After having seen countless videos of the heartbreaking events in Gaza, from the mourning of sole family members to the unearthing of suffocating children, one can not help but feel a level of helplessness and may even start to lose hope completely. At first glance, there seems to be no other way to look at this. But Alhamdulillah, as Muslims, everything has an explanation.

Before attempting to understand anything at all, we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. When one begins to understand the absolute transcendence of Allah ﷻ, everything else falls into perspective. Allah ﷻ is Al Hakeem (the All Wise) & Al Aleem (the All Knowing); so regardless of how much pain, suffering, despair, and anguish floods the Earth; Allah is always capable of upholding absolute fairness between his subjects. While this may be hard to conceive in the worldly life, we will certainly wonder how we ever doubted it in the hereafter. The ahadith already tells us that the most miserable man in the entire history of humanity, who is meant for jannah, will be dipped into it momentarily, resulting in such joy and pleasure that he would fail to recall any pain he has previously undergone. If that is the result of just a second in paradise, then is it not worth giving up this temporary life of the dunya for an eternal abode there?

“It is He who created death and life to test which of you are best in deeds, for He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.”
Qur’an 67:2

Qur’an 67:2

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Nothing befalls a believer, a (prick of a) thorn or more than that, but Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, or erase a bad deed.”

Bukhari

The thought of pain generally carries a negative connotation amongst non-Muslims, and while it is correct to an extent, it should never be the be-all and end-all in a Muslims thought process. Depending on how one reacts to an affliction that befalls them, it becomes possible to acquire things that would be deemed unachievable before it. Taking this into consideration, it makes total sense for the martyr to exert their efforts for the sake of Allah ﷻ until their dying breath, knowing that an endless state of tranquillity and bliss will be what follows it. And how can one not be determined to reach such heights, when living within the neighbouring land of Bait ul Maqdis itself, among thousands of Muslims whose Imaan is totally unbreakable.

وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ
So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.

Qur’an 2:139

This beautiful verse very simply clarifies the standard at which superiority is measured. The weight of an individual’s military might, political power, and social acceptance is rendered insignificant when calculating the true level of success of a person. This verse also provides great solace when pondering over the sadness faced by many in this world. Who better is there to reassure us during these times than our Lord ﷻ who has watched over us our entire life, knowing every detail of what has occurred as well as what is to come. The very Deity who overlooks the operations of the Heavens and the Earth, from the extraction of nectar by colonies of bees to the grandeur movement of celestial bodies; the One who effortlessly grows vegetation from barren lands and feeds all of its species of animals and plants every day, without fail. He, Allah ﷻ, addresses us Muslims directly reminding us not to despair. Upon reflecting on all of these blessings, it is only befitting for us to echo the speech that Allah ﷻ has kindly provided us from the beloved actions of the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم, and firmly believe in it as well; saying:

حَسُبُنَا اللهُ و نِعْمَ الْوَكِيْل

Allah is Sufficient for us, and what an excellent Guardian he is

One will not even begin to question why Allah ﷻ allows harm to befall upon our Palestinian brothers and sisters, or anyone for that matter, once they fully comprehend the status of those very people in Qiyamah. Proof of this is shown by the sky-high morale of those in Gaza; the fact that the most heartwarming consolations we find, often come directly from the centre of the storm is a testimony of Allahs’ ﷻ mercy being showered over them. Despite their suffering, we should by no means fall into despair; this temporary state of pain is the stepping stone to the ultimate achievement- a rank in paradise, which often seems beyond our grasp. Had the oppressors understood their fate in the Hereafter, they would rush to switch positions with the Palestinians in this life. It is just a matter of time till Allah ﷻ judges between them both, and that time draws closer every day.

Our job, in the comfort of our homes, is to work on our own faith and that of our families. Alongside the completion of all our obligatory actions, we must embark upon greater aspirations. The result is not in our hands, but the effort is what elevates us. Allah ﷻ will oversee the matters of his deen and His ﷻ plan will always come about. In the meantime, we must make the necessary changes in what we do have control over, our own lives, our families, and our communities. A big misconception is the separation between deen and dunya, and the constant effort of juggling between it. How beautiful Allah ﷻ has made this religion, that a distinction needs not be made between the two. Our deen guides us in the dunya, whilst the dunya dictates our status in the deen. So embrace this deen and make your life revolve around it. Spend your limited days serving it and with the right intention, Allah ﷻ may make its outcome ripple around every corner of the Globe. The Palestinian plight is a test for every Muslim who is aware of it. Prepare your answer to Allah ﷻ for when you will be questioned regarding it. Make an impact through whatever halal means are necessary, online and offline. Take advantage of the influence you have, and attempt to undo the ongoing damage. And whatever news you hear and see, that crushes your morale and forces you towards misery and despair, don’t let it seize you. Because at the end of the day, the tables will turn, Allah ﷻ will remain supreme, and every individual will either look back in regret, or face forward in triumph.

May Allah make this situation and means of success for ourselves, our families, and the Ummah as a whole. Ameen.