SCHOLARS ON GAZA

Words are unable to express the bitter reality that our brothers in Gaza are going through. They represent the real resistance. The time has come for us to own up to the faltering and neglect of the Arabs and Muslims towards Gaza. Of what benefit is crying and singing songs of mourning? O Gaza! The symbol of resistance and honour! From you, your children, your women, and your elderly we have learned the true meaning of patience, opposition, and sacrifice! O Gaza! You have Allah! They sold you for imaginary promises and counterfeit slogans. They have toasted with the blood of your children in cups of humiliation that exude the stench of conspiracy and deception!       

What can we possibly do? That is an oft-repeated question on the tongues of the sons and daughters of the Arabs and Islam who are burning with rage because of the painful and bitter situation we are witness to – as we take delight in the warmth emitted by the wide-screen televisions that take us from an entertainment channel to a music channel, and from a comedy channel to a soap opera! What can we do? What can we bring forward?       

Some of the Arab and Muslim youth have hastened to supplications, prayers, and fasting and they have sent text messages calling for unity, supplications, and congregational fasts and prayers. Well, what happens after that? Blood continues to be shed and our youth are slaughtered one by one!      

Yes, dear brothers! We can draw up a well thought-out plan that we can attempt to carry out. That way, we can counter the inability of some of the rulers and leaders who are silent and subdued in humiliation, working for false slogans. They will not gain anything but the curses and insults from the people that we hear on television and radio.      

First and foremost before anything else, we must see to it that we truly embody Allah’s words: (Do not become weakened or saddened while you are the uppermost if you are truly believers.) [Āl-‘Imrān:139] If we realize true faith then Allah willing, honour and power will remain with us. Secondly, the jurists have explained to us the importance of the qunūt prayer when afflictions rain down; let us therefore turn to Allah, the Exalted, in our prayers, so that perhaps Allah, the Exalted, will answer the prayers of those who are truthful among us.      

Thirdly, we must look to those who are guarding the frontlines and realize that they are the ones mentioned in the words of our liege lord, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa-salam  – as was narrated by Abū Umāma radiallahu ‘anhu: “There shall never cease to be a group among my nation that is victorious in the religion and overpowering their enemies. They shall not be harmed by those who abandon them – except the injuries they receive – until the affair of Allah [the Last Day] comes and they are upon that.” They [the Companions] asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Where are they?” He replied: “They are in Bayt al-Maqdis and its surrounding areas.”      

If any of them fall as martyrs, then Allah willing they will go to Paradise. If they are steadfast in the face of what afflicts them, then we should take a lesson from them on steadfastness upon the truth. Fourthly, each of us should work in his sphere of influence, ability, and specialization. For instance, it is the lawyer’s obligation to do what he can locally and internationally to put a stop to this genocide and holocaust that the Zionist enemy is engaged in. The journalist can take part via audio, visual, or textual means: exposing the conspiracies and collaboration taking place.      

Those in the field of Islamic invitation can teach others the responsibility the Umma has in assisting and helping those who are downtrodden and oppressed. The normal every-day citizen can take part in protests and demonstrations, and he can go to the nearest blood-bank and donate blood for the wounded inside the Palestinian hospitals – let this take the place of his inability to physically fight Jihād in Palestine.      

In conclusion, let us read the poem of Dr. ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-‘Ashmāwī and contemplate its meanings: perhaps it will move those who have yet to be moved. 

O brother in Allah! Tell me, when will you get angry?
When our women were violated
And our signposts were wiped out you did not get angry!
When our gallantry was killed and when our honour was trampled upon
And when our day of judgment occurred you did not get angry!
Tell me, when will you get angry?
When our resources were plundered and misfortune struck our institutions
When our Mosques were demolished
And al-Aqsā and our Jerusalem were appropriated
You did not get angry!
Tell me, when will you get angry?
If you do not get angry for the sake of Allah
And then for the sake of Islam and that which is sacred
Then tell me, when will you get angry?
You saw scenes of terror
And you saw blood spread about
You saw elderly women burying dead children
You saw subjugation in different colours and shapes
And you did not get angry!
Tell me, when will you get angry?
You saw death raised above our heads
And you did not get angry!
Be upfront with me without fear:To what nation do you ascribe?
If what we are going through does not inspire you to seek vengeance
Do not tire yourself out!