GAZA: THE SUDDEN ALERT

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim Alhamdulillahi rabbil-‘alamin was-Salatu was-Salam ‘ala Sayyidil-Mursalin wa ‘ala ‘Alihi wa Sahbihi Ajma’in. As Salamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

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Q1: What cards left for us as Muslim societies to interact with current calamities as appositive participant?

Since October 7th, a massacre has been unfolding before everyone’s eyes in Gaza, Palestine. It is difficult to say that Muslim countries have played all the cards they have. Yet, societies have been doing more than that. Still, are there any cards left for them?

As always, to answer this question, we must refer to what the Qur’an says. First, let us examine Surah Al-Maidah (5:56): “Whoever allies themselves with Allah, His Messenger, and fellow believers, then it is certainly Allah’s party that will prevail.” Allah (swt) is advising us to ally with Allah (swt), His Messenger (pbuh), and fellow believers. Fellow believers here stand out. It is certain that being united with fellow Muslims who genuinely believe in Allah (swt) is as important as allying with Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh). At this point, one card is revealed: being one Ummah (Tawhid). This is what we lack and need currently.

Before getting into the second ayah, a famous hadith should be remembered. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest level of faith.” [Sahih Muslim 49]. As a society, we do not have the power to change the evil with our hands or tongues. Yet, we have Dua. In this context, we must check if our Duas are valid. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Baqara (2:286), “When My servants ask you, O Prophet, about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. So let them respond with obedience to Me and believe in Me, perhaps they will be guided to the Right Way.” Making Dua with obedience and believing that Allah (swt) will certainly answer it. Those are keys to keep in mind. Therefore, as Muslim societies, we must increase our Imaan and place Allah (swt) at the very center of our lives to make Dua sincerely and with obedience.

Lastly, we will conclude this answer with a hadith of our beloved Prophet (pbuh): “Call upon Allah with certainty that He will answer you...”

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Q2: - After international organizations, especially Islamic ones, proved ineffective recently, what is the horizon now for reviving Islamic unity?

Islamic unity is the keyword to answer this question. The reason the organizations are ineffective is that they are not united, even though they support the very same cause. As the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Muslims are like one body; if the eye is sore, the whole body aches, and if the head aches, the whole body aches” (Sahih Muslim). Muslims should be so united that they act as one body, embodying tawhid as mentioned in the first answer.

What about reviving this unity? How could it be done? That is the billion-dollar question. It is arduous to answer. Yet, as Passengers, we have come up with some humble opinions.

We believe the first step should be awareness—awareness of what we are going through. It is certain that we live in a world where nationalism is being injected into our societies. We must be aware of this and act accordingly, since the Prophet (pbuh) said, “All mankind is from Adam and Eve; an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white, except by piety (takwa) and good action.”

The second step is education. Muslim people all around the world have been subjected to the Western education system. With that, achieving unity and overcoming nationalism and racism is nearly impossible. An education system that is well-designed and based on the Qur’an and Hadith is a must.

The next step is economic reform. Again, as with education, we are exposed to a Western-type economic system, which thrives on interest. We must remember an ayah here. In Surah Al-Baqara, Allah (swt) says (2:279), “If you do not, then beware of a war with Allah and His Messenger! But if you repent, you may retain your principal—neither inflicting nor suffering harm.” A war with Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh)—Astaghfirullah. Moreover, this is the system we are living in. By being in a state of war with Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh), we cannot hope to see better days, even if we are united.

The last step, of course the hardest one, is to sustain this environment. To achieve this and conclude the report, an ayah would be appropriate. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Imran (3:103), “And hold firmly together to the rope of Allah and do not be divided. Remember Allah’s favor upon you when you were enemies; then He united your hearts, so you—by His grace—became brothers. And you were at the brink of a fiery pit, and He saved you from it. This is how Allah makes His revelations clear to you so that you may be rightly guided.” May Allah (swt) guide us to stay on His right path by holding firmly to His rope.