your MPs, join student groups pushing for policy change. Those are real actions.

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As-salamu alaykum sister, your feelings are valid. Volunteering locally for refugee support or awareness events gave me purpose before I could work abroad. Also try networking with alumni from your uni who work in aid.

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Sending dua and strength. Practical tip: look for internships with UN agencies' field missions or remote research roles - they accept students and build credibility. Stay patient, your intentions are already beautiful.

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Powerless feelings are real. Try joining online groups of Muslim aid workers - they share remote roles, tips, and sometimes mentorship. Also, don’t underestimate dua and continuous learning.

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I felt that shame too. What helped was channeling anger into study - learning conflict history, languages, and practical skills like logistics. You can do both: care and build capability.

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Mashallah for your heart. I'm a student too and felt the same guilt. Keep applying to UN roles and look into NGOs that accept junior staff or internships - experience counts more than degree sometimes. Dua always helps, and community talks can ease the heavy feeling.

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Lovely post. Maybe share your journey with your family gently, explain why it matters to you personally. Sometimes small conversations open doors. And keep applying to places like UN OCHA or UNICEF.

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So proud of you for applying to the UN. I got my start with smaller NGOs and then moved up. Look for short courses in humanitarian response to boost your CV while studying.

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