The Fine Print | Notes from the Legal Director
July 4, 2025 | Day of Arafah | Marium Uddin
None Is Free Until All Are Free
As we mark another July 4th, the anniversary of this nation’s proclaimed independence, we at MLFA cannot help but reflect on the deep contradiction that persists: how can we celebrate freedom when so many, both within our borders and across the world, remain shackled by injustice?
This year, the fireworks echo over a Gaza still under siege. They flash against the backdrop of demolished homes, orphaned children, and entire families erased. While we look to the skies at fireworks, kids are digging through rubble to identify the bodies of their parents, brothers and sisters. Not just today or yesterday but for over 600 days. While flags are waved in parades, Uighur Muslims are being punished for praying, for fasting, for naming their children Muhammad. Indian Muslims continue to face brutal state-sanctioned repression, watching their homes bulldozed and their voices silenced. Here at home, communities across the U.S. live in fear of surveillance, discrimination, and deportation.
What do we do when our morality is under siege? We turn inward to Quranic wisdom and prophetic tradition. Our tradition has always taught us that principled resistance is not just possible, it is required.
Ashura is a reminder of that. It’s the day Allah (SWT) parted the Red Sea and saved Musa (as) and his people from the Pharaoh. It’s also the day Hussain (ra) stood on the scorching sands of Karbala and refused to back down from Yazid’s injustice, even when it cost him his life and he knew that it would. These aren’t just stories from the past. They’re the blueprint. They’re the evidence that freedom isn’t just about surviving, it’s about standing for what’s right, even when you’re standing alone.
Our moral compass is in the words of the Prophet (saw) who said, “The most beloved form of Jihad is to speak a word of truth in the face of a tyrant ruler.” One word. That, too, is resistance.
At MLFA, we draw daily strength from these legacies. Our vision is one where Muslim communities – and all who are unjustly targeted – in America – are not criminalized for caring about Gaza, are not penalized for providing aid, and are not afraid to practice their faith or speak their beliefs.
As we witness the pain of our ummah and recommit to our work, we hold fast to this truth: no one is free until everyone is free – free to speak, to serve, to pray, to grieve, and to love our people without being punished for it.
Some days it feels like we are shouting into the void. But then we think of Musa (as). Of Hussain (ra). Of the Prophet (saw). And, we remember that all it takes is one. word. One word can still count. It can still matter. And that is the least we can give.
The Fine Print | Real power and protection is always hidden in the fine print. MLFA brings the fine print to life with this series of articles, cutting through the noise to break down the rights, risks, and realities you need to know. No loopholes, no confusion, just clear, unapologetic insight into the laws that shape the lives of Muslims in America.
