In this blog, I have written about the current situation in Palestine and Lebanon and the response of the Muslim Ummah. I have also written about what the Ummah can do to help the Palestinians.
Last week on the 7th of October one year has passed since the barbaric assault of Israel on Palestinians. According to various media outlets more than 42,000 Palestinians have been martyred and about 97,000 have been displaced since the 7th of October 2023. In response to Hamas-led attacks in which about 1200 Israelis were killed. From time and again Israel has also targeted the West Bank and has martyred more than 500 people and injured about 6200 people since the beginning of this conflict.
According to the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 60 per cent of the people in Gaza have lost their family members. This barbaric assault has also resulted in the killing of over 120 journalists as well according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. According to TRT World, the UN has accused Israel of destroying the entire health system of Gaza. This terrorism of Israel is not only limited to killing innocent Palestinians but now Israel has also started to target Lebanon in the guise of eliminating Hezbollah. From time and again Israel has been bombing Lebanon. Israel started its ground invasion in Lebanon on 1 October and has also been bombing Lebanon continuously resulting in the killing of more than 2100 most of which have been killed during the start of its ground invasion in Lebanon. It has also resulted in the displacement of more than 1.2 million Lebanese civilians. Israel also opened fire on UN peacekeepers injuring two of them. From time and again Israel has also conducted airstrikes in Syria in the guise of eliminating Iran-backed militias which has resulted in the martyring and injuring of many Syrian civilians as well.
A couple of days ago Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would eventually extend beyond the Jordan River including parts of Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He also said that Israel would extend to this 'little by little'. He also said that Palestinians are an innovation and all this was reported by Middle East Eye, TRT World, Aljazeera and many other media outlets. This is an image of a badge on an Israeli soldier's uniform showing 'Greater Israel' which expands, from Palestine to Egypt, Jordan to Lebanon, Syria and from Iraq to Saudi Arabia.
Silence and Lip service of Muslim Ummah over the Palestinian issue
Now my Question to the Muslim Ummah is will you remain silent? How long will you sleep and when will you wake up? This is an open threat by a man who is an important figure in the Israeli government as he is the finance minister. He is threatening to conquer other Muslim nations and surely such a big statement could not be issued without the permission of their government. They are planning to push for their so-called 'promised land' and this can be seen from the fact that Israel time and again has violated the sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria by bombing them in the guise of eradicating Hezbollah and other such groups. They are conducting a ground invasion of Lebanon and their real target is to colonize all these lands and do the same to them what they have done to Palestine. Netanyahu is threatening to make Lebanon another Gaza and there is no one in the Muslim Ummah to give him a shut-up call except for Iran which is the only country to fire missiles at Israel. Unfortunately, the rest of Ummah is still asleep. If you think that Israel is only doing this to Palestine then you are wrong because after finishing their Genocide in Palestine they will do the same thing to Lebanon, Jordan and the rest of the countries. Would you still be silent? Jerusalem is under their control and they continuously harass Muslims and Christians living there. At times they also stop Muslims from Praying at Masjid al Aqsa. Jerusalem which is one of the holiest sites in Islam is under their control and the Muslim Ummah has done nothing to Liberate it. What would you do when their territorial ambitions grow further and they think of capturing Makkah and Madinah? Would you be happy if Makkah and Madinah were under Israeli control or under threat of going under Israeli occupation? If we as a Ummah can not defend our Palestinian brothers and can not liberate Palestine then what makes us think that we will be able to stop Israel from advancing and harassing other neighbouring Muslim countries? It's our selfishness that has empowered Israel to bomb Lebanon and Syria because they know that the Muslims did nothing to help the Palestinians so they will not do anything to help the Lebanese and Syrians. In the guise of its 'protection' Israel is targeting the innocent civilians of Gaza, Lebanon and sometimes Syrians. Their real target is not to do their own 'protection' or elimination of Hezbollah or Hamas etc but their real target is to conquer other neighbouring Muslim nations as well in its goal of establishing 'Greater Israel'. The statement issued by Smotrich serves as clear proof of what Israel's real objective is and if we as Ummah don't act in the way we should then Israel will become more and more confident in achieving this goal. After finishing their brutal assault in Palestine and Lebanon they will kill innocent civilians in Syria after that they will repeat this episode in Iraq and at last they will move to conquer Saudi Arabia. Those who think that Israel will stop in Palestine or Lebanon after eliminating Hamas or Hezbollah are making a grave misjudgment because the flames of this war will eventually spread to other Muslim nations as well if do not act the way we should.
According to the Hadith mentioned below;
Hadith no.158
"Numan bin Bashir reported that Muslims are like one body of a person; if the eye is sore, the whole body aches, and if the headaches, the whole body aches." [Sahih Muslim 2586d]
According to the above-mentioned Hadith, all of the Ummah is like the body of a person and if there is pain in one part of the body then the whole body bears the brunt of that pain. At the moment Palestinians and the Lebanese are under severe pain but why is the rest of Ummah not doing enough to stop Israel? I am not saying we have done nothing but I am arguing that have we done enough to help them. Issuing statements or protesting is the least we can do. This is what Europeans and many people and governments in the West are doing against the Israeli genocide but they do not have that bond with the Palestinians that we have with them and that bond is the bond of brotherhood. This is what is mentioned by Prophet Muhammad SAW in Sahih Bukhari 2442 that every Muslim is a brother to another Muslim. In the same hadith, Prophet Muhammad SAW has forbidden us to hand our brothers to an oppressor. It makes Palestinians our brothers so my Question to the Muslim Ummah is why have you handed your brother to an oppressor i.e. Israel and why have you disobeyed what has been mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari 2442? This is what Allah has said in the Quran;
The believers are but one brotherhood, so make peace between your brothers. And be mindful of Allah so you may be shown mercy. [Surah al-Hujarat verse no.10]
In another verse Allah says;
The believers, both men and women, are guardians(allies) of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil, establish prayer and pay alms-tax, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they who will be shown Allah’s mercy. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. [Surah at-Tawbah verse no.71]
Verse no.71 of Surah at-Tawbah says that Muslims are allies to one another but what kind of allies are we that Palestinians are undergoing such a brutal genocide and we are not doing anything sufficient enough to end their sufferings? As I mentioned earlier 60 percent of the People in Gaza have lost one or their entire family members. We as Muslims should put ourselves in the place of the Palestinians and imagine for a moment the same tragedy and atrocities they are bearing not since the last year but since 1945 when Israel was formed. What if your brothers, sisters, parents, children and other members of the family are brutally killed in the same way Palestinians are being killed ask yourself this question what would you do in this situation? Unfortunately, the Ummah has not done enough for the Palestinians and has abandoned them. In Sahih al-Bukhari 2445 Prophet Muhammad SAW has ordered us to do seven things and one of those things is to help the oppressed. As Muslims, we must act upon what Allah and Prophet Muhammad SAW has ordered us. We as Muslims should put pressure on our governments, leaders, politicians and all religious scholars to help the Palestinians in the same way the United States and many of its allies in the West are helping Israel. We should unite and help our Palestinian brothers in the best possible manner. Its not just there problem but our problems as and I quote the above Hadith of Prophet Muhammad SAW while saying this. We should help Hamas in liberating Palestine the same way the US is arming Israel. Hamas is not a terrorist organization but it is working to Liberate Palestine from Israel this is the view of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and many other Muslim leaders but instead of only issuing statements in favour of Palestine or Hamas they should supply them weapons. This is what we should do for our brothers suffering this brutal genocide. My question to the Muslim Ummah is what would you do when the same atrocities are conducted with you as I mentioned above this will happen if we don't act as Israel's territorial ambitions will extend further.
Israel a new reality? Can deal of the century be compared with the treaty of Hudaibiyah?
There are some Muslims who argue that Muslims should accept Israel as a reality and move on. While doing so they say that Prophet Muhammad SAW also signed the Treaty of Hudaibiyah with the pegans of Makkah. Those who say this should read that treaty. That treaty recognized the Muslim power in Arabia and it was requested by pegans of Makkah because they feared that Muslims were coming to conquer Makkah but in reality, Muslims were only coming to perform Umrah with sacrificial animals and without weapons. It was a ten-year peace treaty which ensured that the Muslims would not conquer Makkah for 10 years. It was broken by a tribe which was allied with the pegans of Makkah when they attacked a tribe allied with Muslims. As a result, Prophet Muhammad SAW and his companions entered Makkah and it was liberated peacefully. The point I am trying to make here is that the background of the reconciliation treaty of Hudaibiyah was completely different from that agreement which accepts Palestine being divided between Israel and Palestinians. Before the treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Pegans of Makkah did not capture a part of Madinah and then it was decided that Madinah would be divided between Muslims and Pegans of Makkah but rather it was requested by Pegans of Makkah to secure Makkah from being conquered by the Muslims. It also asserted the rights of Muslims over the Holy Kaaba and due to that treaty, Muslim power was also recognised by the Pagans of Makkah. It did not allow Muslims to perform Umrah that year but they were allowed to perform Umrah the next year. On one important point before the treaty was that Prophet Muhammad SAW sent Uthman ibn Affan(May Allah be pleased with him) to negotiate with the Makkans but a false rumour was spread that he was martyred by the Quraish of Makkah. On that Prophet Muhammad SAW pledged allegiance under the tree with his companions to avenge Uthman and fight the Makkans. On knowing that the Makkans sent their missionaries to negotiate or request a peace deal to stop Muslims from doing that and as a result, the Treaty of Al-Hudaibiyah was signed. In no way can that treaty be compared with the 'deal of the century' which sought to recognise Israel. What about all the people that have been martyred by Israel during the last seven decades? Will their blood go in vain?
Was the War against Israel a bad decision made by Hamas?
Then some people argue that it was a bad decision made by Hamas to go to war with Israel. They didn't make any bad decisions the only bad decision they made was that they thought the rest of the Muslim Ummah would help them in the same manner the West would help Israel. They didn't know that we as Ummah have abandoned them and the Palestinian cause. For those who say that Hamas or Palestinians are losing then they should read these verses of the Holy Quran;
Those believers who stay at home except those with valid excuses are not equal to those who strive in the cause of Allah(Jihad) with their wealth and their lives. Allah has elevated in rank those who strive with their wealth and their lives above those who stay behind ˹with valid excuses˺. Allah has promised each a fine reward, but those who strive will receive a far better reward than others. [Surah an-Nisa verse no.95]
In Surah As-Saf Allah says;
O believers! Shall I guide you to an exchange that will save you from a painful punishment? [Surah As-Saf verse no.10]
˹It is to˺ have faith in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives(Jihad). That is best for you, if only you knew. [Surah As-Saf Verse no.11]
He will forgive your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and ˹house you in˺ splendid homes in the Gardens of Eternity. That is the ultimate triumph(success). [Surah As-Saf verse no.12]
In Surah al-Imran Allah says;
As for those who responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger after their injury, those of them who did good and were mindful ˹of Allah˺ will have a great reward. [Surah al-Imran Verse no.172]
Those who were warned, “Your enemies have mobilized their forces against you, so fear them,” the warning only made them grow stronger in faith and they replied, “Allah ˹alone˺ is sufficient ˹as an aid˺ for us and ˹He˺ is the best Protector.” [Surah al-Imran Verse no.173]
So they returned with Allah’s favours and grace, suffering no harm. For they sought to please Allah. And surely Allah is ˹the˺ Lord of infinite bounty. [Surah al-Imran Verse no.174]
For those who are being martyred while fighting Israel are actually the ones dying the best death;
And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allāh as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision, [Surah al-Imran Verse no.169]
Rejoicing in what Allāh has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. [Surah al-Imran Verse no.170]
Allah says in Surah al-Baqarah that;
Surely those who have believed, emigrated, and struggled in the Way of Allah(Jihad) they can hope for Allah’s mercy. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Surah al-Baqarah verse no.218]
In Surah al-Hujarat Allah says;
The ˹true˺ believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger never doubting and striving with their wealth and their lives(Jihad) for the cause of Allah. They are the ones true in faith. [Surah al-Hujarat verse no.15]
In another Verse Allah says in the Quran;
Those who have believed, emigrated, and strived in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives(Jihad) are greater in rank in the sight of Allah. It is they who will triumph(succeed). [Surah At-Tawbah verse no.20]
These above-mentioned verses of the Holy Quran serve as proof that the Palestinians and the Lebanese are succeeding while unfortunately the rest of the Muslim Ummah is not as they are the fighting with there lives and there wealth against Israeli terrorism. Ismael Haniyah and Yahya Sinwar have succeeded. Hezbollah are succeeding(in case of Palestinian cause) while the rest of the 'leaders' of the Ummah are failing because they don't have the courage to risk there lives while fighting this brutality.
Are Muslims too weak to confront Israel and its allies?
Then some people say that the Muslims at the moment are weak. They argue that first we should catch up with the West and then afterwards they should help the Palestinians and other Muslims around the world like in Kashmir, Xinjiang(Uyghur Muslims), Libya etc. They say that the Muslim Ummah at the moment is too weak and powerless to stand up against the West. Yes, I agree that there are Muslim countries that are too weak and poor but there are also some Muslim nations that have got the Economic and Military might to go against the West and help their Muslim brothers. We are way more powerful at the moment than we were at the time of the Battle of Badr. At that time as well some Companions of the Prophet Muhammad SAW were poor like Abu Huraira(May Allah be pleased with him) while some were very rich like Uthman bin Affan but did that stop the Muslims from fighting the Battle of Badr and winning it? No, it didn't the only two things we are missing at the moment are Unity and Faith on Allah. We at the moment are much more powerful in terms of military, economy and manpower than we were at the time of the death of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Although we were weak as compared to now but that didn't stop us from defeating and conquering two superpowers at the time i.e. the Romans and Persians. In terms of defence Turkiye, Iran and Pakistan etc have got quite formidable armies. They can use there armies in UN peacekeeping missions but not for there Palestnian brothers? One of these 3 countries which I don't want to mention can send its army to Libya, Syria and Iraq for eliminating terrorist but they can't send there army to Liberate Palestine. I appreciate them for this but why can't they do the same for Palestinians. If all of the 57 countries of OIC unite then our millitary strength can increase manifold and no one would dare to kill innocent Muslims. We would become invincible. In terms of Finance then the countries in the Gulf like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman etc are probably one of the richest countries in the world and they have also got large oil reserves. They can use all there money to build massive skyscrapers, buy expensive cars, invest in multinational companies, buying expensive properties in Europe and the United States of America but can not spend this money for the liberation of Palestine. They can't put an oil embargo on the West to put pressure on them to stop aiding Israel. If you can't send your armies then you can at least use your financial power to help them with weapons.
Allah says in the Quran;
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If your parents and children and siblings and spouses and extended family and the wealth you have acquired and the trade you fear will decline and the homes you cherish—˹if all these˺ are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and struggling in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His Will. Allah does not guide the rebellious(immoral) people.” [Surah at-Tawbah verse no.24]
In another verse of Surah at-Tawbah Allah says;
˹O believers!˺ March forth(do Jihad) whether it is easy or difficult for you, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if only you knew. [Surah at-Tawbah verse no.41]
I wrote an article a year ago in which I gave couple of solutions that we can use to help the Palestinians and this is its link Role Muslims Should Play in Resolving the conflict in Palestine.
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