Allah is sufficient for us

MY WIFE ASKED me late last night why I was so quiet and lost in thought all day. I was worried about what was unfolding in Ghazza. The killing of over 7000 hasn’t been enough as the Occupiers intensified their bombing and possibly began their ground assault.

The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.’ (Muslim)

l, like countless believers worldwide, have been feeling that over the last 3 weeks and no more so than last night. I couldn’t sleep, the words of the hadith taking on meaning in a way that I never thought was possible. Even the sciatica that was causing me pain for the last 2 weeks seemed subdued due to the greater pain I felt in my heart.

Unable to sleep, I turned to prayer and a moment alone with Allah. The Messenger ﷺ said: ‘When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says: ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (to) him? Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’ (Bukhari)

I couldn’t and didn’t hold back. At one point I was lost for words and all I could sob was: ‘Help us.’ And in that strange way that Allah opens the heart and provides comfort an ayah from amongst all the ayat came to mind:

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, “When is the help of Allah?” Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (al Baqarah 214)

This is the sunnah of Allah. That people will be tested to the extreme point. But at that extreme point, Allah’s help is near. Today, tomorrow, very soon…

As I calmed, I reflected on what we have seen and learnt over the last 3 weeks.

1. The Palestinians do not need us, we need them.

The iman, tawakkul and sabr of our brothers and sisters in Palestine is a constant source of inspiration. The suffering that they go through would crush most of us and yet they go about their lives like the ayah:

ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ

Those who were warned, “Your enemies have mobilised 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.’ (ale Imran 173)

2. Palestine belongs to this ummah.

The oppressors thought that the Palestinian cause was all over, and a single Zionist state was in the bag with the neighbouring Muslim nations ready to normalise relations in return for some petty national interest being met. They were wrong. The Palestinian cause is not dead because Palestine is rooted in Islamic aqeedah and has a special meaning to the believer. It is not an Arab cause. It is not a nationalistic Palestinian cause. Palestine is this ummah’s cause and will always be so.

3. The first casualty of war is the truth.

For those of us living in the West, the scale of the propaganda and hypocrisy was clear as night and day. It was as though history started from the 7th of October and the previous 100+ years did not exist. The government, the media, even educational institutes and big business were in on it. Only one question was being asked of the Muslims: ‘Do you condemn?’

وَدُّوا۟ مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ ٱلْبَغْضَآءُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِى صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Their prejudice has become evident from what they say—and what their hearts hide is far worse. We have made Our revelations clear to you if only you understood. (ale Imran 118)

Muslims who were previously inclined towards political participation had the veil removed from their eyes about how the system works against our interests. Political figures (both Right and Left) and the media showed unqualified support for the oppressors, war crimes and the legitimisation of genocide. Meetings and petitions to elected politicians fell on deaf ears. Any person, group or community that stood up for the truth was vilified and their opposition was labelled as either antisemitism or support of terrorism. Muslims in political positions had no influence, were silent, or just towed the party line.

But unlike previous times our response was far more decisive. We were no longer accepting the narrative of the oppressors being the oppressed. Social media was being used far more effectively than before. Speakers were much clearer on their position. There was greater unity amongst the Muslims. ‘The Israelis were telling us what was happening, the Palestinians were showing us what was happening.’ Fair-minded non-Muslims were seeing the truth of the matter for a change.

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِـُٔوا۟ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ

They wish to extinguish Allah’s light with their mouths, but Allah will (certainly) perfect His light, even to the dismay of the disbelievers. (as-Saff 8)

Moving forward, we cannot allow ourselves to be silenced by the climate of fear that has been created and reverse the good work that has already been done.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah by the displeasure of people, Allah will suffice him against the people. Whoever seeks the pleasure of people by the displeasure of Allah, Allah will leave him to the patronage of the people.’ (Tirmidhi)

4. The rulers lost out yet again.

Allah puts us through tests to expose the truthful from the liar, and the believer from the hypocrite. Allah already knows the truth of each person’s condition, but He wants also to make it clear to all those around him. Our rulers are not on the side of Allah, His Messenger and this ummah. They have betrayed us like they have done every other time. They thought they could get away with normalisation. They had to stall and say some words to calm the public sentiment. But like always, no action.

They cannot be let off the hook and need to be held accountable for their betrayal.

5. The real solution

Not the Western political institutes (who created and supported the occupation). Not the UN (yet more failed resolutions). Not charity (bread and clothes don’t stop bullets and bombs). But the armies of the Muslim lands are the ones who can act immediately and liberate Palestine. They have the capability and it is fard upon them. Perhaps the people at the very top have sold their souls but the rest of them need to remember that they are the sons, brothers and fathers of this ummah and are a part of us. They need to remember whose side they are on. They need to take inspiration from our history. From Khalid ibn Waleed (ra), Salauddin al Ayyubi and Muhammad al Fateh. They need to respond to the ayah:

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا َٰ

And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say: ‘Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?’ (an-Nisa 75)

I ended the night with those thoughts echoing as dua. O Allah ﷻ shower the people of Palestine with strength and give courage to the officers and soldiers from amongst the Muslim armies to liberate them from the horrors of genocide. O Allah ﷻ fortify us to stand firm against the propaganda war unify the believers and replace our rulers with a righteous khalifah. Ameen.

حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ

Allah is sufficient for us and (He) is the best Protector.