March 18, 2024

It is hard not to think of Palestine, Gaza and her people when reciting the Qur’an these days. It seems every ayah fits perfectly like a glove to what we are witnessing and have been witnessing the last few months. Whether it is ayats that give us a play by play of similar circumstances and the outcome that Allah manifested or ayats that comfort our grieving hearts. And today in my recitation, what I found was comfort, reassurance and a change in perspective.

I was feeling very heavy hearted and quiet honestly a bit defeated and disheartened about the attack on Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza again and the never-ending bombardment on our brothers and sisters. And then, while scrolling on instagram I came across a post that was quoting one of the minister’s of the occupation saying along the lines of how they were going to get rid of the month of Ramadan and their fear of the month. Ya Allah, I coudn’t believe the arrogance and confidence with which he was saying this. The confidence and arrogance with which we’ve seen them make a mockery of our brothers and sisters and our deen. And in that moment of my frustration and hurt, I thought to myself, how I wish Allah could just show His might right now, how I wish Allah could just humiliate them in this moment. May Allah forgive me for my shortsightedness and my impatience.

So I took this hurt, this heavy heart and frustration to the Qur’an. And as I recited my pages, I read ayat 9 and 10 of Surah Al-Anfal and in these ayats it was like Allah was speaking to me. Allah says in the ayats:

“˹Remember˺ when you cried out to your Lord for help, He answered, “I will reinforce you with a thousand angels—followed by many others.”

“And Allah made this a sign of victory and reassurance to your hearts. Victory comes only from Allah. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”

As I reflected on the ayats, I found comfort in the reassurance Allah gave to the messenger ﷺ when He reminded him of how He helped him in the battle of badr by sending down a thousand angels and many others against their oppressor and persecutors. I realized that perhaps, Allah has already sent His reinforcement to the people of Gaza and Palestine in forms and ways that I may not know. Again reminding me of the fact that Allah knows and I do not. I do not know who or what the soldiers and reinforcements of Allah are. And not knowing in this instance is a comfort. Then Allah reminds me again that this a sign of victory and reassurance to my heart; to know that victory comes only from Him. And He is Almighty, All-Wise.

Essentially Allah saying to me, don’t worry about how “powerful,” “confident” or “arrogant” the oppressors appear to be. All I need to know and have full trust in is the fact that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise and His victory is promised. Perhaps victory has already been granted to Gaza and Palestine and the many people in Sudan, Congo and around the world facing oppression but I may not perceive it, because victory from Allah comes in many forms. I am content with the knowing that Allah is going to grant victory; when? and how? that’s not for me to worry about. I just need to find reassurance in His words and His promise.

I shared this reflection when we finished our Juz of the day and it resonated with another sister. But something she said as she shared her reflection on the same ayats and on what I had shared from my reflection totally gave me chills. She said she was struck by my mention of the fact that victory from Allah takes many forms and so she thought:

“What if comfort is knowing Allah is happy with you? And maybe victory may not be in our lifetime but it is still victory for the people of Palestine because they are shuhada (martyrs). And so when she makes du’a now, she asks Allah to count them amongst the shuhada and grant them and us shahid (martyrdom) because that is the greatest of victory.”

Takbir - Allahu Akbar! (Allah is the Greatest). In that instance, the frustration, the grief and the sadness I had was dispelled. May Allah reward her for sharing her reflection and for allowing me to see things in a different perspective. The people of Gaza and Palestine have far exceeded us in this regard and it is so evident in their increasing faith in the face of oppression. For them comfort and victory is knowing Allah is pleased with them; it is knowing that In sha Allah they are shuhada and that’s why many of them continue to say “Ya Allah take from us, from our homes, from our wealth, from our families, take from us until You’re pleased with us.” They are truly a people of insight.

May Allah ﷻ allow us to renew our faith and increase us in faith and keep us steadfast. May Allah make us among those He is pleased with and allow us to find comfort in His pleasure. May Allah grant us the utmost victory, that when our time comes to meet Him, He calls us back when He is most pleased with us. And may our last deeds be the best of deeds and our last words be the best of words - La ilaha illa’Llah. Allahumma Amin ya Rabb.

With Love, Ibtisam