A Year of Reflection: The Ongoing Struggles of Gaza and Our Responsibility as an Ummah
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
8:30 وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ ٣٠ And ˹remember, O Prophet,˺ when the disbelievers conspired to capture, kill, or exile you. They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of planners.
Dear Reader,
Today marks one-year mark since the beginning of a genocide in Gaza. We are called to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our collective humanity. This isn't just another anniversary but a moment to truly reckon with the gravity of the ongoing violence and the resilience of those enduring unimaginable hardship. Despite the world’s seeming indifference, behind every statistic is a human life, a family, and a community showing remarkable strength.
Resilience Amidst Despair
Gaza's narrative is one of unyielding spirit and determination to rebuild, even in the most challenging circumstances. We see communities coming together to restore their homes and lives, infused with a profound sense of gratitude and faith. They rebuild knowing that most likely their homes will be bombed again, and yet they have a determination that I have not see before in my lifetime. Instead of giving up, they trust in Allah, and rebuild using rubble, dreams, and hope, but most of all unwavering Tawakkul (trust in Allah) as their building material.
Take the example of Layla, a mother of three who lost her home during the bombings. With the rubble still fresh around her, she rallied her neighbors to help rebuild. “We may have lost our houses, but we haven't lost our hearts,” she often reminds her children as they gather to sift through the debris. Together, they are transforming what remains into a vibrant garden, planting flowers and vegetables to nourish both their bodies and souls. In the evenings, they gather to pray, thank and praise Allah for their resilience and the strength they draw from one another, and their religion! Her story is one of tenacity and hope, a reminder that even in destruction, beauty can emerge.
Similarly, there’s Yusuf, a young boy whose school was destroyed. Instead of losing hope, he took it upon himself to organize makeshift classes in the open air. “Learning is my way of fighting back,” he declares, a smile illuminating his face as he teaches his friends under the sun. Each lesson becomes a celebration of knowledge and survival, proving that the spirit of education cannot be extinguished. His laughter echoes through the ruins, a testament to the undying joy that resides within even the most devastating circumstances.
These narratives are not isolated incidents but reflect a broader movement in Gaza. Communities are holding onto their faith, praising Allah for what they still have, and working together to reclaim their lives. They are a living testament to the idea that resilience is not just about enduring but also about thriving and finding joy amidst trials.
Palestinians perform Friday prayers among the rubble of the Al-Farooq Mosque, destroyed in an Israeli attack in Rafah, Gaza. [Abed Zagout/Anadolu Agency]
In every act of rebuilding, every smile shared, and every salah offered, the people of Gaza show us that they are unbroken. Their strength is a powerful reminder that, by Allah’s will, hope can flourish even in the bleakest of situations.
Betrayal and Accountability
On a deeply personal note, this moment resonates with my own life experiences. My father’s murder at the hands of my cousin forever changed my view of justice and betrayal. In Islam, we are bound by ties of brotherhood and sisterhood, called to uplift one another and charged with ensuring that we neither harm nor betray. When my cousin killed my father, that sacred bond was shattered. This is what I feel is happening to the people of Gaza—betrayed by their brothers and sisters in faith, as well as by the world at large.
The Ummah, despite some protests and charitable efforts, has allowed itself to become fractured. We've chosen comfort over responsibility, self-interest over sacrifice. When I see Muslims choosing to ignore the boycott or to remain silent, I’m reminded of the pain of betrayal—how personal gain shattered something sacred. I wonder: do the people of Gaza feel the same heartbreak from our collective inaction?
The Quran warns us in Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:8)
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ ٨
˹the believers are also˺ those who are true to their trusts and covenants;
The Prophet ﷺ reminds us: “Whoever among you sees an evil must change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; and if he is not able, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.” (Sahih Muslim).
A Message to World Leaders: Your Accountability Before Allah
I turn now to the world leaders—President Biden, Prime Minister Sunak, Chancellor Scholz, and others who are complicit and I say this: you have blood on your hands. The suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza cannot be ignored, and your silence or complicity in supporting the occupation of Palestine does not absolve you. You are responsible for the policies that have enabled such atrocities, and this responsibility will weigh heavily on you in the Hereafter.
The Quran reminds us that every nation will cease to exist: “And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].”(Surah Al-A’raf 7:34). Nations rise and fall, but accountability before Allah is eternal. Those who govern are charged with more, and their silence in the face of oppression will not go unnoticed on the Day of Judgment.
Genocide in Real Time: Which Side of History Will You Be On?
Reflecting on the atrocities of the past, I think about my Jewish grandfather who lived through World War II. He shared with me stories of the horrors he saw, how many stood by as Jews were persecuted, leading to genocide. Back then, the world didn’t fully know or comprehend the magnitude of what was happening until the liberation of the camps. Today, in contrast, we are witnessing this violence in real-time, yet many still choose to remain silent.
The term “genocide,” coined in 1944 by Raphael Lemkin, was created to describe the Nazi-led destruction of the Jewish people. But its definition—the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group—is tragically relevant to what we are witnessing in Gaza today. How is it that the descendants (and some holocaust survivors) of those who suffered such violence can now inflict the same horror on others?
The question that haunted post-war Europe remains: Which side of history will you be on?
A Call to the International Community
To the International Criminal Court: Your role is crucial. You’ve initiated investigations in various conflicts, but now Gaza demands your immediate attention. Further pressure must be applied to bring those responsible for war crimes to justice.
To the brave politicians from Ireland, Spain, and others who have spoken out—thank you. Your courage gives us hope. But we ask you to do more—put pressure on your allies, hold Israel accountable, and amplify the voices calling for peace.
A Plea to the Muslim Leaders
I cannot forget the Muslim leaders who remain silent. Where is your voice? Your position comes with a responsibility to stand for justice. I implore you—those of you who have power over policy, over resources, and over influence—to rise and speak. Your silence betrays your people, and your failure to act will be held against you on the Day of Judgment.
As Allah said in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286), “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.” We must not shy away from our responsibility out of fear of consequence.
Comfort in the Judgment Day
In these trying times, I take solace in knowing that ultimate justice will be served by Allah on Judgment Day. The oppressors who escape accountability in this world will not escape Allah’s final judgment.
Gaza will be liberated! They will have freedom and their oppressors will be punished! Inshaallah
I invite you to explore the Yaqeen Institute’s Judgment Day series, which provides comforting reminders of Allah’s justice. It is in this that we find the strength to continue our fight, knowing that even if the world’s courts fail, Allah’s Justice never fails.
Our Legacy: Which Side of History Will You Be On?
This is our test, and the choices we make now will echo through eternity. Which side of history will you be on? Our actions—or inactions—will define us not only in this life but also in the Hereafter. On Judgment Day, we will answer for our silence, for our failure to act, for our betrayal of the oppressed. Let us strive to be among those who stood for justice when it was most difficult to do so.
Dua for the People Affected by War
O Allah, Lord of all that exists, we ask You in this time of immense hardship to grant Your mercy and protection to all those who are suffering from the horrors of war. O Most Merciful, alleviate their pain and suffering, and bring peace to their lands. Grant them safety, patience, and unwavering faith in You, and replace their fear with security.
O Allah, protect the innocent, the children, the elderly, and all those who are vulnerable. Heal the hearts of those who have lost loved ones and bring them comfort. Bless those who are displaced and seeking refuge, and grant them a safe return to their homes.
O Allah, grant victory to the oppressed. Guide the hands of those fighting against tyranny and oppression, and grant them strength, resilience, and steadfastness. Unite us all under the banner of justice and truth, and remove the divisions that prevent us from standing together for peace.
O Allah, we ask You to bring relief and peace to the people of Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, Sudan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Libya, and all the places suffering from conflict. Remove the tyrants from power, and replace them with leaders who strive for justice and righteousness.
Ameen.
You moved my heart today with your writing and truth , thank you a reminder to us who feel we are helpless that even the small things are taken into consideration.. Thank you