God is the only thing that makes sense
Allahu-alam.
My heart breaks for Palestine every day. The death, the destruction, the displacement. Nothing hurts my heart more than watching the children of Gaza, the way they smile and talk of dreams about simple things like eating bread with their mothers, or their barely developed voices as they wail for their families, and how they wipe away their tears with their little fingers, or the way they gleefully collect rainwater because they have no access to water otherwise. I can’t even bear to think about the dead children. So, so many children. I see my own little brothers and sisters in the youth of Gaza. I cry for the children and people of Palestine every day. Last night I dreamed I had two starving babies in Gaza and I couldn’t feed them. The irony was I was stuck in a mansion at the time but no one would give us any food. It feels like a metaphor for Palestine; stuck without anyone coming to their rescue.
The only solace in all this is Allah. Faith is our anchor and it lets us know there is more for the martyrs of Palestine. As the writer and speaker Yasmin Mogahed eloquently reminded us early on this new nakba, the believer must remember that there is an unseen reality that is happening around us. One of Allah’s names is Alim Al Ghaib Wa Shahadah - Knower of the Unseen and Witnessed. He sees things and knows everything we don’t. It is the conviction of the believer that Allah has a plan for everything.
When a sweet little Palestinian-American six-year-old, Wadea Al-Fayoyme, was stabbed 26 times and killed for his faith in Chicago, he said to his mum ‘Mama, I’m fine’. There’s a hadith that reminds us those who die for their faith will experience death as a small pinch. Abu Huraira reported: ‘The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The martyr does not feel the pain of being killed except as one of you feels the pinch of an insect bite.”’ And in the Quran (2:154), God says: ‘Never say that those martyred in the cause of Allah are dead – in fact they are alive, but you do not perceive it’.
The martyrs of Palestine and others who are killed for their faith will be given Jannatul Firdaws inshallah, their deaths will feel like a pinch inshallah. The children will be returned with their parents at the gates of Jannat inshallah.
Knowing that Allah is with the victims of Palestine, as He is with all believers, is such huge comfort. How can we despair when the Most Sovereign, Most Wise, the All-Mighty presides over the affairs of our brothers and sisters? Allah says ‘Do not lose heart nor fall into despair. You will be the victor if you are true believers’ (Quran 3:139).
But just because we know Allah is with them doesn’t mean we do nothing. Our beloved prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said when we see evil, we must change it with our hands, tongues, and hate it with our hearts. When we die, we will be asked what we did in the face of injustice. How will we answer?
Allahumma aslih ahwaalal-muslimeena fi filisteen, Allahumma aslih ahwaalal-muslimeena fi filisteena wa fi kulli makaanin ya dhul-jalali wal-ikraam.
O Allah! Rectify the affairs of the Muslims in Palestine. O Allah! Rectify the affairs of the Muslims in Palestine and in every place, O Lord of Majesty and Bounty.
Allahumma aslih Ummata Muhammad. Allahumma farrij ‘an Ummati Muhammad. AllahummaRham Ummata Muhammad [sallAllahu alayhi wasalam].
“O Allah! Improve (help) the state of the Ummah of Muhammad. O Allah! Grant ease to the Ummah of Muhammad. O Allah! Have mercy on the Ummah of Muhammad.”