What No Tech for Apartheid Teaches Us About Moral Leadership
Sometimes, history doesn’t change in the halls of power. It changes in the quiet defiance of everyday people who choose to speak truth—knowing full well what it might cost them.
That’s exactly what we’ve seen in the bold, principled stand of professionals within major tech companies in the United States who have rallied under banners like No Tech for Apartheid. These are engineers, designers, analysts, and managers—people with bills to pay, families to care for, and careers on the line—who nevertheless chose to raise their voices against complicity in systems of oppression. Their protest emerged as a direct response to the role that Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech giants have played in enabling the infrastructure of surveillance and military aggression used by Israel in its brutal campaign in Gaza.
For that, we owe them deep respect.
We also recognize similar movements such as TechWontBuildIt, Jewish Voice for Peace’s tech worker coalition, and independent whistleblowers who’ve pushed for ethical frameworks across the industry. Among them are courageous professionals like Ariel Koren from Google, who was pushed out after opposing Project Nimbus, and Amr Gaber, who faced internal retaliation for his Palestine solidarity stance. At Microsoft, Ibtihal Aboussad was another powerful voice—fired for her support of Palestine and her commitment to moral clarity. Noor Khraishi, a young professional at Google, also lost her job after organizing solidarity events. Their courage is not only admirable—it is catalytic.
Because they reminded us that we don’t work just to earn a paycheck. We don’t build systems just because we can. We build them to serve people. And when those systems cause harm—especially at scale—we have a moral responsibility to say: No more.
The Turning Point We Must Not Miss
This is a turning point. For the first time in years, we're seeing tech professionals—those who once prided themselves on disruption—turn that spirit inward. Instead of building the next billion-dollar product at any cost, they’re asking deeper questions: Who does this serve? Who does it hurt? What do we stand for as professionals and as human beings?
It’s a profound reminder that in this global economy, our work is never neutral. Lines of code can power life-saving diagnostics—or power drones. Supply chains can enable prosperity—or deepen apartheid. Decisions made by "professionals" can liberate—or destroy.
So we stand in solidarity with these professionals. We honor their courage. And we thank them for lighting the path for the rest of us.
Now It's Our Turn
If you are a Muslim entrepreneur or professional, you already know what it means to hold two responsibilities: to pursue excellence in your field, and to remain true to your faith and your values.
Movements like No Tech for Apartheid show us that it’s possible—even essential—to bring those worlds together.
So what does that look like in our context?
It begins by looking inward. Do the companies we build, fund, or work for condone, support, or stay silent about injustice—whether in Gaza, Xinjiang, or anywhere else? Do we have the courage to ask hard questions about our supply chains, our customers, and our investors?
And if we’re leading teams, are we creating cultures where ethics are lived—not just printed on a wall? Are our Muslim values—justice, compassion, truth—reflected in how we treat our employees, our communities, and the causes we back?
It’s not enough to react. It’s time to lead.
From Reaction to Strategy
Movements like No Tech for Apartheid are powerful because they draw a line. They say, this far, no further. But the next chapter requires more than protest. It requires planning.
That’s where UMMAH seeks to add value.
We are building a global platform to unite Muslim entrepreneurs and professionals—not only to support each other, but to act collectively for the betterment of humanity. To not just react to injustice, but to build the systems that prevent it. To set clear milestones, and align around shared strategies that are both morally grounded and economically viable.
We envision a future where Muslim-founded companies and professional networks proactively vet their partnerships. Where our businesses are not just halal in transactions, but halal in purpose. Where we don’t just boycott—we build alternatives. Where we don’t just resist injustice—we replace it with justice.
This is not to take anything away from those who’ve already stood up. On the contrary—they’ve already done the hard part: reminding us that courage is possible. Now we must build on their example with structure, endurance, and scale.
A New Kind of Leadership
In a world that often rewards silence, moral clarity is radical.
But our tradition calls us to more. Islam doesn’t separate the sacred from the secular. A spreadsheet can be a form of worship. So can a hiring policy. Or a pricing model. Or a company mission.
That’s what UMMAH is here to support. A new class of Muslim professionals who are not just excellent in skill—but principled in purpose. Who build with their eyes on both the balance sheet and the akhirah. Who remember that success is not only measured in profits, but in peace, dignity, and the pleasure of Allah.
The future doesn’t belong to those who stay quiet. It belongs to those who build boldly, lead justly, and believe deeply.
Let’s be among them.
Let’s move from courage to strategy. Together.
This article was written based on original concepts and structure by the author. Generative AI was used to assist with elaboration, refinement, and image.