In my life as a Muslim, I have witnessed individuals inspired by faith to become profound agents of goodness, performing acts of love and sacrifice for others for the sake of Allah. And I have witnessed shocking abuses of power justified by the misuse of religious texts and traditions. Empowerment and oppression can happen wherever we are in relationship with others – in families, in congregations, in spiritual communities, in schools, and in nations.

As believers, our first responsibility is to protect our own selves from abuse and harm to the extent that we are able. Sometimes this is not possible, at least, not immediately. Sometimes people are trapped in abusive relationships with no good options to change the circumstances. But we should at least be confident in our own hearts that violations of our rights and dignity are wrong. Each person is endowed with hurma by our Wise Creator. Hurma means “sacred inviolability”; in other words, it means that God has forbidden the violation of another person’s body, honor and goods.  

Anyone who has reached the age of majority with a sound mind is morally accountable (mukallaf) for their actions. With accountability comes the responsibility to understand the context in which we live. We are required to seek to understand how our actions, as individuals and as members of communities, affect others. In order to fulfill Allah’s command to “promote what is right and proscribe what is wrong” (al-amr biʾl-maʿruf wa nahy ʿan al-munkar) we have to be aware of what is happening around us.  This means we have a communal responsibility to put in place systems of knowledge, oversight and care to prevent harm when possible, to stop it when it is ongoing, and to provide paths for healing and support for those who have been abused.

Over the past several years, our work has focused on expanding and deepening the understanding of the concept of hurma while better understanding common misconceptions about Islamic teachings that act as barriers to safety and justice. The Qur’an and the Sunnah are clear: every person matters. Their body matters. Their life matters. The Prophet ﷺ taught that the hurma of a person is akin to the sanctity of sacred months and places; even a deceased person has hurma, reflected in the respectful and caring treatment of the bodies of our departed brothers and sisters. Throughout Islamic history, beginning with the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the Muslim Umma has consistently worked to live up to this message, by placing limits on the exercise of power, by supervising those holding the public trust, and by holding those who misuse their authority and influence accountable. 

Recognizing that spiritual harm and abuse manifest in various forms, from financial to sexual, we emphasize the importance of friends and family as the initial support network when harm occurs. Public education becomes crucial in equipping us to handle such disclosures effectively.

Acknowledging the need for accountability, especially in authoritative roles, we advocate for healthy boundaries and executive oversight of disclosure processes to protect and hold individuals accountable for abusing their positions of authority.

Despite disclosures of harm, the lack of accountability, and the plight of the abused, there is room for optimism. Concerns about the relationships between children and authority figures like imams and scout leaders are rising. Masjid board members seek training and procedures for congregation safety. Individuals are courageously sharing their stories as a warning to others, and research in Muslim mental health is expanding. Equipping ourselves with the knowledge to discern the best course of action in various circumstances is crucial.

As we continue with this project, we ask Allah (swt) to guide our work, protect us all, and instill mercy among us as we strive to create safer communities.

Dr. Ingrid Mattson