Gaza is not just a test for our brothers and sisters starving to death, being shot at, murdered in broad daylight while standing in a food line, and seeing their children suffer in unimaginable ways. Gaza is a test for us too. It is God’s way of seeing what we will do in the face of this horror unfolding before our very eyes.
Some have given in to growing despair, leading to apathy. They feel that despite all the protests, boycotts, calls, meetings and more, nothing is left to be done. When these feeling hits, we are in a spiritual danger zone. We are at the precipice of Tawakkul (trust in God) and despair. And it is exactly at this point that the test makes or breaks all of us - those in Gaza and those outside of it.
To pass this test, at this moment when all seems lost, we must turn to God as our Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, did when he was abused and kicked out of Taif. Bleeding from the stones thrown at him by the city’s residents, he made this Dua (supplication) to the One Who is the All-Powerful:
“To You, My Lord, I complain of my weakness, lack of support and the humiliation I am made to receive.
Most Compassionate and Merciful! You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord. To whom do You leave me? To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom You have given power over me?
If you are not displeased with me, I do not care what I face. I would, however, be much happier with Your mercy.
I seek refuge in the light of Your face by which all darkness is dispelled and both this life and the life to come are put on their right courses against incurring Your wrath or being the subject of Your anger. To You I submit, until I earn Your pleasure. Everything is powerless without Your support.”
We know what happened after this Dua was made. You and I would not be here, had the Prophetic movement not moved beyond Taif.
The time to act is now. And here is how we can proceed at this dark - but temporary - moment for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, and for our Ummah.
FACTS
- Israel is blocking 6,000 UN trucks loaded with food supplies. The UN says that within two miles of Gaza, they have an abundance of food in their warehouses that can feed 2 million Palestinians for three months.
- The issue is not a lack of food. It is that Israel is stopping that food from reaching the children, women, and men of Gaza.
- This week, 28 countries said Israel is “drip feeding” Palestinians - restricting aid from the UN, and forcing starving Palestinians to walk miles to four distribution centers run by Israel and the U.S.
- As they walk to reach food, Israeli soldiers and American mercenaries shoot them at will.
- Approximately 1,000 Palestinians have been killed seeking food and aid over the last few months.
- Israel has destroyed 70% of all buildings in Gaza, the last neighborhood is being bombed to ashes as we write.
ACTION ITEMS
- Remember that no matter how ineffective and frustrating our lawmakers may be, we still have a duty and right to speak up and persuade them to take action. Their inactivity should not make us not act. They are accountable for their actions, and we are accountable for ours. And this is why we must act.
- We have one main demand at this moment: For Israel to lift its almost five-month blockade of food and life-saving supplies that has led to famine in Gaza.
- Call your federal and state representatives and make this exact point. Do not write them off. They need to be persuaded with more than one call or meeting. Be persistent.
- Send this demand to them in emails and snail mail letters as well.
- Contact your local media and ask them why they are not covering the famine in Gaza more widely. Also, if you have members of your community with family members in Gaza who would be willing to talk to the media, get them in touch with a journalist. This is called giving a “local angle” to an international story.
- If you are involved in an interfaith group, work with them to issue a statement to share with the media calling for an end to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- Increase your Ibadah (worship). Apart from consciously making Dua (supplication) to end the famine in Gaza after every one of the five daily prayers, commit to fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, making Dua before you break your fast; wake up 20 minutes before Fajr starts on Friday to offer Dua and extra prayer for Gaza during Tahajjud (the last third of the night). Encourage your family and friends to do the same.
- Global Fast for Gaza Coming Monday. Justice for All is calling on Muslims and our allies to fast coming Monday. Sound Vision and Justice For All team has resolved to fast twice a week in solidarity with the starving people of Gaza.
TALKING POINTS
- Most Americans are familiar with Anne Frank, and her diary, which is required reading in many classes and schools. What is happening in Gaza is no different.
- Yesterday it was Anne Frank, today it is Rashan, a 12-year-old girl who is starving, her body a skeleton from hunger. And she is not the only one. Rashan grew up amid Israel’s apartheid and occupation. Now she is one of the many children facing extermination. More than 17,000 Palestinian children have been killed by Israel. More than 2,000 families have been wiped out. In addition, 5,600 families now count only one survivor.
- Raise question after question on how this famine in Gaza, and Israel’s genocide violates countless laws. Do you know that:
- Gaza is currently in the fifth and final stage of famine?
- Israel is currently the only country bombing almost all of its neighbors?
- Israel has violated countless UN resolutions?
- The only nation backing Israel’s starvation plan is the US?
- Do you believe Israel has a right to collectively punish Palestinians?
THINKING POINTS
- Do you feel Duas (supplications) are being wasted? This is not true. Every Dua is heard and accepted by Allah. However, it is not necessarily accepted in the way we want. Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, said that there are three ways our Duas are accepted. The first way is that we get what we ask for. The second is that we are rewarded in the Akhirah (afterlife). The third way is that the Dua is used to avert a calamity about to hit the supplicant. (Hadith Musnad Ahmad, 11133).
- “Do not ever think that God is unaware of what any tyrant is doing” (Quran 14:42). Remember that God knows and sees all - that includes our response to their actions and whether we stand up for justice (Quran 4:135) or remain silent.
- “O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. God is truly with those who are patient” (Quran 2: 153). In times like these, increase your worship of God. It will be a source of solace and hope. Throughout our prayer, we say “Allahu Akbar” (God is greater).
- Having Sabr (patience and endurance) means taking action, being persistent, and not giving up. Prophet Nuh (God’s peace be upon him) worked for 900 years without results. But he did not give up.
- Build Tawakkul (trust in God). We must do our best, and then put our trust in Allah. Our capacities are limited. Allah's are unlimited. We are responsible for following God’s command by doing our duty and making a right choice in the world of choices and following them up with action. But results, positive or negative, are not in our control. They are dependent upon the laws and prophecies which Allah has put in place and on His Will. And this is why we put our full trust in Allah after taking action.
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