How is it that Donald Trump can call Somalis “garbage,” yet no one from the Salafi community responds?
5 December 2025 • 968 views
Perhaps it is because Trump is widely recognised as a reckless, thoughtless, and foolish novice occupying the presidency—a person who, by his very nature, does not merit a response.
As a poet wisely said:
إِذا نَطَقَ السَفيهُ فَلا تَجِبهُ * فَخَيرٌ مِن إِجابَتِهِ السُكوتُ
"When the fool speaks, do not answer him; for silence is better than responding to him."
فَإِن كَلَّمتَهُ فَرَّجتَ عَنهُ * وَإِن خَلَّيتَهُ كَمَداً يَموتُ
"If you address him, you relieve his agitation; but if you leave him be, he will perish in his spite."
Another poet reflects similarly:
أوكلما طن الذباب زجرتُه * إن الذباب إذا علي كريم
"If every time a fly buzzes I chase it away, the fly gains a place of status with me."
Even before such wisdom, Allāh ﷻ instructs:
{وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِینَ}
"Turn away from the foolish." [Surah Al-Aʿrāf: 199]
It should also be noted that the real problem with Trump’s statement is not that many Somalis receive benefits—large families often qualify—nor that a minority may commit fraud through false disability claims or other forms of abuse. Such issues, regrettably, are present in many societies. The true problem lies in his indiscriminate generalisation, which transforms the behaviour of a few into a blanket accusation against an entire nation.
Advice for Somalis and Muslims in general
We must understand that the kuffār do not wish for us to live as Muslims, nor to practice or preach Islam freely in their lands. As Allāh ﷻ says:
{وَلَن تَرۡضَىٰ عَنكَ ٱلۡیَهُودُ وَلَا ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمۡ}
"Never will the Jews or Christians be pleased with you, until you follow their faith." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 120]
Your very adherence to Islam is already difficult for them to tolerate. To claim benefits from them while living by your faith is even more unbearable in their eyes.
As Allāh ﷻ reminds us:
{قَدۡ بَدَتِ ٱلۡبَغْضَاۤءُ مِنۡ أَفۡوَ ٰهِمۡ وَمَا تُخۡفِی صُدُورُهُمۡ أَكۡبَرُ}
"Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater." [Surah Āli-ʿImrān: 118]
If Trump seeks to “Make America Great Again” by expelling Muslims to lands they have historically interfered with or harmed, then it is only logical for Muslims who struggle to practice their faith there to consider returning home. By doing so, they can bring their knowledge, skills, and experiences to contribute positively and help make their own countries great again.
Allāh ﷻ says:
{إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةُ ظَالِمِیۤ أَنفُسِهِمۡ قَالُوا۟ فِیمَ كُنتُمۡۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسۡتَضۡعَفِینَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ قَالُوۤا۟ أَلَمۡ تَكُنۡ أَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَ ٰسِعَةࣰ فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِیهَاۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ مَأۡوَىٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَسَاۤءَتۡ مَصِیرًا (97)}
"Verily, as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say: 'In what condition were you?' They reply: 'We were weak and oppressed on the earth.' They (angels) say: 'Was not the earth of Allāh spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?' Such men will find their abode in Hell—what an evil destination!"
{إِلَّا ٱلۡمُسۡتَضۡعَفِینَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَاۤءِ وَٱلۡوِلۡدَ ٰنِ لَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ حِیلَةࣰ وَلَا یَهۡتَدُونَ سَبِیلࣰا (98)}
"Except the weak among men, women, and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way."
{فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ عَسَى ٱللهُ أَن یَعۡفُوَ عَنۡهُمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورࣰا (99)}
"These are they whom Allāh is likely to forgive, and Allāh is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Most Forgiving."
{وَمَن یُهَاجِرۡ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللهِ یَجِدۡ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُرَ ٰغَمࣰا كَثِیرࣰا وَسَعَةࣰۚ وَمَن یَخۡرُجۡ مِنۢ بَیۡتِهِۦ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى ٱللهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ یُدۡرِكۡهُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَقَدۡ وَقَعَ أَجۡرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللهِ وَكَانَ ٱللهِ غَفُورࣰا رَّحِیمࣰا (100)}