This is a wonderful article from one of our talented guest writers, Hassana, and it accurately sums up the problems in Gaza and what we, as Muslims, should do about it.
WHAT TO MAKE OF IT?
Gaza is a land blessed by Allah SWT as He SWT said in the Qur’an:
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing. (Al-Isra 17:1)
Traditional Muslim scholars have always considered the blessed land of Palestine to be a ‘thermometer’ for the condition of the Muslim ummah. If we want to know how well the Muslims are doing spiritually, we can look at the land of Palestine and see its condition. Historically, whenever Muslims were living righteous lives upholding the rules of Allah SWT, and were involved in propagation of Islam and inviting others to the right path of guidance, the blessed land of Jerusalem and its surroundings were a place of safety for us. Whereas, whenever we were weak as a nation in our obedience to Allah SWT, the land was captured by the enemies and Muslims were humiliated and tortured therein.
Many people have questioned the wisdom of Allah SWT in allowing atrocities to happen. This is a critical moment of reflection for Muslims—individually and collectively. There are many lessons we can learn about ourselves from what is going on in Gaza today but first we have to interpret events through the edicts of Islam, which means transporting ourselves from the duniya mindset to the akhirah mindset.
OUR LORD IS MERCIFUL
So how can the Most Merciful Lord allow all this to happen?
The Prophet (SAW) said, “There is nothing (in the form of trouble) that comes to a believer even if it is the pricking of a thorn that there is decreed for him by Allah good or his sins are obliterated.” (Muslim)
Looking at the world through this prism of understanding, every condition faced by Muslims, individually or collectively, is a form of mercy from Allah (SWT). The highest of these mercies is the believer turning away from all others back to his Lord and relying wholeheartedly on Him (SWT).
Our beloved Prophet (SAW) has told us, “This people of mine is one to which mercy is shown. It will have no punishment in the next world, but its punishment in this world will be trials, earthquakes and being killed.” (Abu Dawud)
So we can rest assured that even the most calamitous situations such as the current crisis in Gaza, Syria and elsewhere are means of purification and a form of mercy for the Muslim Ummah.
Nothing can justify ruthless killing of innocent people but what might help us accept it as Allah’s will is the recognition of the very essence of our existence—mortality; and the acceptance of the fact that all living beings have an appointed time at which they must return to their Lord (SWT). This time is decreed by Allah (SWT) and we have no control over it. We cannot dictate the age, time, and condition of the death of a person. All we can be sure of as Muslims, is that when our oppressed brothers and sisters die, they are going back to a Gracious and Merciful Lord, and that He (SWT) will bring their oppressors to account.
Prophet Muhammed (SAW) has said, “Fear the prayer of the oppressed, even if he is a disbeliever, for there is no barrier (between it and Allah).” (Ahmed)
What then about the prayer of a Muslim who is oppressed?
Allah (SWT) Himself has declared to the oppressed, “By My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.” (Tirmidhi)
Rasul Allah (SAW) has said, “Verily, Allah gives respite to the oppressor. But when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.” Then he (SAW) recited,
“Such is the Seizure of your Rabb when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful (and) severe.”(Hud 11:102) (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Allah (SWT) can allow atrocities against innocent Muslims and they might die what appear to be brutal deaths, but the reality of their afterlife might be completely different. This is where Allah’s mercy comes into fruition. Their deaths as oppressed believers who were relying on Allah (SWT) and were waiting for His support might earn them the highest levels in jannah. After all, Islam teaches that this world is simply a testing ground in order to determine one’s station in the hereafter. The tests differ for people; some might receive them in the form of oppression, injuries, pain, and loss of health, wealth and family, while others might receive them in the form of comfort, luxury, wealth and family.
While keeping the success of akhirah in perspective, which trials are more severe, trials of ease or difficulty?
Trials of ease are certainly more dangerous for us!
How so?
When we are facing difficulties and realize that there is no one who can help us except Allah (SWT), we get closer to Him; and the more we run out of options, the more our faith in Him (SWT) increases. This is a victory in itself. All a person has to do at this time is be patient and wait for Allah (SWT) to lift the calamity. While on the surface it seems like a life lacking happiness, if a person dies in this state of patience and reliance on Allah, he is successful because He has truly recognized Allah (SWT) as his Lord and therefore has earned His (SWT)’s pleasure.
However, when we are living in comfort and luxury, we tend to become pre-occupied with our material wealth and get distracted from our real purpose in life. Often this distraction results in us getting away from Allah (SWT) and our responsibility towards our religion. If a person dies in this state of negligence and having broken his covenant with Allah, though it might be on a clean hospital bed surrounded by his family, he is in a more precarious position in front of Allah (SWT) than an oppressed person who dies a brutal death at the hands of the enemy.
This is the condition of our ummah today. We are in two distinct groups today, oppressed and untroubled …yet.
UNTROUBLED…YET?
Muslims are an ummah! Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (SAW) have commanded us to act as a single unit whose members are responsible for each other’s wellbeing. Rasul Allah (SAW) has said, “The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.” He (SAW) illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Rasul Allah (SAW) also said, “A Muslim is a brother of (another) Muslim, he neither wrongs him nor does hand him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfills his brother’s needs, Allah will fulfill his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone covers up a Muslim (his sins), Allah will cover him up (his sins) on the Resurrection Day”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
We are also warned of the consequences of departing from the above principles.
Abu Bakr (RA) said, “O you people! You recite this Verse:
`O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error.’ (Al Ma`ida 5:105)
But I have heard Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying: “When people see an oppressor but do not prevent him from (doing evil), it is likely that Allah will punish them all.” (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
We have been warned by the Prophet (SAW) against ignoring the responsibility placed on us towards our less fortunate brothers and sisters or those who are suffering at the hands of the oppressor. He (SAW) has said, “Whoever forsakes a Muslim, where his sanctity is profaned and his honor is assaulted, will be forsaken by Allah when he would like to triumph. And whoever stands by a Muslim where his sanctity is profaned and his honor is assaulted will be assisted by Allah when he needs His assistance” (Sahih al Jami)
This is why we say, untroubled…yet!
The true Muslim brotherhood is one of interdependence. Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) have warned us that if we continue with our indifference, and if we persist in washing our hands of the atrocities being inflicted against our brothers and sisters all over the world, Allah (SWT), the Just Lord, will soon afflict us with similar calamities and will not allow any help to reach us. These are prophecies, not predictions!
WHY ARE WE SO HELPLESS?
Even this question has been answered by our beloved Prophet (SAW). He (SAW) said, “The nations shall gather and team up against you (i.e., Muslims) as the predators gather and team up against their prey. “
A questioner asked, “Is it because of us being low in numbers at that day?”
The Prophet (SAW) replied: “No, you that day shall be in great numbers, but you will be as powerless as the foam of the water on the surface of the river, and Allah shall remove any fear from your enemies toward you, and He shall put in your hearts wahn. ”
A questioner asked: “O Apostle of Allah, what is wahn? ”
The Prophet (SAW) replied: “The love of life’s amusements and the fear of death.” (Abu Dawud)
Our condition today, in light of the above hadeeth, is self evident. We have become so materialistic that we have lost the very basic element of our deen…to prioritize akhirah over duniya.
CHANGE BEGINS WITH US
It is imperative for us to accept our responsibility towards our suffering brothers and sisters and do all we can to alleviate their afflictions. At the same time we must accept that we are part of the problem. According to the hadeeth of the Prophet (SAW) mentioned above, Allah SWT is the One who has removed our fear and worth from the hearts of the enemy. We see during this current crisis in Gaza where enemy is disseminating blatant lies with total impunity. If this is not humiliation from Allah SWT for us, then what is?
We talk about boycotts and rallies, take to the streets and ponder over political situations and intervention from international powers. Many of us still believe that it is the power of man, and not the power of God, which holds the key. The reality is that if we want to change this tragic and disgraceful situation we are in, we have to look at what Allah (SWT) commanded us, which is to start with ourselves. Allah SWT has already told us,
Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. (Ar-R’ad 13:11)
The problem lies within us and so does the solution! If we correct ourselves and take on the responsibility of living and carrying the message of Islam to others, Allah SWT will honor us just like He honored the companions of the Prophet (SAW). These are the steps we all should take:
- 1. Begin our journey of faith. We have to learn about Islam, understand its message, and recognize what Allah SWT wants from us at this time and place.
- 2. Sacrifice our time and money for our spiritual development, since sacrifice is the proof of sincerity and honesty.
- 3. Embody the teachings of Islam through our actions and be role models for our fellow human beings.
- 4. Fulfill our responsibilities in our social contract to our fellow Muslims and human beings; aid the hungry, needy and oppressed with our money and our prayers.
- 5. Elevate Islam by propagating its pure message and removing the misunderstandings being spread against it.
THE SILVER LINING
Allah SWT will never allow His religion to be disgraced. We must understand that in spite of all this suffering and humiliation, the light of faith and guidance will spread throughout the earth. Allah SWT has said,
They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it. (At-Tawbah 9:32-33)
Despite all the chaos and upheaval, these are hopeful times. According to Islamic teachings, when we see the situation getting tougher and the deen of Allah SWT seems to hit all time low, we need to know for a fact that the victory and elevation of Allah SWT is just around the corner. This victory is imminent, but the question for us is, will we be part of the victors or part of the vanquished when that victory arrives? Now, our efforts should be concentrated on trying to be among those lucky ones who are chosen by Allah SWT to spread this light.
Gaza, Syria, Burma, China, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central African Republic and many other Muslim lands are burning, and we are idly watching. If we do not take this suffering of our brothers and sisters seriously and rectify our relationship with Allah SWT, we will not be able to escape the wrath of Allah SWT. The real cause of concern is not our oppressed brothers and sisters, but rather us who have accepted this humiliation and have become passive spectators to this brutality. Those who are dead, wounded, and oppressed have a Merciful Lord watching over them, generously recompensing them for their suffering InshaAllah. Their tribulations are over, whereas ours are still ongoing.
This Merciful Lord is also Just. Let us strive our utmost to be among those who receive His clemency, not His retribution.
If you want to see more articles from Hassana, please download the “JEWELS OF WISDOM” app, available in both Android and Apple Stores, FREE OF CHARGE. Jewels of Wisdom is an interactive application to help you understand the message of Islam through articles which mainly touch upon the spiritual development of the heart.
