Middle-East
The Gaza Massacre: A Humanitarian Disaster (12.30.2008 updates)
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New UPDATES will be added at the bottom of the post. Story now cross-posted on Dailykos.com
After an agreement to a six-month ceasefire between between Hamas and Israel expired on December 19th, Israel launched multiple F-16 bombers into the Gaza Strip, dropping 100 tons of bombs in the first nine hours of fighting, indiscriminately massacring over 225 Palestinians and injuring over 700 others, the worst number of Palestinian casualties, and the bloodiest, since the 1967 attack in Gaza. May Allah subhaana wa ta’aala accept them all amongst the shuhadaa, aameen.
This latest violation of human rights and basic decency by the Israeli government was allegedly due to rockets fired from Gaza into the southern border of Israel, although Hamas contends Israel had been violating the conditions of the ceasefire by closing off checkpoints and murdering 28 Palestinians.
There remains, however, speculation about the motives provided by the current Israeli regime. Within a month’s time, Israel will be holding parlimentary elections and thus far, Ehud Olmert’s government has received poor marks from the Israeli public for their handling of Hamas-controlled Gaza. It is believed this disproportionately senseless attack was meant to beef up Olmert’s party’s street cred with those holding more hawkish views, pulling them away from opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu.
There is further speculation that President-elect Obama supports the Palestinians and this will most likely be the last time it receives unconditional support from the United States through the Bush Administration.
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, lending credence to this theory, has already stated, “We strongly condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence there. The cease-fire must be restored immediately and fully respected,” referring to rocket attacks which killed one Israeli civilian.
The most plausible theory, however, is that reported by the Haaretz, which states Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has been planning this operation, known as Operation Cast Lead, into the Gaza strip well over six months. Those six months of relative peace were used by the IDF for information gathering, in order to understand Hamas’s security infrastructure completely and destroy it when ready.
That time came when IDF forces carried out attacks in Gaza just over a month ago (during the ceasefire) to take out a tunnel which the army alleged was meant for use as attacking IDF troops. This was met by retaliation from Hamas and has this has now escalated to where the issue stands today.
The rest of the world, including the UN (minus the hawkish neo-conservative executive branch of the US government) has condemned Israel’s disproportionate aggression against the Palestinian people and called for a ceasefire. Israel has made it clear that no ceasefires will be negotiated, and it is gearing up to continue its attacks on Gaza and they will not be ended any time soon. Israeli troops are already amassing tanks and infantry at the border in preparation.
Humanitarian Disaster
“There are heads without bodies …. There’s blood in the corridors. People are weeping, women are crying, doctors are shouting, ” said nurse Ahmed Abdel Salaam from Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s main treatment center.
The death toll is expected to rise further, with bodies still lying buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings. Hospitals, already suffering from shortages due to an 18-month blockade on the Gaza Strip, said they were struggling to cope with the number of injured, which included women and children.
Gaza is densely populated. Its 1.5 million residents are already experiencing shortages in power and basic supplies due to the siege which is widely condemned by human rights movements as a collective punishment.
MuslimMatters Statement on the Gaza Massacre
The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam has taught us that if we can stop the evil we encounter with our hands, then we should do so, and if not the hand, then by the tongue, and if that’s not possible, then to at least hate it in our hearts.
Today, we have the platform by which we can express ourselves through the medium of writing and have this reach a wide audience. Thus, we say to you, we stand united with our brothers and sisters in Gaza, and we not only condemn, no, but we curse Olmert, Ehud Barak, and all others involved in this blood bath committed against the people of Gaza. There is no justification by which one group can purport to murder over 225 lives and seriously injure over 700 in retaliation for the loss of one life.
To our brothers and sisters in Islam, we remind you that though your ability to act is limited, your ability to make du’aa remains. Make du’aa to ease the struggles and difficulties, the trials our brothers and sisters of Gaza are going through. Let us also make du’aa against the criminals who committed these evils and that this difficulty and seemingly poor situation, will turn itself into a decisive victory, as was the case with the treaty of hudaybiyyah.
See Also:
- Raising Yousuf and Noor: diary of a Palestinian mother
- Israeli Occupation Causes Terrorism (UN Report Finds) @ MM
- Israel’s “Retaliatory” Killing Machine Fully Justified @MM
- The World I Live In : Reflections on Gaza @MM
- Farmocracy Experiment Part-2 (The Gaza Crises) @MM
Updates (12/30/08):
- More than 360 of the people of Gaza are now reported killed, and scores others either injured and succumbing to injuries or buried alive, and now more than 1600 are reported wounded. 4 Israelis were also killed yesterday due to rockets fired.
- The offensive from the Israelis has widened. Certain areas of the Gaza border are closed off and missiles are now being fired from navy vessels as well to hit designated targets.
- Israeli patrol boats have rammed a gaza relief vessel, carrying medical supplies and medical personnel to assist with the shortages. On board were also many journalists and former US Representative Cynthia McKinney. She is quoted as saying, “I would call it ramming. Let’s just call it as it is. Our boat was rammed three times, twice in the front and one on the side. Our mission was a peaceful mission to deliver medical supplies and our mission was thwarted by the Israelis — the aggressiveness of the Israeli military.” The Israeli military claimed there was no intention to ram and they feared the boat was up to terrorist activity.
- There are conflicting reports which state Israel may, due to intense international pressure for a ceasefire, halt operations for 48 hours. Defense officials and the Shin Bet are stating this is untrue, though another source speaking on condition of anonymity has stated Defense Minister Ehud Barak would be bringing it up during an Israeli security Cabinet meeting.
- Assuming there is truth to the 48 hour proposal, the purpose of it will be to give Hamas time to stop firing rockets into Israel. Hamas has said that if the proposal is true, they will consider the ceasefire if Israel will end its blockcade of Gaza.
- If the 48 hour window of time expires, Israel will then move to a ground offensive. Hamas has said it would welcome a ground offensive, and has threatened if the fighting continues they will launch rockets deeper into Israel.
Updates (12/29/08):
- The death toll now stands at 345 killed, and over 1450 are injured. In Israel, one worker at construction site in Ashkelon died from the rockets fired in return for the Gaza offensive, and 8 others were injured.
- Israel currently has 2000 reservists at the Gaza border and is looking to amass a total of 6700. Israeli leaders maintain they are not looking for a ground offensive. It seems that in order for a ground initiative into Gaza, Israel will need 10,000 troops. On the other hand, it also appears that Israel will exhaust, by Monday, its target bank for aerial bombing, so either ground fighting or a quick diplomatic solution will need to occur, but neither seems a possibility at the moment.
- Egyptian authorities have allowed ambulances to cross into the Rafah border to bring back Palestinian casualties for medical treatment, and as well, food and medical supplies have been lined up since early morning to get in.
- Al Jazeera’s Sherine Tadro, speaking about the chaotic situation at the Shifa hospital in Gaza city stated, “Hundreds of people are just waiting outside … the problem is that there simply aren’t enough beds to cope with the number of injured. Medical sources here are telling us they are running out of everything, from gauzes to saline solutions, and critically now they are running out of almost every type of blood.“
- 30 trucks loaded with fuel, food, and medical supplies from the Red Cross have also been allowed to pass, but as Red Cross International Spokesman Iyad Nasr said, the earlier Israeli sanctions, which were key in triggering this offensive, have left hospitals, “almost incapable of functioning” even before the weekend’s attacks, and those facilities are now “bleeding every resource available.”
- He also stated, “Very little number of cars are going out. People who need to secure some basic food supplies are all to go out, or people looking for a family member who is missing or going to a hospital.”
- Among the targets hit were an Islamic University and a masjid. The bombing of the masjid also killed 5 young girls.
More evidence for the futility of stereotyping, this powerful diary, “Today I end my support of Israel” has become the most recommended story on Dailykos.com, one of the most popular blogs in the entire blogosphere [Pls note that there is some profanity in the post]:
I’m Jewish and descendant of holocaust survivors. Moreover, I’ve been a Zionist all of my life. I went to a Zionist school, I was active in Zionist youth groups. I’ve always been a fervent supporter of Israel as a refuge for Jews around the world who seek a place to exercise their traditions and embrace their identity in peace.
…
I sang the Israeli anthem in the train rails of Aushwitz-Birkenau and I pledged to fight every day of my life to make sure the savage crimes that had taken place there would never happen again. Every year I pledged: Never Again. Remember and Never forget.Well, I haven’t forgotten. And so to honor that pledge, to honor the memory of my family members who died in those death camps and because “there comes a time when silence is betrayal”, today I finally and publicly end my support for the state of Israel.
…
ENOUGH. I’m done justifying crimes against humanity by a country that claims to be an illuminated western democracy. I’m done defending a country that is unwilling to grant self-determination to a neighboring people because it won’t let go of a few settlements and divide a city. I’m done tolerating the slaughtering of innocent kids, the murderous and barbaric occupation of an impoverished people, the utter disregard for human life.
…
Please read this great diary where different ways of supporting Gaza’s population and organizing against Israeli occupation are presented.
Also see these Haaretz stories published by Israeli Jews:
- The neighborhood bully strikes again (@ Haaretz)
- Delusions of victory in Gaza (@Haaretz)
Updates (12/28/08):
- The death toll in Gaza has risen now to 280 of our brothers and sisters. May Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala have mercy on them and accept them into jannatul firdaus, aameen.
- Tunnels which were alleged to have been used for smuggling weapons from Egypt into Gaza to build up Hamas have been bombed. In total, more than 40 airstrikes have been carried out, taking out 210 targets.
- The red cross has been allowed into Gaza to provide medical supplies,which is interesting when you consider that all this time when such supplies have been in need, Israel has continued to blockcade any form of help to the people of Gaza.
- Sister Safa, who lives in Gaza city and is witnessing the carnage and destruction firsthand, has written the following:
I’ve never seen anything like this. It all happened so fast but the amount of death and destruction is inconceivable, even to me and I’m in the middle of it and a few hours have already passed. I think 15 locations were hit during the air raid on Gaza City. [some Israelis sources said 150 targets were struck] The images are probably not broadcast in US media. There are piles and piles of bodies in the locations that were hit. As you look at them you can see that a few of the young men are still alive, someone lifts a hand here, and another raise his head there. They probably died within moments because their bodies are burned, most have lost limbs, some have their guts hanging out and they’re all lying in pools of blood.
Outside my home, (which is close to the universities) a bomb fell on a large group of young men, university students, they’d been warned not to stand in groups, it makes them an easy target, but they were waiting for buses to take them home. This was about 3 hours ago 7 were killed, 4 students and 3 of our neighbors kids, teenagers who were from the same family (Rayes) and were best friends.
As I’m writing this I heard a funeral procession go by outside, I looked out the window and it was the 3 Rayes boys, They spent all their time together when they were alive, and now their sharing the same funeral together. Nothing could stop my 14 year old brother from rushing out to see the bodies of his friends laying in the street after they were killed. He hasn’t spoken a word since.
A little further down the street about an hour earlier 3 girls happened to be passing by one of the locations when a bomb fell. The girls bodies were torn into pieces and covered the street from one side to the other.These are just a couple of images that i’ve witnessed. In all the locations people are going through the dead terrified of recognizing a family member among them. The city is in a state of alarm, panic and confusion, cell phones aren’t working, hospitals and morgues are backed up and some of the dead are still lying in the streets with their families gathered around them, kissing their faces, holding on to them. Outside the destroyed buildings old men are kneeling on the floor weeping. Their slim hopes of finding their sons still alive vanished after taking one look at what had become of their office buildings.
At least 160 people dead in today’s air raid. That means 160 funeral processions, a few today, most of them tomorrow probably. To think that yesterday these families were worried about food and heat and electricity. At this point I think they -actually all of us- would gladly have Hamas sign off every last basic right we’ve been calling for the last few months forever if it could have stopped this from ever having happened.
The bombing was very close to my home. Most of my extended family live in the area. My family is ok, but 2 of my uncles’ homes were damaged, another relative was injured. I don’t know why I’m sending this. It doesn’t even begin to tell the story on any level. Just flashes of thing that happened today that are going through my head.
Source: http://israelitybites.blogspot.com/2008/12/gaza-bleeds-under-israeli-airstrikes.html
Sources:
- http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/20081227193910425276.html
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7801662.stm
- http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/27/gaza.israel.strikes/index.html
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/27/israel-launches-air-strik_n_153664.html
- http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050426.html
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7802515.stm
- http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/2008122994140674153.html
- http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/29/gaza.israel.strikes/index.html
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/27/israel-launches-air-strik_n_153664.html
- http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050681.html
- http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/200812306307620900.html
- http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051234.html
- http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051024.html
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/30/egypt-refuses-full-openin_n_154162.html
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Siraaj is the Executive Director of MuslimMatters. He's spent over two decades working in dawah organizations, starting with his university MSA and going on to lead efforts with AlMaghrib Institute, MuslimMatters, and AlJumuah magazine. He's very married with wonderful children
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aamer khan
December 28, 2008 at 2:24 PM
hmmm…so where is the change we can believe in?
intellect1429
December 28, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Ameen.
I was just at a loss of words when I watched the tragic situation on AlJazeera English. Later in the day, I compared the protrayal of information between different media outlets concerning the situation in Gaza, and on 2 American radio stations and major newspapers, they failed to mention civilian casualties as the overridingissue – only Israels right to defend itself (even though only 2 deaths I believe had occured in Israel as a result of Hamaz rocket fire). This of course comes as no surprise. May Allah alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sistsers in Gaza.
mofw
December 28, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Israel is clearly justified in massacring 225 Palestinians. Consider that Hamas rocket attacks, though not killing or injuring anyone, were responsible for several cases of shell-shock and property damage. An eye for an eye. It’s in the Torah you know.
intellect1429
December 28, 2008 at 3:09 PM
sorry mofw, (and lets be clear: I’m not trying to justify indescriminiant murdering on both sides), but is the killing of a handful or less of people (in this present case) equal to the murdering of 225+ and 700 wounded people? Is that what you call eye for an eye?
P.S. I’m not trying to starty anyting here, as the purpose of this article was to condemn these actrocities; I’m just making observations.
Siraaj
December 28, 2008 at 3:17 PM
intellect1429,
mofw was being sarcastic.
Siraaj
mulsimah
December 28, 2008 at 3:17 PM
the US sais its hamas ‘s fault , obama has no comment. antiwar.com is my source.. that is shocking and sad.. what truce was their, the gazans had resorted to eating grass bc israel closed their borders. totally unfair, what else were they suppose to do..
http://www.islamonline.net and http://www.aljazeera.net have good info
Umm Layth
December 28, 2008 at 3:21 PM
May Allah, The Most Merciful, bestow His Mercy upon all in Falasteen. Aameen
It’s crazy how emotionless these people are when they take the life of child. Ya Allah!
MM Associates
December 28, 2008 at 3:28 PM
bismillah. [abu abdAllah]
ameen to the duas for the shuhadaa. to call the Israelis cowards only demeans the term. Israel is the Nazi Germany of the 21st Century. not in territorial ambition, but in sheer inhumanity. the defenders of these Israeli bombardments will say that the Nazis were worse. really? worse by what measures? the Nazis threatened US interests directly. whereas Israel curries the favor of US-neocons by being the most ruthless bully on the block. just as US and UK fascists made excuses for the Nazis, US neocons scurry to whitewash the blood stains left by Israel.
the Israelis have not just isolated Gaza but turned it into a ghetto. refused the Gazans food and medicine — not like a child sent to bed without dinner. not even for one or two days, for weeks and months at a time! Israel repeatedly destroys the hope of commerce and strangles the light of higher education. the so-called democracy of Israel rushed to deny Gazans the right to elect their own leaders, and whenever it has suited Israel — launched brutal military assaults on a civilian populace from amongst which, almost amazingly, not every single man and woman has been driven to suicidal desperation.
almost amazing, but Allah is more than amazing. His Mercy and Compassion, His sustenance of Gaza more than suffices. His Light shows clearly the evil that has become the State of Israel.
for my brothers and sisters whose blood still flows in their veins and not on the streets of Gaza, may Allah protect them and every other Filistini from Israeli weapons of hate, weapons of mass dehumanization, weapons of mass murder, weapons of collective punishment, weapons of mass poverty, and on and on, a list which will be sufficient for summary judgment on the Day when Allah will resurrect the zionists and will compensate the victims of Israeli oppression.
Allah is sufficient as witness that nothing the Israelis do will diminish their victims in stature. nor will the zionists ever establish a Kingdom or Temple that will please Allah if it is not in full submission to Him. and such a state would be a state of peace.
as Israeli bombs continue to fall, and Zionist tanks and soldiers mass, not one of Israel’s hateful blasts will ever shake my love for Allah, nor my love for the Gazans and every other Filistini Muslim.
Olivia
December 28, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Brother Aamer Khan, although I don’t know what Barack will do, seeing that he is not yet President and Bush still is, I don’t think we need to be trite (yet).
May Allah answer all the dua’s mentioned in this post. Ameen.
Let us keep in mind that although we are in a very dark hour, this has happened by the Will of Allah and in the larger picture, we are moving in a direction that Allah wants this ummah to, and we should put our trust in him for both victory and protection in these difficult times.
Anon
December 28, 2008 at 3:44 PM
it’s like Allah said about the Jews in the Quran. they’re greedy for life. all they’re living for and care about is this life. even the christians speak about an afterlife and feel more accountability then the Jews. the Jews dont care how many lives they have to take as long as they have something to gain in this dunya. they’re also disgustingly racist. it sickens me that America, which claims liberty and freedom for all, would create a “Jewish” state so these people can sound-off their hatred.
**Just as Muslims don’t appreciate stereotyping and islamophobia, we should afford the same courtesy to other faiths, and remember that not all practitioners of the faith are monolithic in their views. In this case, many Jews don’t support such terrorism. In fact, Haaretz, an Israeli Jewish newspaper is known to have strong positions against the hawkish elements in Israel. -MM**
Chai Walla
December 28, 2008 at 3:49 PM
VIVA LA PALESTINE!!!!!
may allah bring justice to the world! ameen
aarij
December 28, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Very nice and timely article summarizing all the important points regarding Gaza, Siraaj. May Allah reward you for it.
Subhan Allah, its sickening to see the US government blame Hamas/Palestine for this massacre. May Allah deal with them and the Zionists.
abumuhammed
December 28, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Assalamu Alaikum,
Ameen.
I strongly condemn the attack by Zionist on Gaza and they are known for it, to tell lies is in their blood.
It is said Israel left gaza isnt this a lie. When did Israel live Gaza ? Their occupation continues in Gaza, the israeli army continues to control the water of Gaza, and more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7mLzoRPBzs&feature=channel
Whats worrying me is
“The Arab League will not meet to discuss a common response to the Israeli assault until a summit in Doha, Qatar, on January 2.
Amr Moussa, the Arab League secretary-general, said the delay was because many ministers were busy in separate meetings of two Arab regional groups – the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and the Maghreb Union.”
During this time when all muslim (so called ) countries cannot come together whom we should blame at. The priority is to given to spread thousands of dollars as a gift, arent these people are aware that one day we will be questioned and what will we answer than to Allah (swt).
Ya Rabb give patience to the family and bestow mercy on the martyrs and accept the martyrdom – Ameen
GAZACAUST
December 28, 2008 at 4:01 PM
When few weeks ago 150+ innocent people died in Mumbai: CNN, Fox and main stream media covered 24 hours on the ” Islamic terror”, What happened to 200+ peoples death’s coverage in gaza? Just because they are Muslim’s its not worth the news. Does anyone dare say the word ” Zionist terror”?
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/20081228154322940418.html
abumuhammed
December 28, 2008 at 4:07 PM
source http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_israel_palestinians
” …..
Israel’s foreign minister Tzipi Livni told “Meet the Press” that Israel launched its strike because Gaza’s Hamas rulers were smuggling weapons and building up “a small army.”
But, she added, “Our goal is not to reoccupy the Gaza Strip.” Israeli soldiers and settlers left the tiny seaside territory in 2005 after a 38-year occupation, though Israel retained control of Gaza’s borders.
……”
There are people who believe this blunt lie.
Response:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7mLzoRPBzs&feature=channel
GAZACAUST
December 28, 2008 at 4:23 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7801662.stm
Amad
December 28, 2008 at 5:13 PM
It’s all about politics: lives for votes– the worst that humanity has to offer.: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050437.html
[Delusions of victory in Gaza-Haaretz]
And who could have said it better than another Israeli Jew (proving the futility and injustice of stereotyping). This is a must-read, and must-distribute article [The neighborhood bully strikes again-Haaretz]:
Amad
December 28, 2008 at 5:16 PM
DIGG the Haaretz article by clicking here
DIGG the MM article by clicking here
IbnAbbas
December 28, 2008 at 5:17 PM
this is disastrous!! Allaahu Musta’an
May Allah protect the Palestinians. Ameen
May Allah curse all the Israelis involved in this massacre. Ameen
And May Allah instil a fraction of gheerah in the leaders of the neighbours countries to stand up and do something!. Ameen
Abu Yunus
December 28, 2008 at 5:22 PM
How can any Muslims who voted for Obama believe that he will benefit Muslims in any way shape or form? Were they ignorant of the fact that he is pro-Israel and visited Israel but was too ashamed to visit any Muslims. Firstly, the man is not a Muslim, his father was himself an apostate. At any rate the presidents of the United States, no matter if they are black, white, yellow, orange, hybrid, etc., are merely front men for the global elite (aka, illuminati). And the democracy we see is merely a facade to hide the reality of what this coutry is, neo-fascism in the guise of democracy. The point is, it doesn’t matter whether it is McCain or Obama, the policies of the previoius administration will continue, as the true policy makers are the global elite (Bilderberg group, trilateral commission, CFR, etc.) and our presidents are merely actors who are told to play out their roles in this game. Also, if anyone actually paid attention to the debates between McCain and Obama, they would realize that both candidates were actually saying the same thing but only in different words.
Obama had mentioned previous that he wanted to attack Pakistan although implicitly. And the Mumbai bombings false flag operation (inside-job) which was meant to replicate 9-11 (another false flag operation) was merely to act as a pretext in order to pave the way for the atrocities to be committed in Pakistan in near future. Obama isn’t going to bring any change. If there is any change, it will be for the worst and things are only going to escalate in this country, and with the economic collapse, riots and revolution are said to be prevalent in the year 2012. And it is further said that United States will become the first undeveloped country in that same year (2012).
All in all, just as Bush gave the Muslims a slap in the face for voting for him, likewise, will Obama Muslims a slap in the face for voting for him. It will come in form of war with Pakistan and Iran, and who knows what else. Of couse, the Americans in general will be given a slap in the face by using a crisis or disaster which Biden guarantees will occur, and the subsequent declaration of martial law in the streets of the U.S., with road blockades, and check points whereever you go.
mofw
December 28, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Siraj,
Thanks for clearing that up. They say sarcasm is always risky here on the tubes.
Edited-name
December 28, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Pelosi: US must stand strongly with Israel
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi issued a statement concerning the Israeli operation in Gaza in which she wrote that “When Israel is attacked, the United States must continue to stand strongly with its friend and democratic ally.”
According to Pelosi, “Peace between Israelis and Palestinians cannot result from daily barrages of rocket and mortar fire from Hamas-controlled Gaza. Hamas and its supporters must understand that Gaza cannot and will not be allowed to be a sanctuary for attacks on Israel.” (Yitzhak Benhorin, Washington)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3645321,00.html
What was that about the lesser of the two evils?
Ibn abd al Wadud
December 28, 2008 at 5:43 PM
wallahi, i wonder how many more “on the edge” people this will tip into the murky world of terrosism? what strikes me is that the west still refuses to see the link between their injustices and the people that decide to turn into jihadists.
until you do, things will never change.
and no im not going to stoop down and try to re-affirm that suicide bombings are haraam, we have had enough of re-affirming the obvious with our “disclaimers”.
if anything brothers and sisters, lets at least try to muster a tear and make dua for them, send money – anything! not for their benefit (of course it will to some measly extent) but for ours. I fear that are hearts have become hard and no longer feel sad at such injustice happening to all the muslimeen. Times like this you really do feel pathetic at your own state, with lifes little things (wife, kids etc). Allahu masta’an
if anything, this should a galvanasing effect for our islam here in the west in that no way, and i mean no way will we let you BULLIES (in some sections of western society) tell us how to live our lives as muslims.
WE didnt kill 6million Jews
YOU did.
YOU have blood on your hands, WE dont.
ibnkhalil
December 28, 2008 at 5:43 PM
bismillah
Last night I had a chance to talk to one of my friends who lives in Gaza. He told me that not having electricity is a common occurrence. Bombings all night. Not knowing if you will be living or dead the next moment by bombs dropped by Israelis is a terrible situation to be in. My friend told me 230 muslims killed in two hours.
He also said that the Israeli security forces called them and ordered them to evacuate the place and leave. I asked him where are you going to leave? He said, Gaza is closed to the outside world and the only place for us to go is within Gaza where Israel is bombing people day and night. He said they use these tactics to threaten people and coerce them to leave. Hospitals are over crowded and people are left to die. Israel controls the Rafah corder crossing and will not allow any food or aid inside Gaza.
All muslim leaders are sleeping and have so far done nothing to resolve the situation. I make dua that Allah make this time easy on all our brothers and sisters in Gaza and ease their suffering. O Allah destroy these transgressors who have inflicted dhulm on us! May Allah Guide us!
Amad
December 28, 2008 at 5:54 PM
Can we not turn this into a political post about Obama? Firstly the guy isn’t even in office. Secondly, no one seriously believed or was that delusional to think that he could make a significant change in the Israeli policy. The LOBBY is firmly in control of American politics. If the President doesn’t comply, the LOBBY pull congressional strings. They have it all figured out. They have had decades to work on it, and spend tons of money on it.
Those who voted for Obama are hoping for at least a chance of change, specifically in domestic policies, yet hoping for a small change of international image for America.
Let’s see inshallah… we made our decision on what was apparent, and based on the best information available.
BUT let’s not make THIS post about sour grapes over Muslim participation in politics. People just need to get used to the fact that Muslims are in America, we are here to stay, most of us desire to be integrated into the society, and we will continue to make strides towards making America a better nation, for Muslims and for the rest of the society. As Muslims, we have a lot to offer to America. And eventually, when we do make major strides, we hope to have an influence towards better, more positive, and more just foreign policy positions, and slightly shift the 300 pound Israeli lobby gorilla from its firm hold of American policies. Small, steady steps inshallah.
BACK to Gaza now.
May Allah reward the aggressors, the Israeli-state-terrorists with equal destruction, those who are guilty of murder. And spare innocent civilians from ALL sides from injustice and harm.
intellect1429
December 28, 2008 at 5:55 PM
I don’t know if this is the appropriate time for sarcasm, but as you like it…
MM Associates
December 28, 2008 at 6:53 PM
bismillah. [abu abdAllah]
[emphasis added] mashaAllah, Amad. i agree with you 110%. if a person were reading an article on any other subject yesterday or today, it would make perfect sense to post a comment there regarding the murderous Israeli attacks, calling attention to what is happening in a place that the Israelis have turned into a killing field.
but it sickens me somewhat to read comments that distract one iota from the grief, anger, prayers, and attention we should have on behalf of the people of Gaza.
Hassan
December 28, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Interesting point, although what to do when Allah Himself stereotype Jews in the Quran, to which “Anon” referred to?
MM Associates
December 28, 2008 at 7:24 PM
bismillah. [abu abdAllah]
it is time for a constructive idea. have you read the reports of hospitals inundated with victims of the Israeli bomb attacks?
first, print out or cut out as many stories and pictures as you can find about that.
second, get out a piece of paper and write this cover letter in your own handwriting:
there are many reasons for the tone of the letter, for asking for only so much compassion.
(1) rudeness, especially foul language, will not help Gaza.
(2) the pictures and stories will move all but those whose hearts are stone.
(3) given the Administration’s vocal support of Israel, and approaching end of this Congressional term, it is unlikely that Congress would do more than act on humanitarian aid and relief, if even that much.
you could write a version of the letter to the President, too. be sure to change the last sentence since he does not pass legislation.
MM Associates
December 28, 2008 at 7:29 PM
bismillah wa subhanAllah.
i respectfully disagree with your characterization. Allah subhanahu wata ala never stereotypes anyone. Allah Knows. Allah Sends Down Guidance. Allah Reveals. and every word is Truth, in that word’s most paramount and lofty sense.
[reply by abu abdAllah]
heraish
December 28, 2008 at 7:40 PM
http://english.ramattan.net/
Dawud Israel
December 28, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Can you guys post Duas from the Sunnah or Qunoot duas for this event?
Siraaj
December 28, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Salaam alaykum everyone,
A lot of people wonder what they can do – one thing is DIGGING this post. Register on DIGG.com if you don’t have an account and DIGG the post. The mainstream media is not going to talk about or mention what we have through the Haaretz story, and most people will not know about it unless we make a concerted effort to get the word out that there is more to this event than just Hamas firing rockets into the border shared by Gaza and Israel.
If we can get about 70 DIGGs, this information will get to the top of DIGG.com and insha’Allah will spread to 100s of thousands of readers, and that may be the tipping point needed to move the information that is currently not being covered.
Siraaj
muslimah
December 28, 2008 at 8:04 PM
may Allah curse the Israelis behind these attacks! may they rot in this world and the akhirah,Allahumma ameen!
may Allah grant sabr to those who have lost their dear ones. may Allah grant the dead the highest place in jannat al firdaws, Ameen ya rab al alameen!
Amatullah
December 28, 2008 at 8:12 PM
inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon…..Ameen to every duaa, Allahumma Ameen.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: “When (will come) the help of Allah.” Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near! (2:214)
muslimah
December 28, 2008 at 8:14 PM
so israelis has the right to defend themselves? well then palestine has the right to defend themselves as well. israel be prepared. you guys are not safe. the blood of our brothers and sisters will be avenged!!! but unlike you guys, sorry animals, civilians will not be targeted inshaAllah.
sister olivia, your comments was so soothing. you’re right, Allah is preparing us for victory inshaAllah.
muslimah
December 28, 2008 at 8:17 PM
no coverage abt the innocent lives lost in the media..the mumbai massacre was all over the place..talk abt double standards..
Edited-name
December 28, 2008 at 8:33 PM
@ Muslimah no coverage abt the innocent lives lost in the media..the mumbai massacre was all over the place..talk abt double standards..
No surprsises there…..Muslim blood is cheap.
muslimah
December 28, 2008 at 8:56 PM
our brothers and sisters are lying in the hospitals, waiting for help, but theres shortage of meds, the egyptian aid staff is not getting the *permission* to enter gaza by the animals. subhan Allah. may Allah’s curses be upon them!!!
MM Associates
December 28, 2008 at 9:08 PM
bismillah. [abu abdAllah]
Siraaj — mashaAllah, this article is much needed and much appreciated, as are the updates. reading the letter from Gaza leaves me numb, as though my senses shut themselves off in shock.
this particular article does have over 1600 diggs.
Siraaj
December 28, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Jazakallaah khayr, I wish that article had the information we had in ours and wasn’t so out of date as well.
Siraaj
MM Associates
December 28, 2008 at 9:36 PM
bismillah. [abu abdAllah]
no argument from me, Siraaj. :) this important and well-written (mashaAllah) MM article should not be permitted to languish with a low digg count. every Muslim who grieves for the Gazans, if they have read this article but not dugg it, then they should catch up with reality: a zionist digger was the first one to leave a comment here!
Abu Yunus
December 28, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Amad wrote, “Let’s see inshallah… we made our decision on what was apparent, and based on the best information available.”
What was apparent was that Obama is of no benefit to the Muslims, did he even mention the Muslims at any point in the campaign. What “best information” are you referring to may I ask? All the information that we had proved that neither McCaid nor Obama are neither good for Muslims or Americans in general. In fact, if anyone would have been of benefit to Muslims and Americans as a whole was Ron Paul., the only candidate who actually called for the return to the constitution very openly. My point is that very soon all these naive Muslims who even participated in these elections will bite their fingers in regret. Keep in mind that if Obama spills Muslim blood, everyone who voted for him will partly have a share in those atrocities, as they put him in power. Remember, a Muslim does not fall in the same hole twice. Bush already fooled you naive Muslims and now Obama will as well.
Again, I would like you share with me what that “best information” is that you are referring to.
Faiez
December 28, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Eye wtiness account of Gaza: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7801292.stm
May Allah destroy the Israeli army and its allies and bring victory to the mujahideen and palestinians. Ameen.
anony
December 28, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Qunoot at times of calamity (Qunoot al-Naazilah)
When praying Qunoot at the time of calamity, one should make supplication as is appropriate to the situation, as it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed some Arab tribes who had betrayed his companions and killed them, and he prayed for the weak and oppressed believers in Makkah, that Allaah would save them. It was narrated that ‘Umar prayed Qunoot with the following words:
“Allaahumma inna nasta’eenuka wa nu’minu bika, wa natawakkalu ‘alayka wa nuthni ‘alayka al-khayr, wa laa nakfuruka. Allaahumma iyyaaka na’budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu, wa ilayka nas’aa wa nahfid. Narju rahmataka wa nakhsha ‘adhaabaka, inna ‘adhaabaka al-jadd bil kuffaari mulhaq. Allaahumma ‘adhdhib il-kafarata ahl al-kitaab alladheena yasuddoona ‘an sabeelika
(O Allaah, verily we seek Your help, we believe in You, we put our trust in You and we praise You and we are not ungrateful to You. O Allaah, You alone we worship and to You we pray and prostrate, for Your sake we strive. We hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment, for Your punishment will certainly reach the disbelievers. O Allaah, punish the infidels of the People of the Book who are preventing others from following Your way).”
(Narrated by al-Bayhaqi-sahih albaaneee)
Jason Pappas
December 28, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Israel was over generous. It continues to supply its enemy in Gaza with food and electricity. It gets bombed in return. It’s about time the Jews fought back. Israel is on the frontline in the world’s war with jihadists. From Bombay to Amsterdam, from Bali to New York, we join Israel in solidarity.
Faiez
December 28, 2008 at 10:39 PM
More eye witness accounts: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=jRVWtYM6vCE&NR=1
Faiez
December 28, 2008 at 10:45 PM
US [including Obama] firmly behind Israel over Gaza attacks – http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=X-fRLODYoH0
Amad
December 28, 2008 at 10:47 PM
That’s your opinion bro, which is unsupported by any evidence or scholarly works. But I am not going to argue with you on it, because (a) it has nothing to do with this post, and (b) it has already been discussed ad nauseum in other posts.
So, I would appreciate it if we can STICK to the topic, instead of using grave situations to rehash past grievances. That’s not cool nor is it fair to the Gazans that we start using them for ulterior discussions. Whether we voted for Obama or not, whether Obama became the prez or not, wouldn’t have changed an iota of what is happening now. So, again, let’s stick to the issue inshallah.
GAZACAUST
December 28, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Some good links to put your emotions into action:
http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/9
Only for brave hearts:
http://www.uruknet.de/?s1=1&p=49933&s2=27
More news/blogs:
http://www.countercurrents.org/habeeb281208.htm
Amad
December 28, 2008 at 11:09 PM
http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/2008/12/update-gaza.html
GAZACAUST
December 28, 2008 at 11:17 PM
US activism links for Palestine: Check out ALL, its very important that you act and let others know about this.
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/
http://www.divestmentproject.org/
http://www.divestmentsupport.org/
http://adalahny.org/
http://bdsmovement.net/?q=node/54
Some links to daily news from GAZA
http://www.kibush.co.il/index.asp?lang=1
Hassan
December 28, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Although this post is not about Obama, but I would like to point out how much a person needs to be careful in heat of moment during presidential campaign that it may later haunt you unwillingly.
1. Obama statement about Pakistan and going into it was used by India during recent Mumbai attacks, and Obama could not do anything about it, but support Indian position (may be unwillingly)
2. In July when he was visiting Israel, this what he said, “If somebody was sending rockets into my house, where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that, and I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”, and they are doing it, and Obama can only “monitor” the situation.
Siraaj
December 29, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Salaam alaykum guys,
A few points about Obama:
1. Did anyone on this site ever claim Obama was for Palestinians? There’s an inkling of a chance he may be due to the video the LA times has repressed in which he states his support for the Palestinian cause. With McCain, you had no shot at that whatsoever. However, that doesn’t matter because
2. Those voting for Obama were doing so with regards to position against the Iraq war, not his positions on Palestine or Afghanistan.
3. Finally, I will also say there is nothing President-Elect can do about a situation like this except wait – he has no power except some influence. One of his senior advisors was on MSNBC earlier today and would not commit to a position. This indicates something may (not really sure though) change on this matter once he steps into office.
Rather than railing against Obama, and who is or isn’t at fault for voting for him, let’s focus our attention on what we can do for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, be it du’aa, writing congressmen / women, gathering information, DIGGING the article, etc.
Siraaj
anony
December 29, 2008 at 12:27 AM
What we can do now:
Lessons of Tawakkul and Tawassul
Ya (A request to Allah)
• Allah, Al-Wahidu Al-Qahharu, Al-Hayyu, Al-Qayyumu, Al-Ahadu, As-Samadu, al ladhee, Lam ya lid wa Lam you lad, wa lam ya kullaho, kufawan AHAD….
• Al-Malik, – The Ruler, Give us Rule of Your Land and help us establish Justice, Bring about the easterly wind, Saba to make us victorious. Bring about your hosts from every corner in the world.
• Al-Muhaymin – The Guardian, Guard the Muslims, Mu’mineen from The Kuffar
• Al-‘Aziz, Al-Muqtadir, Al-Hakeem – The Mighty, Dominant over all things., The All-Capable , Destroy the Zionist Jews of Israel, Destroy their Planes, Tanks, and Forces, Send your numerous Host and free Al-Quds and your Slaves from oppression. Show your Domination over your slaves. – Show them your might in the best, most perfect way like you showed the nations before: `Ad, Thamood, and Fir’own. And show us your Perfect Wisdom while doing such or not.
• Al-Adeem, The Great One, Show us your greatness by destroying The Zionist Jews of Israel
• Al-Haafidh, The Protector, Protect us from the Missiles and Bombs of the Kuffar. Protect us from the weak Iman that will prevent us from fighting and declaring our hatred of the Kuffaar
• Al-Jabbaar, The Compeller, Please compel us to fight, please compel our hearts to be concerned for the Ummah, Please compel the Kuffar to do acts that advance their destruction. Please compel us to worship you more perfectly.
• Al-Naasir, The-Helper, Help us Defeat our Enemies. Save us from them by any means you wish.
• As-Salaamu, The Author of Safety, The Provider of Peace, Provide Peace to People in Palestine, Authorize Peace for them and all the believers around the world.
• Revealer of the (Holy) Book, Mover of the clouds, and Defeater of the Confederates, defeat these Zionist Jews of Israel and grant us victory over them.
• AL-MUJIB, The Responsive, Respond to Our Supplications…
For to you (exclusively) we
put our Full Perfect Unrelenting Trust, Dependence, and Loyalty
worship alone in all aspects of your Lordship, Godship
seek Your Aid, Help, Victory, Consultation
If you believe we
• sacrificed our Camels, Goats, and Cows in EidulAdha for yours sake and only for yours sake
• if we fasted 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah for yours sake only
• if we did Umrah and Hajj for yours sake only
Grant us a quick victory against the Zionist Jews of Israel.
Send your Blessings and Peace on the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
• Muhammed, Most Praised Man
• Ahmed, Most Praising Man
• Abu-AlQasim,
• Rasul, nabi, ummi, shaahid, mubashshir, nadheer, siraaj muneer, ra’uf Raheem, mudhakkir,
Give the inheritors of the Messenger, the scholars, those attributes that were described to the Messenger such as
• Al-Maahi, The Abolisher, The one whom disbelief was abolished
• Nabi al-MalHama, The Prophet of Fierce Battle
• Al-Faatih, The Opener
In you we believe, put our trust, make bowing and prostration to, so fulfill our request O answer of prayers, for
-none can help us except you
-none can give victory to us except you
-none can answer our prayers except you
Find us a way to help our beloved Muslims…
Siraaj
December 29, 2008 at 1:14 AM
Jason, I don’t know who your imaginary friends are, but the world community has condemned Israel’s actions. The only one standing in favor of Israel is, well, soon to be exiled neo-conservatives such as yourself who seem to obsessively revolve your lives around hating Islam and Muslims (which is sad, I think your life and talents would be better spent away from online fringe fanatics).
In any event, I don’t believe Israel’s sudden “generosity” has anything to do with its kind-natured officials – I believe it relates more to public relations and politics, to try to show they care about civilians. In reality, they do not, or they wouldn’t have blockcaded aid and basic medical supplies since Hamas’s legitimate election which was called for by Israel and the US gov’t til the candidate they didn’t like won.
What’s it like, knowing you don’t really believe in freedom and democracy, and that really, you and yours believe in spreading your ideology “by the sword” as you like to accuse others of doing?
Siraaj
Amad
December 29, 2008 at 3:40 AM
Please vote here… on the dailykos community:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/29/05448/712/308/678033
muslimah
December 29, 2008 at 4:25 AM
alright, leaving all emotions behind..why did hamas fire a rocket into israel first? i ask cos this is how many ppl are defending israel. how do u respond to that? israel shudnt even be there to begin with!! they take palestinian lands, push them all out in gaza and west bank, kill them everyday, and what do they expect in return? a torch symbolizing peace and unity?
Siraaj
December 29, 2008 at 4:40 AM
Muslimah, please read the following:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-true-story-behind-thi_b_153825.html
And as well, read what was written above, as it covers a lot of what is not being mentioned in the MSM right now.
Siraaj
Khan.
December 29, 2008 at 5:47 AM
Asslamo alaikum…
its shame for whole muslim world that we are just seeing the killing of our innocent mulims brothers and sisters there on our tv boxes Allah bless us all Allah bless us all.. and give us strength and power that we can help our brothers and sisters with our hands…
Crush Isreal…
Khan.
December 29, 2008 at 5:59 AM
Jason Pappas said:
Israel was over generous. It continues to supply its enemy in Gaza with food and electricity. It gets bombed in return. It’s about time the Jews fought back. Israel is on the frontline in the world’s war with jihadists. From Bombay to Amsterdam, from Bali to New York, we join Israel in solidarity.
_______________________________________________________
Jason Pappas..
u have no courage to speak the truth so if u cannot speak the truth then stop barking and Isrealians are invaders in Plastine they captured the land of arabs now with the help of USA and other friends they are killed thousands of innocent people in plastine and still killing and Isreal is the base of every problem in whole world ..USA and Isreal are the bigest terrorist of world and Jewish the best liars of world they always present theirslves as the innocent people of world but fabricating false stories like houlocast…. .. .. and what Israel is doing now he will pay for it . Isreal cannot bring peace for their people by killing others..
Crush Isreal..
muslimah
December 29, 2008 at 6:33 AM
instead of blaming the so called muslim leaders, israel and other kaafirs, lets see what WE CAN DO. wake up ya ummat Muhammad!!! revive Islam, teach your kids, parents, families deen. work up on YOURSELF as a muslim. this is the least we can do at least if we cant go and fight for our deen physically!
muslimah
December 29, 2008 at 7:24 AM
http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Middle_East/10270614.html
:((
abu abdAllah, the Houstonian
December 29, 2008 at 9:27 AM
bismillah.
i cast my vote, Amad. jazak Allah khayr for the link. also jazak Allah khayr to the 36+ diggers who responded to the need to promote this article. may Allah count all of you among the Awwal-ul-Muslimeen, among the first to respond to the needs of the Muslims. may He forgive you your sins and facilitate for you the way to all good. ameen.
one thing i noted about the vote results: this tragedy divides most of the respondents into only two choices — either unequivocal support for Israel’s tactics or absolute conviction that the military offensive is unjust. the two middle choices are scantly populated. thus, Allah separates the filth (of people who support the bombing) from what is pure (outrage against the inhumanity of this aggression).
Mohammad S.
December 29, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I didn’t know about this event until a person stood up after Zuhr prayer day-before-yesterday, and told us that 200 of our brothers have been massacred in Gazza. He didn’t speak about the details but he said that as Muslims, we have to feel pain for those being killed, otherwise we should seriously look at our Iman.
Just goes to show you how much western i.e US & Canadian media tries to cover things up
bruce
December 29, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Salaam
Ok, getting down to practicality.
We can make du’a, we can condemn the attacks, we can attend protests and rallies (the last option really doesnt do much), but what ELSE can we do to help our brothers and sisters in Palestine? Making donations to humanitarian funds should be must for every one of us – as little as even $10 a month, inshaAllah, more if possible.
Other than that, what can we do?
Is there some chance of mobilizing, I dont know, something thats more capable and politically active? Not necessarily looking for an overnight, short term solution, but we as Muslims finally need to wake up and stop being pushovers; we’re inheriting this ummah and we need to avoid the same mistakes that we blame our forefathers for.
We need concrete ideas, guys. Enough with the foam.
bruce
December 29, 2008 at 10:20 AM
I mean, seriously… it seems even the jews are ahead of us in mobilizing to action in this regard. what gives?
abu abdAllah, the Houstonian
December 29, 2008 at 10:58 AM
bismillah. three graphic slideshows, pictures of the devastation in Gaza. of course, the Times also included a picture of Jewish women crying over the one death from one rocket — in my opinion both exploiting and devaluing their grief in an attempt to “balance” the previous pages of mass carnage carried out by Israel.
latest: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/12/28/world/20081228MIDEAST2_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
earlier: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/12/28/world/20081228-GAZA_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
first: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/12/27/world/20081227-gaza_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
MR
December 29, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Muslims like to talk but no action. Especially all the Obama haters up in here.
MM Associates
December 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
bismillah. [by abu abdAllah]
jazak Allah khayr for the continued updates, Siraaj.
the NYTimes reports that the toll is over 300 now, according to Palestinian medical officials. the article includes an audio interview of an arab Times journalist in Gaza, and video of the destruction.
FREE GAZA but How ?
December 29, 2008 at 12:25 PM
One more way to help:
http://www.freegaza.org/
A BIG ? if this continues:
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/palestine/2008/01/2008525183745347320.html
IbnAbbas
December 29, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Did you guys notice how they closed the famous UK-based Charity firm INTERPAL accounts then UWT? shows how the whole thing was planned in the 6 months of ceasefire. May Allah destroy the israeli oppressors just like the army of Fira’oun were destroyed. Ameen.
GAZACAUST
December 29, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Bismillah Ar-Rehman Ar-Raheem
As Salaamu Aleykum Wa-Rehmatullah:
Here is the Dua that Prohet SAS did when he was driven out of Taif by the disbelievers and thie kids throwing stones at him and he came to the valley where he saw Jibril AS who asked the Prophet SAS if he wishes he can crush the people of Taif between the two mountains.
Insha’Allah it should help and pass on to others as well.
http://www.alhudapk.com/reading-material/duas/museebat/museebat.pdf
O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and humiliation before the people. O Most Merciful! The Lord of the weak and my Lord too. To whom You have entrusted me. To one who does not care for me. Or have You appointed my enemy as master of my affairs. So as long as You are not angry with me, I care not. Your favour is abundant for me. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face, by which ALL darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, least Your anger or your displeasure descends upon me. I desire your pleasure and satisfaction until You are pleased. There is NO power (to do good) and NO might (to refrain from evil) except with YOU.
Ameen Ya Rabbul Aalameen!
Umm Layth
December 29, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Bismillah
assalamu ‘alaykum
I’ve been too lazy to register with Digg all these months but I’ll be doing so now insha’allah.
Please also keep my 2nd mother in law (my husband’s step mom) in your prayers. Her whole family is in Ghaza and her brother was declared dead yesterday from a bomb. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. : ( May Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala have mercy on his soul and the suols of all the other dead. Aameen
Siraaj
December 29, 2008 at 1:40 PM
Salaam alaykum,
I’ve added more updates to this article under UPDATES (12.29.2008).
The situation is becoming very chaotic, to the point that Palestinians are out on the street fighting among themselves. If someone could collect all the du’aas posted here, I’ll put them at the top, insha’allah.
Umm Layth, Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, please convey both our salaams and our condolences to Abu Layth from our family, may Allah give his stepmother’s brother Jannatul Firdaus, aameen.
Finally, bruce, I’m open to whatever means we can find that will effectively help our brothers and sisters – so where can we donate?
Siraaj
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee
December 29, 2008 at 2:00 PM
From Islamic Relief
Current Situation in Palestine: (Updated)
With the humanitarian situation deteriorating, the people of Palestine need your urgent help. International aid agencies fear the humanitarian situation could get worse.
Islamic Relief is making an appeal to our donors to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank. Islamic Relief has been helping the Palestinian people since 1994, providing food aid, medical relief, small business loans, and orphan sponsorships, among other services.
Aid organizations have claimed the current conditions in Gaza to be the worst in 30 years (CNN). Increasing conflict, fuel restrictions and ongoing border closures have made survival extremely difficult.
Your urgent help is needed to help continue the projects that help bring relief to those in need.
Please act now and make a difference.
bruce
December 29, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Salaam
There should still be a number of humanitarian agencies that are helping the victims in Gaza/ West Bank. I was at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference yesterday, and a number of them were accepting donations specifically for Gaza. I will post their names when I can confirm them inshaAllah.
Additionally, I’ve been speaking with some friends, and here’s a list of some things we as Muslims living in the West can do:
so far, we have:
1. make dua
2. donate regularly
3. RAISE AWARENESS I: spread the concern to our immediate, non-muslim coworkers and colleagues (word of mouth is always best)
4. RAISE AWARENESS II: contact media (eg letters to the editor, facebook groups, forums) to publicize the background information thats not being discussed mainstream
5. RAISE AWARENESS III: For those who are community leaders or are in position to give khutbahs – it is not enough to just ‘spread the message’ or rant/ rave, but we should also provide practical solutions on how regular ol’ muslims can combat this issue. One issue that springs to mind is, for AlMaghrib’s The Shepherd’s Path class, Muhammad AlShareef discussed how to deal with the socio-economic/ political boycott that Muslims suffered in Makkah for 3 years.
5. Contact politicans – especially in the West – request a more forceful stance from Canada in regards to this issue.. one of the best forms of jihad is speaking to the tyrants, yes?
6. Find a list of Israeli companies to boycott
7. Find a list of Israeli supporting companies to boycott
8. BONUS: Find ‘friendly’ competitors to companies being boycotted in #6,7 to increase the relative damage.
we also have to present a coherent, united effort on any action(s) that we do decide to take. random messages will not get across, therefore we should contact other ‘opinion leaders’ within our circle and have them spread the message to their social networks.
bismillah.
bruce
December 29, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Clarification: For point number 8 above, I mean that we should redirect our business and buying TO the competitors of those whom we are to boycott.
For du’a, it goes without saying that we should take advantage of the special times for du’a, and special conditions for making dua (eg during Qiyaam, when fasting near time of iftaar, between Adhaan and Iqaamah, etc). Additionally we should ensure that our earnings and rizq is halaal, for why should Allah [swt] listen to our du’as if the rizq is not halaal?
Finally, Allah [swt] does not change a condition of the people until they change what is within themselves. Let us make muhasabah on our own selves, make istighfar for our sins, and resolve to become better Muslims that Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) can smile upon.
All praises are due to Allah for giving us making the ‘leaders’ of our countries so unquestionably inept that it has become obvious they should not be relied upon to fix our situation. the change that this Ummah needs to see will come from us, the average joes and joannes of the world.
Nusaybah
December 29, 2008 at 2:45 PM
For those of you wondering how you can help, donate through Islamic Relief NOW!
In sha Allah.
http://www.islamic-relief.com/Emergencies-And-Appeals/emergency.aspx?emID=47
**FOR DONATIONS INSIDE THE USA, THE SITE IS: https://www.irw.org/donate_now/DonationHome.aspx?fid=xV/GHLwzh0E= -EDITOR**
GAZACAUST
December 29, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Siraaj thats a great idea on Duas:
Here is one more I can remember: This Dua was made by Prophet Yousuf AS when he was swallowed by the fish (Whale):
La Ilaaha Illa Antaa Subhaanaka Inni kuntoo minad Dhalimeen.
please correct the translitaration if its wrong.
GAZACAUST
December 29, 2008 at 3:27 PM
RE Dua:It might have been Prophet Younus AS. any Scholars can correct this if I am wrong.
Amad
December 29, 2008 at 3:36 PM
salam
Umm Layth, may Allah protect your family members from the wrath of the oppressors.
I urge everyone to donate to Islamic Relief… put our money where our mouth is. At this time of need, cash is usually king. Donate whatever you can.
https://www.irw.org/donate_now/DonationHome.aspx?fid=xV/GHLwzh0E=
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee
December 29, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Nir Rosen on Gaza: Israel, Hamas, and the Logic of Colonial Power.
Faiez
December 29, 2008 at 4:23 PM
More eye witness video footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwZoAziUFLY
WARNING: this footage is rather graphic
Make sure if you’re reading these posts that you donate: https://www.irw.org/donate_now/DonationHome.aspx?fid=xV/GHLwzh0E=
Siraaj
December 29, 2008 at 4:35 PM
North American donors, please use the following link for islamic relief:
https://www.irw.org/donate_now/
salafFollower
December 29, 2008 at 5:15 PM
I just have one question:
Why don’t we hear anything from the scholars in the middle east (the imams of ahl-sunnah) in times like this? There voices are completely absent; whether it is the political, media, or humanitarian aspects of the crisis. Why are not they leading the people in protests? Why are they not publicly urging their kings and leaders to do something? Oh, sorry, I forgot, ofcourse they are!! In Islam we ‘advise’ the tyrannical, unjust, usurper, traitor ruler in “private”, and insult the innocent, ignorant muslim in public, right?
Unfortunately, the voices of our ‘ulamah’ are very loud and vociferous when it comes to speaking against ‘immorality’ == “women driving” and nitpicking on detailed issues of fiqh, but the spilling of innocent muslim blood does not extract even a peep.
If you think I am wrong, then please correct my preception not by attacking me and with knee-jerk reactions by defending ‘your’ scholars but by providing articles, speeches, sound clips, or videos of what the big salafi scholars have done or said about these events.
BTW, I am neither ikhwani, tableeghi, sufi this or that, I consider my self trying to follow the Quran and Sunnah in the true uinderstanding of the salaf in belief and practice to the best of my ability.
Jazakallahu khair
Mehdi Ali
December 29, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Our Muslim leaders (edited).
Please refrain from vulgar language. -editor
salafFollower
December 29, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Br. Amad,
I know. I was there :-)
I am talking about the *imams* of ahl-sunnah – the ones that the ummah looks up to for leadership – the ones that live in Muslim lands where involvement and raising awareness and mobilizing the people can actually make a difference. WHERE ARE THOSE TOP-NOTCH SCHOLARS? Why don’t we hear anything from them? Why are they not on the forefront dominating the political, humanitarian, and media aspects? Why don’t we see Shaykh Fulan ibn Fulan Al Fulan organize a march, hold fund-raisers, and provide a plan of action to achieve short term and long-term goals to make the best out of the situation?
I do not expect any one of them to turn into Salahuddin or Ibn Taimiyyah, but at least want to see them DO SOMETHING concrete and tangible.
The answer, unfortunately, is that the mashaikh, who are supposed to lead us in the affairs of this workd and the next, are hopelessly out-of-touch with present day political, social, and economic realities. All they can do is blame the common muslims and tell them they deserve it because of their ‘sins’ and if everyone would become a ‘salafi’ everything would be okay.
Is this what Salahuddin or ibn Taymiyyah addressed similar challenges in their times?
Amad
December 29, 2008 at 5:51 PM
salaffollower, my comment wasn’t to you specifically :) You made a good point and thought it would be good to highlight that even though we haven’t heard from our MM shayookh yet, they weren’t quiet.
usman
December 29, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Salaam, we cant really do anything except make dua…its like wat the prophet said to the family of Yasir ” Sabrun Ya Ala Yasir”
the Palestinians are like the family of yasir and we are in the position of the companions. so all we can say is sabrun ya filisteen. Make dua and increase in worships and dawah. amen
Mankind Message
December 29, 2008 at 9:45 PM
May Allah grant those who are suffering, sabr and hilm.
and I pray that Allah bestows His Mercy on those who have passed.
Ameen!
intellect1429
December 29, 2008 at 11:31 PM
@ Abu Noor Al-Irlandee
Very good article in the link you gave. The journalist said everything that has been in my thoughts. May Allah increase the number of accurate reports as this one.
salafFollower
December 30, 2008 at 12:04 AM
Dear abu abdallah,
Mere speeches and condemnations are not enough. THe reason the Muslims are in such despair is because they do not see any credible leadership to lead them on the reigious, political, social, and economic fronts. The scholars are living in their own world discussing the finer details of fiqh (case in point: checkout the latest fatawa on islam-qa). They and their teachings have become irrelevant because they do not address the issues the people are faced with in today’s world.
Don’t you find it amazing, that just outside masjid Nabawi, there are these beautiful hotels where hundreds of labourers live a life of virtual slavery; working long hours without payment for MONTHS, forced to beg and borrow to send back to their families back home. They are beaten, harassed, and treated like animals. And just across them scholars sit in the masjid, giving long lectures on this hadeeth and that, while just under their noses this oppression is going on. Are they oblivious to this? Do they not know what is going on? WHY HAVENT WE HEARD THOSE SCHOLAR SAY: “TODAY WE WILL HOLD A RALLY OUTSIDE THE MASJID AND COMPELL THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY THE SALARIES OF THESE WORKERS – AND WE WILL KEEP ON PROTESTING UNTIL THEIR RIGHTS ARE RESTORED”?? Is Islam just about giving theoretical lectures dressed in beautiful thawbs sitting in air conditioned masajids? where is the concern for justice, for human rights, for fighting oppression and injustice that Islam came to remove?
THis is but just one example. I am not judging what is in anyone’s heart. I am evaluating performance on the ground.
> do you know their circumstances? have you set up lines of communication that permit you to monitor what has been said or reported?
That is the point! We are living in the 21st century. Why should I have to setup secretive direct lines of communication to know these things? The scholars and their statements and plans of actions should be all over the media, in print, in newspapers and magazines, and on the internet explaining their viewpoints, speaking out against oppression and injustice in all its forms, great or small, near of far. But as I said, not a whimper comes out. WHY?
As far as respect is concerned, it is something that is EARNED. No one deserves respect because they have a PHD from Jamiah X or have the title of shaykh fulan ibn fulan. And I refuse to be cowed down by orders to ‘show respect’ whenever I question the leadership capabilities of someone. ENOUGH!! I will not be intimidated by this false aura of ‘respect’ that has been created to keep followers in line as submissive, unquestioning devotees, unable to state the obvious when it is right in front of their eyes. This is nothing but a form of worship.
ENOUGH!
MM Associates
December 30, 2008 at 12:34 AM
as salamu alaykum, salafFollower. peace.
[abu abdAllah]
Brother Anwar
December 30, 2008 at 12:42 AM
I agree with salafFolower 100%, I am in so many Salafi or quran Sunnah yada yada groups and NONE so FAR had a single POST on this genocide. I do not want to be judgemental but I am prefering Fox, CNN with at least some coverage on this in-humane zionist terrorism on their web pages if noton TV.
ENOUGH “SUCKING UP” to other than ALLAH SWT.
We have become “slaves” to everything else but “Allah” SWT. No wonder He has shaken the ummah so we can “come back to Deen in “TOTALITY” including “JIHAD”
A Sister
December 30, 2008 at 1:12 AM
Assalaamu Alaikum
Sorry this might be really off track, but I have to say this!
It never ceases to amaze me how Israel (and those who support its actions) are so “confused” as to why they are getting targeted with rockets by the “terrorists” in Gaza. What’s so confusing?
Imagine with me:
You have a house which you built with many years of hard work, you purchased it legitimately, furnished it, lived in it, etc. One day, some person comes to your house, points the gun at your head, and tells you he wants to share the house with you. Will you gladly accept? Well, it doesn’t end there. This person shoves you into a tiny room, isolates you, imposes restrictions on you and tries to take over more and more of your house. You, in your desperation, pick up an item from the room and hurl it at the invader. Can that invader be so stupefied as to why you exactly hurled that thing at him? Can he expect you to stop hurling things if he comes and shoots your family members who are trapped with you in that room? Uh…
Enough said.
May Allaah aid our brothers and sisters in Palestine; may al-Qawiyy aid them, for they are weak; may al-Ghaniyy aid them, for they are ineed; may ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem have mercy on them, and on all of us. Ameen.
IbnAbbas
December 30, 2008 at 1:15 AM
This is a nice piece written by a friend of mine:
This is the letter I write, sent ahead of my life,
Strive till death, till my demise, until sight ends in my eyes,
You might recognise, when the dust settles, the smoke is left to rise,
The Media tells us lies,
But this movement, this revolution, will be televised.
I look straight into terror’s eyes, no longer will they terrorise,
I want to go back to those better days, back to those better nights,
Attacked by-the star ‘n’ stripes, Israel and USA with their-allies,
Do the people not realise? Are these not serious crimes?
These are real people, these are real lives,
Perilous times, the darkness clear in the skies,
Striving to sterilise, they take our light, dark does materialise,
Dead-or-Alive, most left dead, those who survive are left paralysed,
Struggle to defend-my-rights, schools hit with bullets and metal spikes,
Of shrapnel, wounded in hospital and hostels with endless lines,
Of beds, sheets covered red, damage collateral? Care to cry?
Render lives, all dead with their hostile enterprise,
Enter guys, in green; their only mission is to fetter life,
Picks up his child, collects his wife, he jus won’t let her die,
Bombs blow legs, children simply slain, left to infect as-they-lie,
Across our necks, into our veins they direct their knives,
The loss o’-the dead, our splintering pain, they get their slice,
Of land, they command war, they command might,
Sometimes the hand feeds you, other times that hand fights,
Air and land strikes, taking away a man’s life,
It sounds like, there’s no end, no cessation to this land’s strife,
Even when the flag’s white, with blood, the sand is wiped,
Innocent’s stand on mines, malice finds its way into shallow minds,
Each other beside one another stand high, to retaliate and fight,
This is the pain; this is the reality of this clan’s plight,
Activity so clandestine, show us the way, the path and-the-sign,
Take this chalice I’m, about to sip, if it’s not your grand design,
Oh Lord, my love, deliver us away from this callous crime,
From this cold war, Blood Rivers gush today in Palestine,
Hallowed is thy name, All Praise is thine;
But I can only hope to make your palace mine.
– El Revolucionario (Slough – UK)
A Sister
December 30, 2008 at 1:21 AM
Agreed.
GAZACAUST vs HOLOCAUST
December 30, 2008 at 1:29 AM
# Did you know that non-Jewish Israelis cannot buy or lease land in the Zionist entity?
# Did you know that Palestinian license plates in Zionist entity are color coded to distinguish jews from non-jews?
# Did you know that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for jews and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the territories? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is given to about 400 settlers, while 15% must be divided among Hebron’s 120,000 Palestinians?
# Did you know the United States awards the israel $5 billion in aid each year?
# Did you know that yearly US aid to israel exceeds the aid the US grants to the whole African continent?
# Did you know that the israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?
# Did you know that the israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites?
# Did you know that israel currently occupies territories of two sovereign nations (Lebanon and Syria) in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions?
# Did you know that israel has for decades routinely sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies?
# Did you know that high-ranking military officers in the israeli Defense Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed by the IDF?
# Did you know that israel refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war?
# Did you know that israel routinely confiscates bank accounts, businesses, and land and refuses to pay compensation to those who suffer the confiscation?
# Did you know that israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a U.S. ship in international waters, killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors?
# Did you know that the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders, is the jewish AIPAC?
# Did you know that israel stands in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council Resolutions?
# Did you know that today’s israel sits on the former sites of more than 400 now-vanished Palestinian villages, and that the israeli’s re- named almost every physical site in the country to cover up the traces?
# Did you know that it was not until 1988 that israelis were barred from running “jews Only” job ads?
# Did you know that four prime ministers of israel (Begin, Shamir, Rabin, and Sharon) have taken part in either bomb attacks on civilians, massacres of civilians, or forced expulsions of civilians from their villages?
# Did you know that the israeli Foreign Ministry pays two American public relations firms to promote israel to Americans?
# Did you know that Sharon’s coalition government includes a party — Molodet — which advocates expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories?
# Did you know that israel’s settlement-building increased in the eight years since Oslo?
# Did you know that settlement building under Barak doubled compared to settlement building under Netanyahu?
# Did you know that israel once dedicated a postage stamp to a man who attacked a civilian bus and killed several people?
# Did you know that recently-declassified documents indicate that David Ben-Gurion in at least some instances approved of the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948?
# Did you know that despite a ban on torture by israel’s High Court of Justice, torture has continued by Shin Bet interrogators on Palestinian prisoners?
# Did you know that Palestinian refugees make up the largest portion of the refugee population in the world?
# And finally do you know who is the terrorist now ?
From: Shaykh Salah Soltan
December 30, 2008 at 1:38 AM
This Is a Message for Humankind
In Face of the Gaza Holocaust
By: Dr. Salah Soltan
Academician Activist
[All praises and thanks be to Allah, Who (Alone) created the heavens and the earth and originated the darkness and the light; yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord.] [Al-An`am 6:1].
{الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِم يَعْدِلُونَ}
Transliteration: Al-Ĥamdu Lillāhi Al-Ladhī Khalaqa As-Samāwāti Wa Al-‘Arđa Wa Ja`ala Až-Žulumāti Wa An-Nūra Thumma Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Birabbihim Ya`dilūna
And I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, Who puts the clouds to their course, Who revealed The Book (the Qur’an), and Who Alone defeated the Confederates (Al-Ahzab). All peace and blessings be upon Muhammad — the leader of the mujahideen and the master of the first and last generations — and those persevering people who follow him to the Day of Judgment.
Concerning the issue at hand, I call on the human conscience to make a unified stand against this Zionist tyranny against the men, women, and children in the Gaza Strip and I call for the following:
1. Continuous peaceful demonstrations and a one-day strike by every person who feels solicitude for Jerusalem, Palestine, and the martyrs and casualties of Gaza. This is to declare an overwhelming fury that calls the attention of the world and passes the point that we will not silently accept these injustices. And let these demonstrations and strikes escalate until governments reconsider their shameful stances of submissiveness to the oppressors and failing the victimized, and let them think of these words of a poet:
The blazing of fire in the midst of dust provokes the furor of the Volcano
The small water drops precede the flood and the hurricane
It surges, uproots the tyrants with a roar beyond the tyranny of their cane
2. Communication with human relief agencies in each country — or establishing them where none exist — is a must, to provide all medical and food requirements for our fellow Gazans. This is a religious obligation for every Muslim who owns more than his or her basic needs.
This is a religious obligation for every Muslim who owns more than his or her basic needs.
3. I hope that mosque imams and orators will take on their responsibilities before Allah of uniting Muslims at mosques and stating clearly the duty of fighting against Zionist assailants; giving our complete support for our brothers and sisters in Palestine; making Qunoot (Arabic for: supplication before or after bowing in prayer) against the Zionist oppressors in every prayer, those who support them, and those who turn a blind eye to them; encouraging Muslims to fast and do late-night prayers collectively; and reminding them of what Allah says in these verses of the Qur’an:
{لاَ يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَن يُجَاهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ (44) إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ}
Transliteration: Lā Yasta’dhinuka Al-Ladhīna Yu’uminūna Billāhi Wa Al-Yawmi Al-‘Ākhiri ‘An Yujāhidū Bi’amwālihim Wa ‘Anfusihim Wa Allāhu `Alīmun Bil-Muttaqīna, ‘Innamā Yasta’dhinuka Al-Ladhīna Lā Yu’uminūna Billāhi Wa Al-Yawmi Al-‘Ākhiri Wa Artābat Qulūbuhum Fahum Fī Raybihim Yataraddadūna
[Translation: Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask your leave to be exempted from fighting with their properties and their lives; and Allah is All-Knowing of the pious. It is only those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts are in doubt that ask your leave (to be exempted from Jihad), so in their doubts they waver.] [At-Tawbah 9:44-45].
4. I believe that it is a firm obligation on the elites of every village, city, town, and governorate to send delegations that represent all public levels to impel officials to take on their historical, religious, and human responsibility toward Palestine generally and our sons and daughters in Gaza particularly and form peaceful pressure groups to compel these regimes to retreat from this terrible ignominy.
5. I call on visual, audio, and printed media outlets to act on their responsibility of media jihad, unveiling the crimes of the Zionist enemy and highlighting the tragic situation in Gaza. I also call on all actors, actresses, and singers to stop acting and singing except in one direction: support for Gazans — who have been wronged and whose close ones have been killed — and furor at those Zionist assailants.
6. I call on our youth in sports clubs to whom the hearts of young fans are tied to act like this professional, unique, Muslim football player Abu Treka and get to double Allah’s love and support for them and with this the love of Muslims all over the Arab and Muslim Worlds.
I hope that mosque imams and orators will take on their responsibilities before Allah of encouraging Muslims to fast and do late-night prayers collectively.
7. I call on all Muslim traders, businessmen, and consumers to boycott all Israeli products or those produced by companies that donate to the Zionist entities.
8. I call on imams, speakers, journalists, poets, writers, and literary authors to enrich the religious, cultural, and media pulpits with resistance literature and to send out a message of hope that the more ferocious events get, the more hope we lay on Allah who promised to exterminate the tyrants and grant victory to the believers and Who made it a duty on Him in His grandeur saying in the Qur’an: {وَكَانَ حَقّاً عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ}
Transliteration: Wa Kāna Ĥaqqāan `Alaynā Naşru Al-Mu’uminīna
[and it was due (to them) upon Us to help the believers.] [Ar-Rum 30:47].
Let them act as Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) when the confederating tribes gathered to exterminate the people of Madinah and the Muslims started digging the trench around Madinah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would then tell them these cheering words to spread hope and eliminate any seeds of despair: “Allah is the Greatest, Khaybar is conquered; Allah is the Greatest, Persia is conquered; Allah is the Greatest, the Romans are conquered”. Then Allah’s victory was granted to the Muslims, the disbelievers were turned down with no gains, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, “Now we conquer them and they do not conquer us.”
{وَاللّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ}
Transliteration: Wa Allāhu Ghālibun `Alá ‘Amrihi Wa Lakinna ‘Akthara An-Nāsi Lā Ya`lamūna
[And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most people know not.] [Yusuf 12:21].
{سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْراً}
Transliteration: Sayaj`alu Allāhu Ba`da `Usrin Yusrāan
And [Allah will grant after hardship, ease.] [At-Talaq 65:7].
——————————————————————————–
Dr. Salah El-Deen Soltan is a distinguished prominent Islamic activist. Among several others, he founded the American Center for Islamic Research, the Sultan Publishing Company, and the Islamic American University. Currently, Dr. Soltan is a professor of Islamic Shari`ah at Cairo University.
Ibn Masood
December 30, 2008 at 1:57 AM
I can’t differentiate who are the bigger cowards here, the Israeli governments or the Arab governments.
Siraaj
December 30, 2008 at 2:44 AM
It may be better to focus our attention on what we can do rather than on what others are not doing – we are ultimately responsible for ourselves, and those who had power to act and did not do so will be held to account for their own deeds, let’s not let ourselves fall into that group of people, whoever they may be.
Siraaj
MM Associates
December 30, 2008 at 2:51 AM
bismillah. another set of graphic pictures. http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/12/29/world/1229-GAZA2_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
muslimah
December 30, 2008 at 5:12 AM
“It may be better to focus our attention on what we can do rather than on what others are not doing – we are ultimately responsible for ourselves, and those who had power to act and did not do so will be held to account for their own deeds, let’s not let ourselves fall into that group of people, whoever they may be.”
EXACTLY. STOP blaming others, look at yourselves, are you a good muslim? . Allah said in the Quran He wont change the state of the nation until they change themsleves. what have you done for Islam? forget the so called muslim governments, they are total cowards.May Allah guide them beforer it’s too late! I agree w/ salal flower. but there were many protests around the middle east against the arab govts. in fact i was surprized myself to read some very anti-arab govt pieces in one of the newspapers from the mid-east.
again let’s get back to ourselves. start w/ your parents, our siblings, family, relatives, friends, neighbors..revive Islam ya ummat Muhammad!
oh and do donations really count that much? those people killed in gaza will be a witness against us on that enormous day..that we didnt help them out and instead opted to sit in the comfort of our rooms and make online donations..Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu’alaihi wasallam) took the muslim army and fought against the Jews when they captured ONE MUSLIMAH. wth are the Muslim govts doing? instead of calling another useless meeting they should have announced the call of jihad! thats right, jihad! we muslims are not going to win this war as long as the whole thing is nationalistic. it’s NOT about palestine anymore, it’s ABOUT la ilaha illallah!
muslimah
December 30, 2008 at 8:09 AM
subhanAllah on ny times they write ‘most of the dead are hamas, the terrorst organization but a “few” civilians are also among the dead!!!
Mohammad S.
December 30, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Salam,
We should recite Qunut in our Five fardh salahs now, because of this calamity.
After standing up for ruku in the last raka’, after saying sami’allah-hulimanhamida and rabbana-wa-lakalhamd, raise your hands like your doing du’a, say the Qunut, and then make du’a for the brothers and sisters in Palestine, and also make du’a to Allah to curse the Israeli officials to have started this event.
Here is the proof for this action:
http://www.muslimconverts.com/e-books/The_Prophet%27s_Prayer_Described/12.html#Prayer10
Mohammad S.
December 30, 2008 at 10:04 AM
PS. After you’re done Qunut, you go straight into Sujud.
Ayesha Fatima
December 30, 2008 at 10:13 AM
May Allah swt help all the people who are suffering !! …Do not grieve and get disheartened: for you will have the upper hand if you are the believers.[Ale Imran 139].. “Verily, with every difficulty there is relief”.[94;6].
salaam.
muslimah
December 30, 2008 at 10:35 AM
if you guys for some reason dont plan on publishing a comment, at least be polite enough and explain why.
mudsir
December 30, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Brothers can some one please tell me about Al-Jazeerah. I have been watching it and I think that it is another Israeli propaganda channel just like bbc or cnn. All are trying to justify the terrorism of Israel, calling it a war. When muslim civilians are killed it becomes acceptable and no longer terrrorism. Of course being a muslim I don’t want any civilians to be killed.
Morever, do you know that in the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, India 40% of those killed by the terrorists were Muslims?
Muslims are being killed both by these misguided Muslim and Kaafir terrorists. It is really a very depressing situation.
reader
December 30, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Salaam Alaikum All,
The following site gives a somewhat comprehensive list of pro-Zionist companies and says WHY these companies are on the list. PLEASE BOYCOTT responsibly and consistently and spread the word.
Innovative Minds
Please do not just pick names that sound Jewish and start boycotting them. Not all such businesses are pro-Zionist.
Pingback: TERRORISTS KILL OVER 345 CIVILIENS and no actions from the World?! « DUBAI HEADLINE
Hassan
December 30, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Does asking scholars/leaders whom we look up to for knowledge in aqeedah, fiqh, adaab etc to lead us and guide us in taking some action whatever may be suitable, can come under focusing our attention on what can we do? Isn’t it time when we politely with adab ask them that we been following you around for knowledge and held respect for you and took you as our leaders in our affairs to stand up and we would be with them?
After the death of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, when issue of leadership arose, and Abu Bakar RA was suggested to be leader, the ansaar said, we trusted him for deen (he was imam in salaat) so its no brainer that we trust him in our dunya.
If they do not, yes we would do what best we can do, but what would be our motivation to hold them with same respect and take them as leaders?
Our times are compared to Prophet Muhammad PBUH time in Makkah. I as non-knowledgeable person can not understand it, as we as ummah has already passed through Madinah time, the religion got completed and we have progressed. In Makkah muslims were minority, not anymore. Do we have so low self esteem that we keep ourselves comparing to muslims in Makkah? Perhaps islamically it may be valid comparison, and there may not be sin. Question then comes, what are we doing to get out of it?
mudsir
December 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-170589
ilmsummitee
December 30, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Asalamu Alaykum
Please go to http://ampalestine.org/ for action alerts! Lets us not only talk the talk BUT Walk the Walk!
It’ll only take you a few minutes to call or email letters, inshallah. Also, go the masnet.org site for information about rally’s nationwide.
wasalams.
IbnAbbas
December 30, 2008 at 11:46 AM
“And when the female infant buried alive is asked (8)
For what sin she was killed, (9)
……………………………………
……………………………………
Every soul shall (then) know what it has prepared. (14)
……………………………………
……………………………………
For him among you who pleases to go straight. (28)
And you do not please except that Allah please, the Lord of the worlds. (29)”
(Surah Takweer)
Shaam
December 30, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Peace to all,
Do you guys know if there will be any rally around New York?
My prayers are for Muslims opressed all over the world, especially in Gaza now. Allah is the Greatest of All Planner. So…lets see how far they can go with their Dhulum. You know, it sadden my heart to see that when there isn’t any major crisis like present one, we don’t organize, boycott Israel products, we just go on with our precious lives in the west and pretend Palestine doesn’t exist, Afghanistan doesn’t exist, Iraq doesn’t exist, Darfur doesn’t exist…. How LONG???? I feel my blood is on my brain now….. How much longer? Why our hands are tied? How come I DESERVE such beautiful life in USA when my brothers and sisters suffer in GAZA?? I ask myself, how am I going to give my HIsab in afterlife? May Allah help us all. AMeen
salafFollower
December 30, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Dear br. Abu Abdullah,
> as salamu alaykum, salafFollower. peace.
Did you just give me the “and when the ignorant (jaahil) address them they say, peace be upon you!” treatment?
From Sheikh Salih Al-Munajid
December 30, 2008 at 12:27 PM
What can we do about the slaughter of Muslims in Palestine and around the world?
What is our stance concerning the slaughter of Muslims in Palestine and other parts of the world that is happening right now, where houses are being destroyed, farms are being wrecked, children are being killed, the wounded are being detained in the streets, houses are being bombarded and people are being prevented by the Jews and others, from buying the food and drink that they need? What can I, as a Muslim, do?
Praise be to Allaah.
1- You have to make du’aa’, and recite du’a’ al-qunoot in your salaah (prayer).
2- Collect charity and send it through trustworthy channels.
3- Support the weak and oppressed in all ways, including the media and the internet.
4- Get scholars, daa’iyahs, khateebs and writers to explain the oppression that is happening and the negligence on the part of the ummah, and to mobilize the ummah to defend the holy places.
5- Check on one’s own intentions with regard to fighting for the sake of Allaah, and see whether he is applying the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Whoever dies without having fought for the sake of Allaah or having had the intention of doing so, has died following one of the branches of hypocrisy.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 3533)
6- Pursuing all the means of building up material and moral strength, in preparation for meeting the enemy (in battle).
7- Reminding oneself and others of the virtues of martyrdom for the sake of Allaah and studying the rulings on jihad, and not having an attachment to this world.
8- Doing as much damage as possible to the enemies who are in a state of war with us, by boycotting their products, attacking them verbally and in writing to humiliate and annoy them, and to point out their kufr and shirk, and their insults to Allaah, His Messenger and the believers, publishing as much as possible in the audio-visual and print media about this serious topic whilst also connecting that to Islamic belief and the words of Allaah and His Messenger,
We ask Allaah the Exalted and All-Powerful to support His religion and cause His word to prevail.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/21284/
Abû Mûsâ Al-Ḥabashî
December 30, 2008 at 12:38 PM
@ Abu Abdullah
Very appropriate response. It’s amazing that people don’t take the issue of gheeba against the scholars more seriously.
mudsir
December 30, 2008 at 12:43 PM
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=6PkHHAzbknc&feature=channel
Sirat
December 30, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Walaykumus Salam,
May Allah ease the suffering of the people in Gaza and muslims all over the world, and pour out on them patience. May Allah’s curse be upon the enemies of this deen.
Its about time the muslim nations wake up and realize that their rulers and kings are sleeping with the enemy; unless they are overthrown and replaced with leaders who implement the laws of Islam, there is no chance of achieving unity, justice and peace in the muslim world. These people are leading us down the path of destruction with their desire for money, power and lust.
May Allah expose the munafiqeen and humiliate them along with the enemies.
– Sirat
US Rep. Cynthia Mc Kinney
December 30, 2008 at 1:06 PM
(CNN) — An Israeli patrol boat struck a boat carrying medical volunteers and supplies to Gaza early Tuesday as it attempted to intercept the vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, witnesses and Israeli officials said.
“Our mission was a peaceful mission,” said former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who was aboard the Dignity.
3 of 3 CNN Correspondent Karl Penhaul was aboard the 60-foot, Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat Dignity when the contact occurred. When the boat later docked in the Lebanese port city of Tyre, severe damage was visible to the forward port side of the boat, and the front left window and part of the roof had collapsed.
The Dignity was carrying crew and 16 passengers — physicians from Britain, Germany and Cyprus and human rights activists, including former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney — who were trying to reach Gaza through an Israeli blockade of the territory.
The captain of the Dignity said the Israelis broadcast a radio message accusing the vessel of being involved in terrorist activity. But Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor denied that and said the radio message simply warned the vessel not to proceed to Gaza because it is a closed military area.
Palmor said there was no response to the radio message, and the vessel then tried to out-maneuver the Israeli patrol boat, leading to the collision. Watch Penhaul describe the boat damage »
Penhaul said at least two Israeli patrol boats had shadowed the Dignity for about half an hour before the collision, moving around the vessel on all sides. One of the patrol boats then shined its spotlight on the Dignity while the other, with its lights off, “very severely rammed” the boat.
The captain of the Dignity told Penhaul he received no prior warning. Only after the collision did the Israelis come on the radio to say they struck the boat because they believed it was involved in terrorist activities. Watch the chaos in Gaza and Israel »
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html
Ameera
December 30, 2008 at 1:26 PM
I jsut DIGG’d this post. You, O random reader, should too to make a difference!
My Tax dollars at WORK- Shame on ME
December 30, 2008 at 1:58 PM
US smart bomb comes in handyMohammed Mar’i I Arab News
WAITING FOR ORDERS: Israeli armored personnel carriers take position on the Israeli-Gaza Strip border on Monday. (AFP)
RAMALLAH, West Bank: The Israeli Air Force used a new bunker-buster missile in the Gaza Strip that it received recently from the United States.
The missile, GBU-39, was developed recently by the US as a small-diameter bomb for low-cost, high-precision and low collateral damage strikes.
In a report yesterday, The Jerusalem Post said that Israel received approval from Congress to purchase 1,000 units in September. The report quoted defense officials as saying that the first shipment had arrived earlier this month and was used successfully in penetrating underground Qassam rocket-launchers in the Gaza Strip during the heavy aerial bombardment of Hamas infrastructure on Saturday. It was also used in Sunday’s bombing of tunnels in Rafah.
The GBU-39 is said to be one of the most accurate bombs in the world. The 113-kg bomb has the same penetration capabilities as a normal 900-kg one, although it has only 22.7 kg of explosives.
At just 1.75 meters long, its small size increases the number of bombs an aircraft can carry and the number of targets it can attack in a sortie.
mudsir
December 30, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Some relevant rulings by Shaikh Muḥammad Ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn and others.
http://www.answering-extremism.com/trans-pub/ae_misau_1.pdf
http://www.answering-extremism.com/trans-pub/ae_saf_3.pdf
http://www.answering-extremism.com/trans-pub/ae_pc_1.pdf
http://www.answering-extremism.com/trans-pub/ae_aaas_1.pdf
http://www.answering-extremism.com/trans-pub/ae_misau_9.pdf
http://www.answering-extremism.com/trans-pub/ae_aaib_4.pdf
mudsir
December 30, 2008 at 2:07 PM
http://www.answering-extremism.com/ae/default.aspx
Linda Heard
December 30, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Don’t fall for Israeli propaganda
Linda Heard I sierra12th@yahoo.co.uk
ONCE again Israel seeks to defend the indefensible in an attempt to cloak its crimes against humanity with the mantle of self-defense. As its American-manufactured bombs and missiles pound a virtually unarmed starving population, Israeli officials appear on just about every satellite news network singing from the same propagandist song sheet.
It’s all the fault of the terror organization Hamas which refused to renew the cease-fire, “ ‘We have a duty to protect our citizens in the south from rockets and mortars”. I’ve heard several saying “When we pulled out of Gaza we hoped Palestinians would forge a functioning territory but instead they chose terror”. In answer to questions concerning so many civilian deaths, they all insist that Israel is carrying out surgical strikes against “terror infrastructure” or they will excuse Israel’s bombardment of homes with “civilians are hiding launchers in their houses”.
Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman seemed nonplussed when one interviewer asked him whether the seven dead UNWRA student employees were launching missiles too.
Predictably, these merchants of untruths are given free rein to spin on most Western networks and disproportionate airtime as opposed to pro-Palestinian commentators.
Let’s dissect these fabricated Israeli arguments.
First, whatever one thinks of Hamas and it ideology, it was elected to office in free and internationally-monitored elections that were forced upon the Palestinian people by Washington as part of the Bush administration’s quest to democratize the Middle East.
Then, after congratulating the Palestinians on their new democracy, the US-led international community promptly condemned the new leadership as terrorist and threw its support behind Fatah, which was “ordered” to turn against Hamas. This divisive strategy worked to the extent Hamas was driven to Gaza where it has since struggled against all odds to provide its citizens with the barest minimum required to sustain life.
Those representatives of Israel who say since their country’s pullout there was no obstacle to Gaza becoming a flourishing enclave are disingenuous when Gaza’s borders are sealed and the people have no control over their coastline or airspace.
Even when the Fatah-controlled Palestinian National Authority managed Gaza, Israel did everything it could to destroy infrastructure including a $75 million airport built with donations from the EU, Japan and Morocco. And during this recent round of attacks, ministries, government buildings, police stations and a police academy were bombed which does not support Israel’s supposed wish to see a functioning Gaza.
While it is true that Hamas refused to extend the cease-fire, what incentive does it have to do so while Israel is waging a war of attrition on the people in its care? It seems residents of Gaza must choose to die slowly from starvation and lack of medicines or at the hands of the Israeli war machine. Secondly, Israel is, indeed, duty-bound to protect its citizens but just look at the numbers. Very few crude home-made rockets have resulted in casualties. I believe only one Israeli has died during this current onslaught that has robbed the lives of over 320 Palestinians and wounded up to 1,000; not including those still buried beneath rubble. Once more, Israel’s response has been disproportionate just as it was in 2006 when it slaughtered 1,200 Lebanese civilians in answer to Hezbollah’s kidnapping of IDF soldiers.
Third, when it comes to Gaza, said to be one of the most densely-populated areas of the world, there is no such thing as a surgical strike. Moreover, over half of Gaza’s population are children under 18. Even the smartest smart bombs could not cherry-pick between resistance fighters and innocents in such a packed environment. The Israeli government knows this and doesn’t care a jot, which translates to willful collective punishment, illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
But like its Washington master (or is it the other way around?) Israel is not constrained by international law or the Geneva Conventions that also require an occupying nation to provide for the well being of people under its occupation and to respect their dignity. As the willful killing continues, Israel merrily ignores pleas from France, Russia, the UN, the EU and Britain to end the violence. Why should it do otherwise when it has proved time and time again that it is a law unto itself and immune from international punishment?
Unsurprisingly, the only message from the US to Israel is “try to avoid civilian casualties”, which is nothing more than lip service to international humanitarian sensitivities. In effect, the Bush administration has blessed this, by many accounts, long planned operation, cynically timed to begin during a political vacuum in Washington and close to upcoming elections when candidates need to prove they’re tough to win votes. Tragically, there may be much worse to come. Israeli government officials including Defense Minister Ehud Barak has warned the offensive could be widened as tanks line up on the border with Gaza and 6,500 IDF reservists are on standby.
Tomorrow, the Arab League is holding an emergency summit of foreign ministers to discuss the crisis. If only they will decide to do more than issue a joint statement of condemnation this time. Together they have so much clout. Now is the time for all Arab countries to gather together as one nation to say “enough is enough” before the streets of Gaza run with the blood of their desperate brothers and sisters. As the West closes its eyes and ears to Palestinian cries for help Arab leaders should heed the outraged voices on their own streets and act. Finally, the governments of Egypt and Jordan should do some soul-searching. Should they continue with peace agreements made in all good faith with a selfish, cruel state bent on destroying a people for its own ends?
ShaamPeace
December 30, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Digg this article everyone, so make it a top reader!!!!
Paul Salahuddin Armstrong
December 30, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Salaam, Shalom, Peace!
My sympathies are with ordinary Palestinians and Israelis who are caught up in the present mess. In the past I have disagreed with many actions taken by the Israeli government regarding the Palestinian people. However, I have to admit the present situation is a direct result of the actions of Hamas. While the religion of Islam allows one the right to defend oneself, one’s family and one’s country, Islam absolutely forbids attacking ordinary civilians – especially women and children. Though the air strikes by Israel will unfortunately result in some civilian casualties, at least they’re not deliberately attacking civilians…
Many people downplay the rocket attacks by Hamas. Even when there was supposedly a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians, Hamas was firing rockets into Israel. Though only small and usually few, this was done on a regular basis. In total, hundreds or thousands of rockets were fired each year! Hamas sees every Israeli as a legitimate target! Each time, they were firing into civilian towns and villages close to the border with Gaza – not military targets. Hamas are breaking a very clear Islamic prohibition not to attack civilians! Even Hamas has openly stated many times, they do not recognise the State of Israel’s right to exist and we all know they would change that if it was within their power to do so… How can Israel deal with them when they behave in this fashion?
If Israel were any other country, they would also take military action against a neighbouring state or territory, that was firing rockets into their country, killing and wounding their citizens. While I do not like the situation in Gaza, I do not like the way Israel has often treated Palestinians, I can’t blame them for their recent actions towards Gaza. How can I support Hamas? They have been bad news for Palestinians even before, but especially since they came to power in Gaza. I strongly urge my fellow Muslim bothers and sisters, to think carefully how we can best serve the interests of ordinary Palestinians and not to believe the current propaganda trying to get us all to back Hamas. If it weren’t for Hamas’ rockets, would Israel be bombing Gaza now? If it wasn’t for their intolerance of Israel, wouldn’t the peace process have progressed further? These are important questions for us to consider. As Muslims we most certainly must look out for our brothers and sisters of faith around the world, but most importantly, we must do what is right! Should we support other Muslims if what they’re doing is not right? Surely we will be questioned!
The fact is Israel exists, whether we like it or not! Many Israelis have fought and died for their country over the past 60 years. The original Palestine no longer exists. Today Palestinians are a stateless people, this is truly a tragedy for them and my heart goes out to them. Any solution to their plight must take into account Israel’s existence and the present reality. Many Israelis are the third or four generation born in that land, they live in a functioning state.
Palestinians and Israelis must learn to come to terms with their present situation. If they both want to live in peace and security, they need to accept and eventually learn to love one another. They need to learn what we all need to learn. We all live together on the surface of one planet, we are all brothers and sisters. We need to share this planet and want for others what we desire for ourselves. Only when we accept this and learn to change accordingly will we find true peace, happiness and security! We will never attain this through bombs and incessant warfare, but only through changing ourselves!
Siraaj
December 30, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Salaam alaykum Paul,
If the situation were as you portrayed it, you might have a point. Please read the article two posts above your own by Linda Heard, which does an excellent job of summarizing the details of why this war is really happening.
Siraaj
JD
December 30, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Salaam,
I am ashamed to read the post of Paul above and know that fellow Muslims can fall for such propaganda.
I would encourage others to check out the iENGAGE website that advises UK Muslims on how to put their protests out there and call for action :
http://www.iengage.org.uk
Clearly the Israelis are committing Genocide.
They will be judged by humans and then by God and for this crime and all the others that they have committed they will not escape Inshallah. Others who will also face this judgement must be the Arab leaders and the European nations who refuse to speak out against these crimes against humanity.
In addition to any protests or posts that anyone makes, I hope that all Muslims would join me in praying for divine help from Allah for the Gazans and in that case for all down trodden Muslims; for the replacement of Arab and other leaders of Muslim countries with true and Just Muslim leaders; for justice to be imposed on the Zionist Nation of Israel for her crimes against humanity.
Salaam
JD
To Paul
December 30, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Wa Alaikum,
Paul, If you understand “good parenting” you will figure out why kids act up when parents put overtly undue unjust force on them. I will leave it at that for your brain to reflect…………..
SarahG
December 30, 2008 at 6:53 PM
So, I’m wondering where all the outrage was when Hamas was attacking Israel. When rallies were held humiliating the illegally captured Israeli soldier. When Palestinian people explicitly endorsed the genocidal tactics used against civilians that Hamas uses.
Actions speak louder than words can be spoken.
imran
December 30, 2008 at 10:25 PM
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5420584.ece
We must adjust our distorted image of Hamas……….
imran
December 30, 2008 at 10:32 PM
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mark-steel/mark-steel-so-what-have-the-palestinians-got-to-complain-about-1218135.html
Mark Steel: So what have the Palestinians got to complain about?
To SarahG
December 30, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Actions speak louder than words can be spoken. You are RIGHT
May I suggest for you and your family to travel to GAZA so you can enjoy the Israel’s FIRE-WORKS live on the ground?
If you are so LUCKY to make it back to your comfortable Home, we will continue the DEBATE!
Ali Shehata
December 30, 2008 at 11:44 PM
As-salaam alaikum
I wish that I had the time to be silent long enough to consolidate my thoughts about the many comments mentioned above, but that is a luxury we cannot afford at the present time.
Firstly, the du’a of “Laa ilaaha illa anta subhaanak innee kuntu min ath-Thaalimeen” was the du’a of Yunus (as) which he mentioned while he was in the belly of the whale, and alhamdulillah it is an excellent du’a for all of us to make at this terrible time. It means, “How perfect are You (O’ Allah) above all that they attribute to You, indeed I have been among those who wrong themselves.” And those who seek to understand will know, that this tragedy, and indeed every tragedy, happens because of what our hands have put forth – not just the hands of those in Gaza, but all of us as an Ummah, which includes you and me. It is our sins, our heedlessness, our weakness as a whole, that directly leads to these tragedies – there today, maybe here tomorrow.
Secondly, although it is the comment of only one or two people here regarding the alleged ineptitude of our scholars and how we they don’t deserve our respect because of their alleged silence, all I can say is subhaan Allah. I won’t detract from the seriousness of this tragedy and the focus we should have on it by answering those who have this question more than to say that countless ulamaa have been talking and teaching solutions to this matter for years now, if not decades. For so many of our ulamaa, this has been a catastrophe well before WE saw the images of dead bodies on our screens. Among the many reasons that they have my respect is because they don’t need to jump only when the world is looking in that direction, because they are the ones who keep our hearts remembering these downtrodden people long after the cameras leave. Those of you who share this disrespectful and arrogant opinion should humble themselves and be aware of the hundreds of programs, articles, and books that draw our hearts’ collective concern back to our brothers and sisters, our children and parents, who live not only in Palestine but in all other parts of the world today where Muslims are forgotten.
And lastly, I wonder what is the real benefit of rallies and protests, or of even expecting or placing your hope in a president or a president-elect? Does it change anything for us to go out and “ra-ra-ra” at a rally more than to give us that falsely wholesome feeling of “having done something” for our Ummah? I don’t know of any one protest that has ever stopped a war, stopped oppression or even contributed to the solution of any major problem. Those ulamaa that some people think are too busy dealing with questions of menstruation and nifaas have already discussed the value of such protests close to a decade ago, so I won’t repeat it here except to remember the question which Allah asks in the Quran:
[27:62]
Or when He commands us:
[25:58]
It may be that when we stop looking to others other than Allah to help us that only then will the help and the relief of Allah come. But if we have become so low and shameless as to ask those who curse Allah to intercede for us then what shall we expect? In my limited view as a less than average Muslim, I see that it is our brothers and sisters around us who are overtaking us and entering Jannah in droves as shuhadaa’ while we remain to seek the mercy of those who make partners with Rabb al-‘Alaameen. The case of our downtrodden peoples is clear, whereas we are left to wonder if maybe Allah has given us our reward for our deeds in this life – in the form of luxuries – and that maybe we shall have no share in His reward on the Day of Judgment.
And Allah knows best.
mudsir
December 31, 2008 at 12:51 AM
According to this article
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5420584.ece
Gaza is a secular society where people listen to pop music, watch TV and many women walk the streets unveiled
I don’t know how far this is true, but I do now that other Muslim countries such as Pakistan where such things do happen.
Imagine a country or a place where Muslims are in the majority but still there is no Islaamic law and muslims are in fact fighting a battle for “democracy”.
I pray to Allah(swt) to forgive our shortcomings.
We must purify ourselves before commenting on any scholar or leader. Leaders don’t exist in a vacuum, they are a reflection of their society.
If the people change the leader will automatically change. Imagine if we do dawah and if most Muslims in Pakistan shun music, haraam tv, dargahs, and start praying daily, then naturally the leaders in Pakistan will start supporting sharia. This is the hard and the Prophetic way.
But if a few of us revolt and do acts of terrorism and change the leader and impose the sharia on a people used to sins, then there will be a revolt and more innocent blood shed. So, though this is the easier way, it is the wrong and UnIslaamic way.
Abdullah
December 31, 2008 at 12:55 AM
Assalaam’alaikum all
Good articles to read –
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-bombing-ashkelon-is-the-most-tragic-irony-1216228.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-the-self-delusion-that-plagues-both-sides-in-this-bloody-conflict-1218224.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mark-steel/mark-steel-so-what-have-the-palestinians-got-to-complain-about-1218135.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mary-dejevsky/mary-dejevsky-dont-overlook-israels-vulnerability-1216250.html
The last one is quite obviously a pro-Israeli piece, but it’s worthwhile reading, and indeed important to read articles from the ‘other’ side, so that we can understand their arguments and way of thinking, and therefore be able to dissect their arguments and counter-argue with greater efficiency and accuracy. Just don’t fall for their propaganda in the process. I would highly recommend that everyone interested reads Haaretz and Jerusalem Post daily, so you can find out what the Israelis are saying and be more prepared to counter it.
May Allah swt help our brothers and sisters.
Wasalaam
Abdullah
December 31, 2008 at 1:04 AM
Linda Heard, a very good post, but (thankfully) your point about Hamas refusing to extend the ceasefire is incorrect – they did in fact offer to extend the ceasefire, but the Israeli cabinet refused –
“Before it falls down the memory hole, we should remember that last week, Hamas offered a ceasefire in return for basic and achievable compromises. Don’t take my word for it. According to the Israeli press, Yuval Diskin, the current head of the Israeli security service Shin Bet, “told the Israeli cabinet [on 23 December] that Hamas is interested in continuing the truce, but wants to improve its terms.” Diskin explained that Hamas was requesting two things: an end to the blockade, and an Israeli ceasefire on the West Bank. The cabinet – high with election fever and eager to appear tough – rejected these terms.”
From Johann Hari’s article, “The true story behind this war is not the one Israel is telling” (Monday 29th December) http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-the-true-story-behind-this-war-is-not-the-one-israel-is-telling-1214981.html
And apologies, the Mark Steele link was already posted by bro Imran (“So what have the Palestinians got to complain about?”). Apologies for the double post (maybe they can be edited into one post? Jazak’Allah’khair).
AnonyMouse
December 31, 2008 at 1:13 AM
Yaa Sheikh Ali, jazakAllahu alf khair wa barakAllahu feek for that excellent comment. That was certainly a reality check for us all.
abu abdAllah, the Houstonian
December 31, 2008 at 1:21 AM
innalhamdolillah, wa bismillah, wa jazak Allah khayr, Shaykh Ali. mashaAllah, that was a much needed and very welcome comment.
GAZACAUST
December 31, 2008 at 8:51 AM
DAILY DUA for protection from Calamities:
As Salaamu Aleykum,
Here is the Dua I remember, but I need help in transliteration and also English translation. From what I remember this Dua was from a hadith from Abu Darda RA who was told that his house was burning while in Makkah, by 3 different people and he said NO to each of them. The 4th person came and told him “O Abu Darda the fire was very intense in Makkah with high flames all houses were burnt except yours alone” so he Abu Darda RA replied I Know Allah SWT will not do that as I heard from Prophet SAS that who so ever recites this Dua in the morning then he will be protected till the evening from all calamities and I had made the Dua today.
Alla Humma Anta Rabbi Laa Illaha Illa Anta Aleyka Tawakkaltu Wa Anta Rabbul Aarshil Kareem Masha’Allahu Kaana Wa Ma lam Yashaalam Yakun Wala Hawla Wala Khuwata Illa Billahil Aleeyul Azeem.
Aalamu Annallaha Aala Kulli Shayin Khadeerun Wa Annal laaha Khad Ahata Bi Kulli Shayin Ilm.
Allahuma Inni Aauthubika min Sharri Nafsi wa min Sharri Kulli Thaabati anta Aakhethu bi Naasiyatiha Inna Rabbi Aala Siraatin Mustaqeem.
If anyone can help correct the above its appreciated. Please pass this to ALL as well.
Pingback: Israel Bombs Gaza Again - Ilm Fruits
salafFollower
December 31, 2008 at 9:26 AM
AA dr. shehata,
> that countless ulamaa have been talking and teaching solutions to this matter for years now, if not decades.
Please excuse my ignorance. Could you please point me to these solutions either in written or oral form? Can it be summarised as ‘repent for your sins’? ‘Throw the TV in the trash’? Then, when all 1.5 billion muslims will become salafi ‘students of knowledge’ studying the chain of narrations at the feet of the scholars, dissecting the complex and pertinent issues of our times, such as whether mermaids exist and if we can eat them or not, THEN suddenly, automatically, our civilization will make tremendous progress in the ethical, social, political, economic, media, and technological spheres! Right? With only repentance and dua, we will suddenly discover how to refine our own oil, we will suddenly discover how to design and build computers, we will suddenly discover how to launch satellites into orbit? Right?
And can someone please tell me if leadership does not make a difference, then did the entire ummah suddenly flip from being bad to very good and back again within a span of four years in the time of umar bin abdul aziz?
Anyone with a little common sense and knowledge of society and politics knows that society is influenced by both internal individual efforts as well as by public policy. Not all people can be encouraged to do good and refrain from evil by their own internal efforts. In fact , MOST people cannot. That is why we have capital punishkment. THat is why we have laws and legislation. If we all wait for *EVERYONE* in the ummah to become that ideal utopian Muslim then it is NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. Keep waiting for that utopia and keep on making dua.
Unforntunately, this is a new idea promoted by corrupt regimes in collusion with religious scholarship to discourage the masses from questioning and criticising the leaderhip and has no basis in either religion, logic, or history. If you don’t agree, just study the seerah of ibn taimiyah and salahuddin. Did they tell the people of those time to just sit in their houses and ‘repent’ for their sins and become students of knowledge? Or did they come up with concrete and realistic plans to address the challenges of their times?
As I said before, I will ignore attempts to make me feel guilty. I do not worship any scholar. Please present me with facts, not accusations and insinuations of being ‘disrespectful”.
Jazakallahu khair
IbnAbbas
December 31, 2008 at 10:44 AM
@salafFollower
I think you missed the whole point. you need to go back and re-read that post…. and subhaanallah, looking at your post it seems like you have underestimated the power of Du’a.
Look back into Islamic history and read the seerah of all prophets and see if the help actually came from Allah or the leaders of those societies. Do you think Muhammad sallallaho a’laihe wasallam – the best leader on the face of earth, became victorious on his own or through the help of Allah? Do you think Ibrahim a’laihe salaam called upon Allah or the leader to save himself from the fire? The point is that even if we have the most ideal leader in the history of Islam, the ultimate help lies with Allah and no one can avenge us except through the help of Allah – the lord of the worlds and the controller of all affairs.
Ordinary Joe/Mo
December 31, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Br. Ali S.,
I agree with your first and last point, Mashallah well said.
I do not agree completely with the second part though. In REALITY to expect 1.5 billion ordinary, Non-scholarly Muslims to behave at the level of scholarly Eeman is Impractical when they see and feel and are living practically daily in such injustice and oppression weather its through Israel, Western or the own Muslim Leadership. No doubt we should respect any human or Allah’s creation and MORE to those who possess “ILM” as Allah will RAISE the RANKS of those who has MORE ILM.
What normal Jo/Mo like me are requesting from esteemed SCHOLARS is Practical solutions within the boundaries of Shariah/Islam in dealing with such Genocide and at least I don’t see a Collective effort on practical solution from Most of the Living Ulamah. During the times of Prophet PBUH and Rightly guided Khulafah the Ummah were never left in limbo when the Calamities similar to such happened at that time. Yet I will only complain to my only Ulemah/Imam/Shaykh as much as I can and that is Allah (T) as I know and you all should He will never DISABANDON you and me. And let me tell you most of the Ummah feels the same way these days irrespective of weather someone agrees or disagrees. So I will do Sabr one day at a time.
Rifai
December 31, 2008 at 1:13 PM
“So, I’m wondering where all the outrage was when Hamas was attacking Israel.”
Hmm… less than 20 israeli civillians dead from rocket fire in 8 years due to palestinian rockets….
around 400 dead of which there are likely 150 + civilans due to israeli attacks in 4 – 5 DAYS…
This is not counting the many other palestinians who have died sporadically due to israeli “responses” in the meantime
U have the audacity and brazen faced hypocrisy to label the pin pricks of Hamas as an “attack” while possibly justifying the sledgehammer
israeli aggression as a “response”???
Maybe they would stop firing their relatively benign rockets if u stopped starving their entire civilian population ? Give that a thought maybe?
AbuUzma
December 31, 2008 at 1:24 PM
To attain the mercy and blessings of Allah, we muslims need to act, it’s a fools game that our enemies want us to be involved into arguing them and blasting them via internet/media, while they create one physical blast on our people (like in Palestine (multiple times), Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, India Gujrat, etc) and they head back to their drawing boards and plan again for their next attack.
Remember, in Quran Allah s.w.t says numerous times that “they plan, but Allah is a better planner”. We need Allah s.w.t to help us plan for this.
I believe we need to be smart and get to drawing boards, by establishing a true relationship with our force (Allah s.w.t), we do not need any weapons, we do not need any soldiers, we do not need any media, we do not need any words to fight, we ONLY NEED ALLAH (s.w.t), His Mercy, His Blessings, and His Force. InshaAllah, we will be victorious even without a fist fight, Ameen. Allah Akbar!
Dear brothers who are reading this comment, do not waste more time
– reading blogs and blogs to get the same message, that our brothers & sisters are being bombarded, killed, massacred, raped, etc
– writings blogs and comments, and arguing with kuffar who wants you to spend or waste time on computer
Instead, I encourage everyone who believes in Allah and Aakhiraa
– stop expecting any favors or true rights from disbelievers and their govt
– take your families together and spend time making dua for maghifara of those innocent who have died, shifaa of those who are injured, and for sabr of those who have lost everything.
– spend time in understanding the message of quran
– make dawaah, encourage your family, friends and community to build relationship with Allah
– spend time with your children and let them understand the situation, DO NOT PROTECT THEM FROM THIS AND PUT THEM IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER GAME OR CARTOON OR SOME STUPID GAME, let them too feel what you and I are feeling.
– get out of the computer space (virtual area) and support yourself by practicing true religion
salafFollower
December 31, 2008 at 1:34 PM
A pulverised Muslim leadership
Once again the tragic pulverization of the Muslim leadership has revealed itself in the mumblings and fumblings that have followed the launch of the new Israeli military campaign to annihilate the Palestinian people that dare to seek an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of their lands – or even those that simply dare to exist with a modicum of self-respecting defiance of Israeli fascism. Over 400 people killed so far by Israel’s military machine, so carefully aided and abetted by the US and its European allies. So where are the voices of the Muslim world? Where is some action to show that they will not allow Israel to commit genocide of the Palestinians? A few muted declaratory protests are all that have come so far. Is the Muslim World really so helpless in the face of Israeli abuse backed by the US?
No. The helplessness of the Muslim world is a myth. The reality is that the Muslim leadership – primarily Arab in the context of Palestine – has chosen to be pulverized into submission to the US and its more belligerent western allies…..
Taha A.
December 31, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Well if the arab league says that the palestinians brought this upon themselves, then how can We expect Israel to stop the killings. Egypt shut its borders and shot at the refugee’s fleeing and Saudi said its Palestinians fault for not being united. Shame on all these countries who call themselves muslims and dont stand up to the oppressors!!!
salafFollower
December 31, 2008 at 1:51 PM
AbuUzma said:
Mashallah! What a correct understanding of our deen! How different is this from the sufis who, when the Europians came to colonize them, said “this is the Will of Allah”! No need to do anything. Just do dhikr! Allahu Akbar! Subhanallah! No need to plan, to prepare, to use the asbaab. Just sit like sufis on your musalla’s, and weep and cry and think that this is the only way to strenghten your relationship with Allah. No need to master the modern sciences and technology. No need to work towards concrete goals and objectives. We are MUSLIMS. We rely on Allah to do all of these things for us while we SIT and do dhikr!
So, next time your child slips and cuts his head, and starts bleeding, no need to call 911 and take him to the hospital. After all, no calamity befalls you except that YOUR HANDS have earned it. It is all because of YOUR sins that your child got injured. Let him bleed to death. Head for the musalla and start saying istighfar. When Allah accpets your repentance and your relationship with Allah becomes strong, then your child will stop bleeding. We are muslims, we have true tuwakkal on Allah – so yes, no need for medicine, doctors, hospitalsetc. We don’t need these things, do we? We are MUSLIMS!!
THIS IS HOW THE SCHOLARS ARE BRAINWASHING OUR NEXT GENERATION. WAKE UP!! STOP BEING SUFIS IN SALAFI CLOTHING!! IN THIS WORLD YOU GET WHAT YOU WORK FOR!!
ADVANCING IN ECONOMICS AND TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY AND POLITICAL THOUGHT ARE ALL NOBLE GOALS AND IBADAH AND A WAY TO STRNGTHEN YOUR RLEATIONSHIP WITH ALLAH IF DONE FOR HIS SAKE!! WAKE UP!!
Amad
December 31, 2008 at 2:38 PM
subhanAllah, can we not make this a sufi/salafi/etc debate and not start arguing among ourselves? To be honest, while we rebuke and bemoan our leaders for not doing anything, I think even this little capsule of our own disagreements shows that it is not easy to agree and take action. We all have differences in opinions and thoughts and sometimes it is easy to point to others, but more difficult to look at our own selves. A few of us with little to lose or gain can’t agree, and sometimes can’t agree to disagree. Take this to a grander level, and you can see how complicated things can be, may Allah help us all because only He can reconcile our hearts.
Let’s focus on Gaza inshallah. That is where the crises is. Let’s not make our own internal crises of disagreements and rebukes.
imran
December 31, 2008 at 3:12 PM
To salafFollower
Just have a look at List of recognized polymaths….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath
You will find that from 8AD to late 16AD it was dominated my by Muslims. That’s why they were successful. From 17AD the tide turned and with it came the demise of Muslims, But a Maulvi/Imam will tell you the reason for this demise was that Muslims were far from their religion. As they say in Urdu, Maulvi ki dur majsid tak. (An Imam can race up to the masjid).
One lesson I take away from this list of people, is that if it was possible for these people to excel in more then one field and practice their deen (Ibn Khaldoun) then its possible in our time too.
Not just Deen and Not just Dunyia. But BOTH.
imran
December 31, 2008 at 4:12 PM
To salafFollower
Long live the Arab revolute against the Turks….. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7774888.stm
To use a Management term “we are where we are”, and must look forward. The point is what can we do at an individual level pray/dua and send charity.
salafFollower
December 31, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Br. Imran: you hit the nail on the head.
The point is that in the past our true scholars like ibn taymiyyah and others were masters of *all* the sciences – religious and “secular” – and were in touch with the social, economic, and political problems of the common muslims and provided concrete, tangible, practical solutions through example. Witness Ibn Taymiha going into the battle field headfirst and comign out of it last. Therefore, they did not have the need to justify their ineptitude and cowardice to the people under the cloak of “its all your fault you are not good muslims’. The truth is that the average common muslim today is no more ignorant/deviant than in those times. The difference is in the leadership.
Of course, we need to make dua
Of course, we need to correct our aqeedah and our worship
Of course, we need to increase in taqwah and good deeds
But civilizations are not built on individual piety alone. Unfortunately, the modern salafi movement, since it is financially supported by tyranical regimes, has as a pillar of its teachings that Muslims must not conern themselves with politics and must not think about organizing themselves politically – as this will present a direct threat to those regimes. All this, of course , is justified through religious verdicts because once you are inclined to a particular opinion you can easily find justification and interpretation for it from the texts – and of course an aura of humility and respect is forced upon the submissive disciples lest they question that interpretation. Otherwise, you are labeled a hypocrite, deviant, fitna monger etc. etc.
And whosoever thinks that such political movements can have no effect, then just look at the American civil rights movement. All it takes, though, are leaders who are willing to be beaten, imprsoned, bitten by dogs for their people. When the people see that their leaders are willign to sacrifice for THEM, that they actually *CARE* about them, that they actually want to remove *INJUSTICE* and *OPPRESSION* from them, they will rally behind such leaders. Do we have such leaders? No, we only have ‘shuyookh’ who huff and puff and blow a lot of gas but have not done anything practically. Of course, most of them came to the US seeking comforts, so why shoudl they sacrifice? And I DO find it amazing that our shyookh care so much of the people of USA that all of them flock here for ‘dawah’. Don’t the people of Africa, South America, and South Asia deserve to be ‘guided’? Why is every graduate from Madinah lined up to come to the USA for ‘dawah’?
I mention these things not out of disrepect, but so that the nubile devotees on this forum realize that our scholars are also *HUMAN* who have their desires and failings. They are not superhuman, they are not angels, and their every word and verdict is not required to be obeyed without questioning. Do NOT worship the scholars. Worship the LORD of those scholars.
If one of the major scholars to
Gazacaust
December 31, 2008 at 5:07 PM
DAILY DUA for protection from Calamities:
As Salaamu Aleykum:
Here is the Dua I remember, but I need help in transliteration and also English translation. From what I remember this Dua was from a hadith from Abu Darda RA who was told that his house was burning while in Makkah, by 3 different people and he said NO to each of them. The 4th person came and told his “O Abu Darda the fire was very intense in Makkah with high flames all houses were burnt except yours alone” so he Abu Darda RA replied I Know Allah SWT will not do that as I heard from Prophet SAS that who so ever recites this Dua in the morning then he will be protected till the evening from all calamities and I had made the Dua today.
Alla Humma Anta Rabbi Laa Illaha Illa Anta Aleyka Tawakkaltu Wa Anta Rabbul Aarshil Kareem Masha’Allahu Kaana Wa Ma lam Yashaalam Yakun Wala Hawla Wala Khuwata Illa Billahil Aleeyul Azeem.
Aalamu Annallaha Aala Kulli Shayin Khadeerun Wa Annal laaha Khad Ahata Bi Kulli Shayin Ilm.
Allahuma Inni Aauthubika min Sharri Nafsi wa min Sharri Kulli Thaabati anta Aakhethu bi Naasiyatiha Inna Rabbi Aala Siraatin Mustaqeem.
If anyone can help correct the above its appreciated. PASS THIS TO ALL IN GAZA AND ELSE WERE
As-salaam alaikum Dear Gazacaust
Jazak Allahu khayr for your posts and your efforts to educate the community about methods of relief from this great tragedy, may Allah strengthen our people there in Gaza and everywhere that Muslims are subjected to oppression and persecution. The hadith that you have presented is weak though. I had considered to remove the words but thought it may be better to leave them so that if anyone was using it that they might then also come to know that it is not authentically related from the Prophet (saas). There is a similar du’a though that is very authentically narrated and it comes from Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan’s son Aabaan (ra):
The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: “If a person says, every day in the morning and every night in the evening,
‘Bismillaah al-lathi laa yadurru ma’a ismihi shay’un fi’l-ardi wa laa fi’l-samaa’ wa Huwa al-Samee’u al-‘Aleem
(In the name of Allah with Whose name nothing can cause harm on earth or in heaven, and He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing)’,
three times, nothing will harm him.”
I will post some other du’as particular to this trial separately as well insha’Allah.
Wa jazak Allahu khayr once again.
Faiez
December 31, 2008 at 5:28 PM
For those in Chicago:
What: An Emergency Rally & March Calling for the End of Israel’s Brutal Aggression in Gaza
When: Friday, January 2, 2009 @ 3:00 PM Sharp
Where: Begin at Tribune Plaza, 435 N. Michigan Avenue & then march to the
Israeli Consulate
Why: To stop the murder of innocent Palestinians in Gaza!
To demand a balanced American foreign policy towards the Israel-Palestine Conflict!
To end the Israeli occupation of Palestine!
Ali Shehata
December 31, 2008 at 6:03 PM
As-salaam alaikum
When studying the humiliating history of the Arab nations over the past fifty years it is clear that they – in general – have tried everything to become victorious except for taqwa. Iraq was one of the leaders in technology, medicine and industry before the 1990’s; Egypt continues to produces scientific scholars in technology, medicine and industry who become leaders in their respective fields where ever they go and it is the same story in several other Muslim countries from Indonesia to Morocco. Yet it was their blind devotion to nationalism that led to their whipping in the six day war; a war that has become known as one of the greatest military achievements in modern warfare. They were humiliated not because they didn’t have enough dunya smarts, but because they abandoned their deen.
It is well known though that true tawakkul or trust in Allah involves effort. A Muslim must strive to the best of their ability to advance, but should not rely on this advancement as being his source of success – rather it is Allah who is the source of all success. The reality is that several of the Muslim nations have made great strides in a dunya sense and yet they are as backward today as the Europeans were in the Middle Ages.
Is it expected that all Muslims will become beacons of light, saints in their own right? Did that ever happen? No, it did not. But to say that “The truth is that the average common muslim today is no more ignorant/deviant than in those times” is to accuse Allah of injustice because He never changes the good condition of a people until they change what is in their hearts. If the Muslims before were in a state of security and authority and then lost it, then it means that THEY also changed. Allah will not change our condition – good or bad – until we change ourselves. So a nation of saints is not the goal but a nation that has certain minimum levels of taqwa, tawheed and tawakkul is something very achievable and will be very helpful in changing our condition.
As regards the issue of leadership – why do we have such evil leaders? And what are the means of changing these evil leaders into good ones? People can debate all day and night (and they do this quite frequently about this issue) but the answer is found in the Sunnah:
So does anyone expect average Joe Muslim to pray 300 rakaat daily, or recite the Quran cover to cover every three days, or to memorize the most commonly studied six books of Hadith or to …? No, but shouldn’t we expect Muslims to behave with a minimum level of honor and honesty, to conduct their transactions without cheating and stealing, to make their minimum obligatory deeds? The difference dear brothers and sisters between our generation today and those even five hundred years ago is in these “little” details. The reason that Indonesia and Malaysia are Muslim nations today was not because “students of knowledge” descended upon them and taught them the deen, but because they encountered regular Muslims who were honest, true to their words and oaths, kind and trustworthy. If we – as a whole – demonstrated these qualities today then dawaah would be a lot easier.
The fact of the matter is that our leadership is a reflection of us – we oppress one another and so our leaders oppress us, we insult and disrespect one another and so our leaders disrespect and insult us, we cheat one another and take advantage of one another and so our leaders do the same by stealing the wealth of the ummah and using their positions to amass wealth and luxuries. We don’t care so much about anyone but ourselves and our leaders reflect this. If you can’t see this then you haven’t spent enough time with the Muslim masses. Indeed it was none other than Ibn Taiymiyyah who said,
I strongly urge those who are swayed by the other comments which attack and disparage the scholars of this ummah to be cautious as this has always been one of the doorways to extremism and extremist action. This is not the first era that this has happened and everytime someone has walked that road it has ended in destruction. No one is calling for blind following of anyone and certainly not for worshipping any human being – there is a big difference between respecting someone’s knowledge and wisdom and worshipping them. I believe it was Anas ibn Maalik (ra) who said that, “You will not be reformed except by that which reformed the early generations” (aw kama qaal) – they were reformed by patience and discipline and they recognized that it took a long time to become corrupt and it will also take some time to get out of that hole we collectively dug for ourselves. There is unfortunately no easy or quick solution to this problem. The sooner we understand this and begin making the necessary changes with Allah’s help, the sooner we will start to see the light. I just hope that we can do it before another atrocity of this nature (Gaza) happens again while we sit back and debate.
salafFollower
December 31, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Jazakallah khair for the eloquent advice. I appreciate and respect your point of view.
What are those necessary changes? Please could you enumerate them for me?
Imran
December 31, 2008 at 6:30 PM
As Salam O Alaikum
I am sad to see all this and the most abashment is to see the no prompt and powerful response from the leaders of all Muslim Countries. I think if our leaders call total boycott of Israel’s friend countries like America, then situation will be change. America is their stepping stone, whatever Israel is doing it’s all under the courage of America. Today I heard that America used its Veto power in Security Council and supported Israel for these attacks.
Though they don’t believe in the Day of Judgment but remember we do. I pray for all those who passed away in these attacks and condolence with all who are wounded, especially for those families who are lost their ones.
Ali Shehata
December 31, 2008 at 6:36 PM
As-salaam alaikum Dear SalaFollower
Wa iyaak and alhamdulillah that you have taken my simple statements in the manner that I had intended as I sincerely intended them in the light of brotherly cooperation and not in a way of attack or rebuke. I am unfortunately a simple person who could only be called a student of knowledge by someone very generous. I don’t have all of the answers and I wish that I did. What I do hope that I understand, I have put into a post entitled: Confronting the Trials of this Era – Between Extremism and Passivism that insha’Allah should be posted today. I hope that it will provide some elementary framework for all of us to move forward as brothers and sisters towards a brighter future insha’Allah. I hope that some of the shuyookh on this website will also add to the concepts presented in that post to help us formulate further practical solutions insha’Allah. Wa jazak Allahu khayr once again my dear brother for taking the time to try to understand the other viewpoints as this is a glad tiding of your sincerity and true desire to see Muslims in a better condition. Barak Allahu feek ….
Ali Shehata
December 31, 2008 at 6:57 PM
As-salaam alaikum
Some people have been asking what du’as and athkaar can be said in times of great tribulation like this. Insha’Allah what follows is a collection of authentic du’as and athkaar for these difficult times:
1. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: “My Lord came to me tonight in the most beautiful form…” and in this hadith he said that Allah said, “O Muhammad, when you pray, then say:
‘Allaahumma inni as’aluka fi’lal khayraat wa tark al-munkaraat, wa hubb al-masaakeen, wa an taghfira lee wa tarhamanee wa tatooba ‘alayya. Wa in aradta bi ‘ibaadika fitnatan, faqbidni ilayka ghayra maftoon (O Allah, I ask You (to enable me) to do good deeds and avoid evil deeds, and to love the poor, and (I ask You) to forgive me, have mercy on me and accept my repentance. If You decree that some trial should befall Your slaves, then take me to You [i.e., cause me to die] without having me be subjected to that trial).” (Tirmithi – hasan)
2. Abu Burdah ibn ‘Abd-Allah narrated from his father that when the Prophet (saas) was afraid of some people he would say,
“Allaahumma inna naj’aluka fi nuhoorihim wa na’oodhu bika min shuroorihim (O Allah, we place You before them and we seek refuge in You from their evil).” (Abu Dawud – Sahih)
3. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saas) used to say the following words of relief at times of distress:
“Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah al-‘Adheem al-Haleem, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb al-‘Arsh al-‘adheem, la ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb ul-samawaati wa Rabb ul-ard wa Rabb ul-‘Arsh il-kareem (There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, the All-Powerful, the Forbearing; There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the mighty Throne; There is nothing worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, and Lord of the noble Throne).” (Bukhari and Muslim)
4. The Prophet (saas) said: “Shall I not tell you of something that, if any worldly calamity or disaster befalls any man among you and he says these words, he will be relieved of it. (It is) the du’a’ of Dhu’-Noon (the Prophet Yunus – as): “Laa ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka inni kuntu min al-dhaalimeen (none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers).” According to another report: “No Muslim man says this du’a’ concerning anything but Allah will answer his prayer.” (Sahih al-Jaami’)
5. The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: to Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays, “Shall I not teach you some words which you can say at times of distress and hardship?
‘Allaahu rabbee laa ushriku bihi shay’an (Allah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him).’” (Sahih – Abu Dawood)
According to a version narrated in al-Sahih al-Jaami’, “Whoever is afflicted by worry, distress, sickness or hardship, and says, Allaahu rabbee laa shareeka lah (Allah is my Lord, He has no partner or associate), will be relieved of that.”
As a side note, a review of the various authentic supplications in this matter show that the statement of tawheed is common to many of them and indicates that when we fall into aspects of shirk in our life that this negatively impacts upon our affairs. Could it be that the degree of shirk in our ummah today is a major factor in their inability to throw off the yokes of oppression and humiliation? This has been a repeated effort by many of the ulamaa for the past 20 years with great success where it has been implemented – and Allah knows best.
[For those that cannot read the Arabic text, you can copy it from the browser and paste it into MS Word or Open Office and enlarge it so that you can read it – and even print it and keep it with you until you can memorize them.]
abdul-alim
December 31, 2008 at 11:29 PM
This is from MANA:
MANA Calls for an End to the Israeli Attacks in Gaza
-Edited. Br.Abdul-Alim, inshallah, I plan to put a post together with MANA’s alert and other ways to help, incl writing to elected reps.and media inshallah. -Amad
abdul-alim
December 31, 2008 at 11:40 PM
As Salaam Alaykum,
To contact your US Representative : https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
To contact your Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Was Salaam
abdul-alim
December 31, 2008 at 11:58 PM
As Salaam Alaykum,
Donate generously to support the residents of Gaza at:
Islamic Relief USA: http://www.irw.org/campaigns/palestinecrisis08
KinderUSA: http://www.kinderusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=2
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund: http://www.pcrf.net/can/can2.html
American Near East Refugee Aid:
https://secure2.convio.net/anera/site/Donation2?df_id=1280&1280.donation=form1
Was Salaam
Abdul Wahab
January 1, 2009 at 3:49 AM
Its such a shame to see our brothers and sisters being treated that way. And the most disapoinment is that no other Muslim government care to help support them in their battle. Everybody just talks and pity about it. I pray that West Asia will unite and does their role as Muslims. Ya Allah, please open the hearts of Muslim leaders, please help unite us all, give all of us the bravery to protect our brothers & sisters. Amin.
abdul-alim
January 1, 2009 at 3:50 AM
As Salaam Alaykum,
By the way Dr. Ali Shiehata, I enjoyed your book “The Trade which shall never fail”.
Was Salaam,
shaam
January 1, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Peace for all,
as salaamualikum
I am enjoying the debates between the scholars and students. It is important to remember that we do need to respect their opinions and try to get benefits when they reach us with Quran and Sunnah.
Salaflower, I really get your point but at the same time I feel that you are not listening to your own words. Scholars are “human” too. Let Allah judge them, as their judgment will be in a higher scale than ordinary “us.” As for us, average Muslims, full of errors; LET US unite against our enemies!! With our hand up high, let us ask Allah for Mercy on US.
Let us do some action: Demand our Leader to come forward and end all ties with Israel!!! They must Boycott ISRAEL now. Each one of us must get out and demand our leader first. Instead of protesting in front of Israel embassy, why not go to our leader’s home?? Why not stand in front of our Parliament, House of Congress, City Hall or whatever is our center for politics?????
For those who are in foreign land, why not call our leaders back home? E-mail congressman, MPs, so on….
For those who are businessman: Stop all association with Israel products!…. stop selling them, stop buying from those who sell or support Israel products. Just BOYCOTT!!!!
Those who are rich, start giving money to trustful Organizations.
Those who have non Muslims neighbors, let’s go out to them and let them know what’s happening and tell them your opinions about the situation. Ask them for help, in any way they can, even if they can just boycott one company that supports Israel, like STARBUCKS!!!
These ideas have already floated here and there…. I am just repeating for my own listening. I am an average Muslimah and I need to do what I can for my brothers and sisters not just in GAZA but whereever they may be oppressed.
Please forgive my mistakes.
Ma Salaama
Fatimah
January 1, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Taken from a Thread posted by a member of Sunniforum.
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41581&page=6
-Edited. Pls only add excerpts. jazakillahkhair.
Amad
January 1, 2009 at 3:09 PM
This is old but still great to listen to– George Galloway giving a SKY journalist a beating on Israel’s Lebanon invasion:
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/video/video.php?v=506960410273&oid=18570844983
Amad
January 1, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Is there anything more pathetic and sad than to see Abu Dhabi letting the “Shakira show” go on? New Year’s party, while our brothers and sisters are murdered not far away in Gaza?
Very disappointing for Abu Dhabi, esp. when the more flamboyant sister city, Dubai, canceled all parties.
AT LEAST show some shame Muslim leaders… have some heart!
Abu Abdurrahman
January 1, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Bismillahir rahmanir raheem..
Re: “SalafFolower”
Would you, or I, really even be aware had they made certain such efforts? If not, it is better to stay silent than to speak of them when they aren’t there to explain their position – as their flesh is poisonous.
Re: demo’s in their countries; if you ask them they will explain to you, as they did to many of us why it may not beapporpriate in their lands islamically speaking. The ruling for peaceful demonstraions may differ in western lands, as it does come under the heading of denouncing evil to the bets of one’s ability – without implying a reviolt (khurooj) en mass. ALlah knows best.
And really, at the very least, and this is no small matter – even if it doesn’t do anything other than to serve to continue to expose to the populace of our countries in the West, the hypocrisy of much of the so-called democratic mantra that we are all continously fed – and reminding them of the need of exerting greater pressure on MPs, then in that is khair. Wa billahi tawfeeq.
Please also see:
http://saaid.net/mktarat/flasteen/178.htm – – Please do scroll down to the bottom to preview the names of the signatories, if you aren’t yet conversaant in the Language of Quran
http://saaid.net/mktarat/flasteen/187.htm – The Standing Committee for Verdicts and Research in KSA
http://saaid.net/mktarat/flasteen/182.htm – Shaykh b. Jibreen (hafidhahullah)
http://www.islamway.com/?iw_s=Article&iw_a=view&article_id=4895 – Muhammad b. Mukhtar Shanqeety
Unfortunately/fortunately I don’t have time to discuss this further for the time being.
May Allah relieve our brothers and sisters from their suffering, and avenge their losses – indeed He is able over all affairs. May Allah send salawat on our Imam Muhammad, his family and Companions.
And Allah azza wa jall knows best
imran
January 1, 2009 at 9:50 PM
-Edited. Pls only post excerpts. jazakallahkhair.
muslimah
January 2, 2009 at 3:24 AM
@ amad : and they are SO proud they canceled the new year parties. first they shouldt be celebrating it anyway. all that goes on is dance and drinking. shame on them. verily, the time has come where rasulAllah said muslims will be more in number but they’ll be lost to dunya and fear fighting in the way of Allah.
A very heartbreaking story. :( I am awed at their strength. may Allah curse their oppressors in the here and hereafter, Ameen!
http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Middle_East/10271793.html
Qas
January 2, 2009 at 4:32 AM
Don’t know if anyone posted this story. Brief summary, Israel raid broke the ceasefire in the first place:
Click for article here
Abu Sabaya
January 3, 2009 at 1:38 AM
What Our Sisters Can Do for Palestine: http://iskandrani.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/what-our-sisters-can-do-for-palestine/
(by Shaykh Safar al-Hawali)
om ayham
January 3, 2009 at 11:26 AM
i’am realy sad for the people of GAZA and all what can i say is that we must ask ALLAH for them و ذلك أضعف الإيمان
Ahmed Syed
January 6, 2009 at 4:38 AM
I saw Condi rice come on tv and say that Hamas took Palestine in an ‘Alleged coup’. And the legitimate government is of Mahmoud Abbas. Their lies are disgusting, I don’t know how they lie so easily and get away with it while the whole world is watching.
May ALLAH s.w.t help us and have mercy on the oppressed people..Ameen
AbdalAziz
January 7, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Asalamualikum,
After all of this destruction and chaos, Israel continues and shows no signs of stopping its offensive. We have noticed that the current stance of the US is in complete support with the Israelis, and of course the Bush administration has placed all of the blame on Hamas with no recognition of the disproportionate attacks of Israel. With hundreds of Palestinians murdered from the start of their massacre campaign thousands injured and only 5 Israelis have died! For a country such as Israel that has claimed to cling to diplomatic measures to reach peace its manifest that such claims have no weight in light of what they have done. We have also seen that the Mumbai attacks have caused an increase of friction between Pakistan and India, which have a known history of military confrontations. Upon cessation of the Mumbai attacks President Elect-Obama clearly stated his stance on the Mumbai attacks, stating that they were deplorable and were acts of terrors against the innocent.
This now brings us to the issue of Obama and the situation at Gaza as well as the entire region. Many Muslims have said that they regret voting for Obama since he has not made any statements, so does Obama’s current position show his future stance on Gaza and on the Middle-East Foreign Policy? We have to keep in mind that Obama without hesitation made his statement against the Mumbai attacks!
Muhammad Ameen
January 7, 2009 at 12:22 AM
On the long term, we have to topple all the arab regimes first and replace them with real governments of people which relfect the general arab public opinion and then make palestine free.
Saleh 'Abd Allaah
January 7, 2009 at 4:27 AM
A Proclamation to the People Over the Events in Palestine
By: A group of Scholars and callers in Egypt
1/4/2009
All praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the Worlds. There is no deity worthy of worship but Him, the All-Powerful, the Able, the All-Mighty, the Triumphant, the One, the Subduer. Nothing escapes him on the Earth or in the heavens. And may the Blessings and Peace [of Allāh] be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the slave of Allāh and His Messenger, the Imām of the Mujāhidīn and the commander of the conquerors.
Indeed the events occurring now on one of the lands of Islām and the Muslims, in the land of Ghazzah (Gaza) in Palestine the Resistant, from unconcealed transgression and massacres, are spurned by all values and morals, and are rejected by all humanity. [These events] forced those of us who have signed this proclamation – a group of the scholars and callers of our beloved Egypt – to clarify our opinion so as to have an excuse in front of Allāh ‘Azza Wa Jall, and in clarification to the people.
Firstly: Indeed the blessed land of Palestine, which Allāh has blessed in His Book, is an Islāmic land in every sense of the word. Within it was the first of the two Qiblahs, and in it is the second of the two Masjids and the third of the holy sanctuaries, and it was the place of our Messenger’s, صلى الله عليه و سلم, ascension. Therefore, it is not permissible for anyone, whoever he may be, to give up this land, or even a part of it, to the non-Muslims.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ
Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allāh) [above all that (evil) they associate with Him] Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Harām (at Makkah) to Al-Masjid-al-Aqsā (in Jerusalem), the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad) of Our Ayāt Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer [Al-Isrā’; 1]
Secondly: The global zionist movement manifested in the state of Israel, they are the people strongest in enmity towards the believers throughout their history. Their enmity to Allāh and His Prophets and Messengers is overflowing, and they are behind every evil, and behind every corruption. They nullified the covenants and they made the prohibited permissible, and betrayed and made an example of everyone who dealt with them and came close to them. And they usurped the land of Palestine at the expense of its humble people and Muslim inhabitants, with continuous oppressive, transgressive support from the west.
لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ
Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who are Al-Mushrikūn [Al-Mā’idah; 82]
And these Israeli zionists are an occupying gang who usurped the land of Palestine, but the rights must be returned to its people no matter the length of the time that has passed, and we will not be pleased with and we will not accept this tyrannical occupation of this Holy Land by this gang of zionists.
Third: Al-Jihād in the Path of Allāh and armed resistance is the strategic option for the return of the usurped land and the plundered rights. The zionists do not know the language of dialogue and do not understand the meaning of peace. Their Manhaj (methodology) is that of killing and causing corruption upon the earth. Therefore, we believe and we are certain that the only language they understand is the language of Jihād, by all of its ways. And Jihād should not be stopped except after the expulsion of the last Zionist from the land of Palestine.
وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدْوَّ اللّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ
And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten the enemy of Allāh and your enemy [Al-Anfāl; 60]
Fourthly: Those who took the path of Jihād and resistance as their path, and carried their souls upon their palms and put forth their martyrs and their wealth and sacrificed what is expensive and dear to them as a price in order to free this land, despite the military apparatus that is possessed by the enemy and despite their criminal offensive power that makes its blind hatred towards everything that is Muslim known, these people are from the Victorious Party by the Permission of Allāh, and they are worthy of support and assistance and aid.
Fifthly: And here we remind and we assert that the role of the masses is in aiding this cause, and their Shar’ī obligation that our Religion has mandated for us is Jihād in the Path of Allāh in every sense of the word, and offering financial aid and boycotting Israel in every possible way, economically, politically, culturally on an equal level, as well as boycotting those who prop up Israel in the East or the West, and rejecting normalization [of relations] in every way. And we assert the prohibition of interacting with the zionist entities and those who prop them up in any of the ways of interaction and normalization.
And it is obligatory for us to stand under His Ta’ālā’s Statement,
وَلاَ تَهِنُوا وَلاَ تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ * إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُ وَتِلْكَ الأيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاء وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ
So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allāh may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allāh likes not the Thālimūn (wrong-doers) [Āl-’Imrān; 139-140]
And it is upon the entire Ummah to unify and gather like the heart of one man, everyone undertaking what is obligatory upon him, and leaving all forms of hated difference which hinders Jihād in the Path of Allāh.
وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّهِ جَمِيعاً وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَتَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاء فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً
And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allāh (i.e. this Qur’ān), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allāh’s Favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren [Āl-’Imrān; 103]
This is a proclamation to the people, and it is upon everyone to shoulder the responsibility. And as for the honored Mujāhidīn in Palestine’s Ghazzah, and in any area of the usurped Muslim lands, then we say to them, indeed you have paid your blood as a tax of faith and honor and nobility, so be steadfast and persevere and have patience, and Allāh is with you and will not make your actions in vain.
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَاناً وَقَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا اللّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Those (i.e. believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, “Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them.” But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: “Allāh (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us) [Āl-’Imrān; 173]
The signatories:
1 – Dr. Nasr Farīd Wāsil
2 – Dr. Zaghlūl An-Najjār
3 – Dr. ‘Abdus-Sattār Fat’h-Allāh Sa’īd
4 – Dr. Muhammad ‘Umārah
5 – Dr. Muhammad ‘Abdul-Mun’im Al-Barrī
6 – Dr. Abdul-Fattāh Ash-Shaykh
7 – Dr. Safwat Hijāzī
8 – Shaykh Jamāl Qutb
9 – Shaykh Ahmad Al-Mihlāwī
10 – Dr. Abdul-Halīm ‘Uways
11 – Dr. Muhammad Ra’fat ‘Uthmān
12 – Dr. ‘Abdullāh Barakāt
13 – Dr. ‘Abdullāh Samak
14 – Shaykh Abū Ishāq Al-Huwaynī
15 – Shaykh Hāzim Salāh Abū Ismā’īl
16 – Shaykh Muhammad Jibrīl
17 – Dr. Salāh Sultān
18 – Shaykh Ahmad Halīl
19 – Dr. Muhammad As-Saghīr
20 – Shaykh Sālim Abūl-Futūh
21 – Dr. Ahmad Al-’Assāl
22 – Dr. Hāzim As-Sarsāwī
23 – Dr. ‘Abdur-Rahmān Fawdah
24 – Shaykh Muhammad Mustafā
25 – Dr. Husayn Shajā’ah
26 – Dr. Sālih Hārūn
27 – Shaykh Salāmah ‘Abdul-Qawī
28 – Dr. Jamāl ‘Abdul-Hādī
29 – Dr. Hasan ‘Abdū
30 – Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abdul-Fattāh
31 – Dr. Ahmad Abū Khadījah
32 – Dr. ‘Alā’ As-Sayyid ‘Abdur-Rahīm
33 – Dr. ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdil-’Azīz
34 – Shaykh Rajab Zakī
35 – Dr. Māzin As-Sarsāwī
36 – Shaykh Ahmad Sabrī
37 – Shaykh Ahmad Al-Juhaynī
38 – Shaykh Mathhar Amīn
39 – Shaykh ‘Alī Abul-Hasan
40 – Shaykh Mustafā Al-Azharī
-Edited. The proclamation speaks for itself.
David
January 7, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Your website’s position in this matter is crooked. Let me examine one “talking point” that stood out to me:
8. “Only 16 civilians have died due to the small unsophisticated rockets in all these years.”
So you mean to say that while militants in Gaza launch hundreds of rockets into Israel indiscriminately, this can be excused because they are unsophisticated? It is excusable because Israel has a more sophisticated warning system so that Israelis in Sderot have a 15 second warning to run for cover before a rocket strikes? You also mean to imply that Israel’s use of force is disproportionate? So should Israel instead indiscriminately launch rockets, 1 for 1, into Gaza?
So many “Pro-Palestine” people think that the whole solution to the problem is that Israel should drop all “hostile” actions against Gaza. That reminds me of something I read somewhere: If Israel were to drop its weapons, it would be destroyed; yet if Hamas laid down its weapons, there would be peace. Every time Israel has allowed for more freedom in Gaza, it has been confronted with attacks. Likewise, when it takes protective measures that restrict freedom in Gaza, as with the wall, checkpoints, and a tight border, attacks go down. The reason for this is disturbing, but it is not in Israel.
If you think Israel is purposefully attacking citizens of Gaza, then tell me how so few are being killed when Israel is so powerful and sophisticated? The answer is that if Israel were perfect, no innocent civilian in Gaza would be killed. The reason so many civilians are killed is that Hamas uses them as guard, knowing that they will either be spared or that the death of the civilians will help their cause.
Now don’t get me wrong: I commend your efforts to aid the citizens of Gaza as they are in a very difficult situation. But the solution to their plight is not to push Israel diplomatically into a withdrawal with no focus on the real issue. If Palestine wants a long-term peace, they should follow Israel’s example: In the beginning of the country’s history, there were Israeli terrorist groups who attacked the British and Arabs under their own doctrine. When the Israeli government was formed, one of the first things it did was to forcefully disband these groups. If a government is to be legitimate, POLITICAL PARTIES CANNOT HAVE THEIR OWN ARMIES!
I wish the managers of this site and its members the best of luck in aiding Gaza civilians. And I wish for lasting peace, not just for Israel but for Palestine as well.
Here’s an interesting link to a Frontline episode about how Israel is trying to handle its current breed of terrorists, the settlers:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/israel/view/
abu Rumay-s.a.
January 7, 2009 at 8:46 AM
@ David:
Let me ask you several questions.
1. You mentioned that Israel has a sophisticated warning system and that is most likely apparent as they have some of the most advanced weapons on earth. My question is that with this sophistication, it cannot defend itself with “anti-Rocket” defense? They have illegal nuclear weapons and they cannot defend against home made rockets through anti rocket defense?
2. Regarding use of disproportionality, If someone threw rocks through your home windows (which could cause a casualty), what would be the first thing you would do? Maybe call the police, move from the place where the rocks are being thrown and go to the authorities to report the case. Or would you take out your sophisticated arsenal of weaponry and indiscreminantly start shooting and killing at the rock thrower, at his house, at his family and then try to make a claim that you are defending yourself and you also claim that you are sorry for killing his family and children, but you were really targetting the rock thrower?
3. Democracy, rule of law, international law, human rights do not allow reciprocity of more than an eye for an eye, do you believe that Isreal is justified and exempt from this rule?
4. If you were a Palistinian who had your land and home stripped from you, then you were confined to a small piece of land stripped of its resources, then you were boycotted and deprived of all the essential needs of a human being, then you were attacked, your children were killed before own eyes by bombs that are internationaly outlawed (uranium depleted, white phosphorus), then I wonder if you would see the situation in the same light? I think every person trying to understand this conflict should consider this and put themselves in the situation to only get a slight glimpse of what these poor victims of a holocaust are going through (and i would say the same for the innocent jewish victims of their own holocaust in germany)
5. I don’t think any country on earth would want to follow the example of Israel..you think that 600 people being killed are so few? The loss of one innocent life is more sacred than the holiest of sanctities, when we become blinded by our aggression, tyranny, we lose sight for value of human life…
I commend your wish for lasting peace as i believe that is what all people of conscience strive for, but as an advice, i remind you that justice is a precondition to peace, so we have to focus and join our efforts on justice in order to arrive at peace..
MM Associates
January 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
innalhamdolillah. bismillah. [a reminder that this reply is only from abu abdAllah, unless anyone explicitly endorses it]
simple, because you deny that the body count is mostly civilians. Israel defies international law by counting policemen as combatants. it counts every man killed as an enemy — just as Pharoah counted every male as his enemy. and i am not alone in disputing Israel’s claims.
here is what you would call the “accidental” killing of civilians: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/world/middleeast/06scene.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
these people have nowhere to run to, no safe haven — because Israel walls them in (and if they left would deny them return), makes it too unsafe even for rescue. Israel created every condition necessary for these civilians to die. sure, the Israeli military exonerates itself with meaningless warnings to civilians who have no means to escape death — but Israel does not thus escape the blame for what amounts to purposeful murder.
ultimately what makes me hate the leaders of Israel is that they (and apparently the Israeli electorate to which they pander) value non-Jewish life less than the dust of Gaza. would Israel send Jewish soldiers to defend Israeli Arabs? would Israel mount such a murderous operation to avenge even one Israeli Arab? to avenge any of the Arabs within the lands they occupy? no. even when Jewish settlers attack Israeli troops, the troops exercise true restraint. because those are the only lives they care about.
really? then start writing to every elected official you know and protest the prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation — the entire basis of the conviction of that charity was that the money they sent to Palestine assisted hospitals and providers of charity which had links to Hamas. not that even one dollar of charity money was spent on a weapon. not that one dollar of charity aid was used to kill or even slightly scratch one Jew anywhere. these were men and millions of dollars that were devoted to charity.
if you think it is even remotely honest of you to condemn HLF, you cannot in truth deny this: demand that the millions of dollars in money seized from HLF — money contributed by people whose only donor-intent was to help hospitals and needy people in Palestine — that every cent be given immediately to the Muslim-run charities that MM has indicated are giving relief to the people of Gaza.
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David
January 10, 2009 at 9:48 PM
I took the time to write out a lengthy response and then I clicked a link and it was deleted. I’ll just have to say that I red Rumay and MMA’s responses to my post, thought about it, and easily decided that your data or your logic are wrong. I’ll re-write at least my favorite part of the response:
Rumay wrote: “3. Democracy, rule of law, international law, human rights do not allow reciprocity of more than an eye for an eye, do you believe that Isreal is justified and exempt from this rule?”
To which I say, where did you read this? I think you are completely wrong. Most of the time you can’t even quantify what damage has been done, so how would you even judge what an eye for an eye even means? So yes, I believe Israel and the rest of the world is exempt from this silly rule.
But the real reason I came back to this site (I’ll be honest in saying that I will probably never be back) is to promote a Youtube channel managed by the IDF. Consider it an excellent primary source for information peppered with propaganda. Check out the terrorists launching rockets from a school! Check out how the Mosque explodes not just once, from the Israeli missile, but many time as the weapons stored inside ignite! Then you can maybe reconsider whose hands are stained with civilian blood.
Amad
January 11, 2009 at 12:04 AM
I think the key operative phrase here is : peppered with propaganda. Though you are too generous. It should be more like a channel DESIGNED with propaganda (in mind).
I mean, would you trust a Hamas site for information? Would any objective party accept that? I don’t think so. So, how the media or any reasonable person could even consider this as being a point of information is beyond me. Instead, it is good for understanding how good propaganda should be designed.
Like the propaganda that Hamas is using civilians as shields (only stated by Israel officials, hardly any neutral source has stated this), except that there is one consistent problem. If you kill the shields, you expect to kill the Hamas dudes too. But there are hardly any militants among those killed, according to neutral sources on the ground! This is called being caught red-handed!
Israel is committing a massacre that is becoming of a genocide. And history will not treat Israel kindly for it, and the amount of hatred, and violence that this will generate towards Israel is far more than it could ever imagine. Even those who were willing to see an Israel side by side a Palestinian state are rethinking their position. Because how could one live next to a terrorist state… and even though America calls Hamas a terrorist organization, I think Hamas is more like a baby-terrorist relative to the mother of all terrorists– the usurper of land and human lives, the Terrorist State of Israel. I will hereafter refer to Israel as TSI, and ask everyone to start using this acronym too!
TruthAlways10
January 14, 2009 at 6:26 AM
Watch this video
Israeli war criminals in Gaza using white phosphorus-Boycott Israel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of7DL115ES8
nania
January 22, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Israel attacked us on 9-11 so we would fight all over the Middle East on their behalf.
Dual citizen Israeli / Americans in our Government are more loyal to Israel than to AMERICA.
GOOGLE : TED OLSEN CALL LIE
GOOGLE : ODIGO WARNING
GOOGLE : UNUSUAL EVACUATIONS
GOOGLE : SILVERSTEIN PULL IT
GOOGLE : DANCING MOSSAD
GOOGLE : MEXICO MOSSAD
GOOGLE : BIN LADEN DENIED 9-11
GOOGLE : ADAM PEARLMAN ADL
GOOGLE : CHENEY JONESREPORT
GOOGLE : NEUTREI KARTA
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hotmail login blocked
January 27, 2013 at 11:22 PM
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming
having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% certain. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers