So I've been reading the Quran and I have a lot to say especially because I grew up as an Evangelical Christian
now did I expect for me to read the Quran and it resonate
with my core beliefs and values I already have?
I didn't know any of this stuff like, the propaganda runs deep
but I don't think I've ever understood anything as much as I've understood the Quran
I'm no longer a Christian reading Quran,
I am now a Muslim reading Quran alhamdulillah I am Muslim today
so I'm taking my shahada today
Assalamu Alaykum Shaykha Umm Jamal, it's such a pleasure to have you with us in the studio
and today we are going to be addressing the situation in Gaza. It's been almost 40 days since the war in Gaza and the
state of the Muslims undoubtedly is a state of heartbreak but what is our perspective towards
this situation? Is it a matter of viewing it as a trial?
look definitely what we've been going through
is absolutely one of the most painful and difficult times in our modern history I can
say from what we're witnessing, and what I'm finding is so many people are struggling
with what they're seeing. They're struggling to make sense of what's happening and so one of
the things that's really become apparent for me to a level I've never realized, is the importance
of having that very strong Islamic foundation and having a strong understanding of your Aqidah
as a Muslim, your Islamic belief. And that's the difference between a lot of us in the west where
we've actually become very distant from the roots of our Deen, and our brothers and sisters In Gaza who've got
that foundation and that's what's making them so resilient and people are just shocked with their
level of resilience but where is it coming from? it's coming from the strength of their Iman their
connection to Allah which a lot of us have lost so yes this is a massive trial but we also have
to understand that even though this is extremely traumatic and tragic ultimately this is all still
happening and it's part of the wisdom of Allah subhanahu wa tala in why Allah has allowed for this to
occur now one of the things we can see that's happening to a lot of people is the Awakening
of the hearts of the ummah look at most of us in the west we've become so detached from our
religion we've grown so far away from Allah Subhanahu Wa tala and this is actually Awakening the
hearts and making them realize that without that strong connection to Allah subhanahu wa tala you're going
to feel so vulnerable and weak and you're not going to be able to understand what's going on
we're also seeing SubhanAllah a multitude of people wanting for the first time to read the
Quran or find out about al- Islam so as much as this is extremely painful to go through we have
to also put our trust in Allah that there is a huge wisdom in why Allah has allowed for this
tragedy to take place and also remember as well that Subhan Allah, Allah only tests those whom he loves
right and I personally believe that the reason Allah in particular has chosen the Ahl Gaza,
The people of Gaza to test them in such a way is Allah knew the level of their Iman the level of
their faith and He wanted to showcase that to the world right I really feel that Allah subhanahu wa tala has
chosen to showcase the people of Gaza and the level of their Eman to show us where they are and
where we are and I mean we read all these stories of Believers of the past and the strength of their
Eman right but it's very different when you see it in action there's a difference in the effect it
has on you when something is just 'ilm al-yaqeen ,which is just by knowledge, and 'ain al-yaqeen, seeing it with your eyes is
very different than just hearing about it and it truly is a test Subhan Allah may Allah strengthen
the Ummah and Grant Victory to the people of Gaza and it's a testament as well to our Aqidah, knowing that
we fully accept Allah's wisdom in his actions and one thing that comes to mind is for those
who are burying their children tending to their wounded or even just trying to explain to their
children why is this happening what Comfort can we give to these individuals and the ummah at large
from the Quran and the Sunnah what I advise everybody right now this is a time for us to
be really turning back to the Quran. The Quran is your healing in these times all right your
Quran is your ultimate healing you'll find so many ayat in the Quran reminding us that trials
are something to be expected and it's normal as a Believer to be trialled. I can say to you
that when you go back to the Quran you're going to find verse after verse comforting you like I was
just going through Surat Taha yesterday with my class for an example right we came to the Ayah in Surat Taha where Allah SWT says
فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ۖ
وَمِنْ آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ
so Allah in this verse he tells us be patient upon what you're hearing from
what they say, be patient upon what you're hearing from what they say. He gives us a
methodology to follow in order to keep ourselves steadfast and strong in this
time when you're hearing and seeing a lot of things that's causing you a lot of pain.
Now do a lot of Tasbeeh, in times of hardship you need to do a lot of extra Tasbih right a lot of extra saying
سبحان الله , لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ , الله أكبر This is something that will strengthen you. Thikr of Allah is something that will strengthen you
now here especially Allah is referring to the prayers
the Fardh prayers right your Fajr prayer praying your Fajr prayer on time
and remembering Allah subhanahu Wa Tala in your prayer and outside the prayer and then the Asr prayer
and remembering Allah subhanahu Wa Tala, doing the remembrances of the morning and the evening
so now SubhanAllah, Allah tells us wake up for Tahajjud, wake up and pray to your lord
in the night especially when you're feeling very vulnerable and weak, this is a time to wake up
in the night and you know call upon Allah cry to Allah let out all that pain in your Dua to Allah
right this is going to strengthen you so much more and in the next part of the Ayah Allah says
and then Allah is telling us about you know the prayers at the ends of the day you
know so the even the prayer for example Al-isha prayer, Maghrib prayer, what this Ayah is showing us is when you
know the most important thing is to be ground and be firm and be strong in your Dean is you need
to have your prayers in order you need to have your prayers and with your remembrance of Allah
increasing in remembrance of Allah, and Allah tells us at the end of this Ayah that if you do that,
that you will be pleased, that this is the way to success, there's no other way to success except
coming closer to Allah so like my message is to everyone if you're feeling vulnerable right now
if you're feeling weak if you're feeling pain the only way to get relief is coming close to
Allah through your prayer through your Thikr of Allah and you need to come and learn about
your Deen, like a lot of people unfortunately they think that learning about the Deen is only
for so-called religious people and they don't realize every one of us is in need to learn
the basics at least and the foundations of our Dean because so many people I find they do not
even understand for example have the sixth pillar of Al-Iman which is Al-Qadaa' Wal Qadar, which is the sixth pillar of Iman
which is the belief in whatever Allah has predestined and commanded to happen a lot of
people don't understand this and this causes a lot of doubts in people's Faith, because
they don't understand this concept properly. What we are taught in our Deen is that when
Allah opens blessings for you that's supposed to make you Greatful and you come closer to Allah
through your gratefulness right but unfortunately most people when Allah opens the Dunya for them, they
become ungrateful and they start to feel that I don't need Allah in my life. They get in a state of ghaflah.
Subhan Allah it really brings to mind that a Calamity that brings you closer to Allah is
actually better than a blessing that takes you away from him.
and always remember the ayat in the Quran:
Allah says perhaps you dislike something which
is good for you, and perhaps you love something which is bad for
you. Allah knows and you don't know
And that sentiment is really real right now for me at
least anyway that we don't know we actually don't know like so many people have entered
Islam through this situation and so many people have also viewed Islam in a more positive light
so in a form it is Dawah, the Palestinians have shown their courage and their bravery and may
Allah accept theirs martys as well. Ameen, they are honestly an embodiment of what what your Aqidah
does to you, what a solid foundation Aqidah, what is the effect it can have on you, how it gives you
meaning and purpose and understanding of the reality of this life. And I remember
I'll never forget something I absolutely love this statement by Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, he basically says
What can my enemies do to me as long as I have that sweetness of Iman in my heart?
If they put me in prison it's like khalwah with Allah, I'll be in seclusion with Allah, I'll just get closer
to Allah in seclusion. If they Exile me, I will be in tourism, I would be
pondering upon the creations of Allah and that will help me get closer to Allah
by pondering upon the world and the creations of Allah. And if they kill me, I'll be a Shahid
I'll be a Martyr, so what can my enemy really do to me and that is the power of this Iman that Allah
has given us it's an absolute Miracle Wallahi no one understands that this Iman that Allah's given
you, this this belief and this belief system that Allah's given us is an absolute
miracle and it is the medicine to all your trials and all your vulnerabilities so that's
why I'm really encouraging everyone to come back and learn your Aqidah so that you can InshaAllah also have this strength
Subhan Allah that very statement that you mentioned is being held now on signs
in protests, that you can't destroy a nation that knows that death isn't the end, it is so empowering
May Allah accept their Martyrs, and I guess just as a last point the people that have lost hope and
I guess we know as Muslims the victory of Allah is eminent, it is near, it is granted for the Believers,
but what can we do in the meantime?
So we just we need to realize that this is a test for us
as much as it is for the people in Gaza and our test now is to see what we will do under these
conditions and if you look at the Hadith of the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam in which he said
Whoever amongst you sees a wrong being done, then he needs to change it with his hand as long
as he is able to change it with his hand. If he's incapable of changing with his hand, which is our
case for most of us, then he needs to change it with his tongue. He needs to strive to change it
with his tongue right, and if he cannot even do that he at least needs to have an aversion to it
a strong aversion to it in his heart and that is the lowest level of Al-Iman right so what we
learn from this Hadith is whoever has an ability and we all have different abilities some of us
it could be that you're a lawyer some of us have got journalist skills like MashaAllah look at OnePath for example
you're trying to get the the word out, you're trying to spread the reality
of what's going on okay so whoever is able to do that, that's what they need to be doing.
For most of us, our role is going to be merely trying to spread the word. One thing I think it's really important
for many of us to understand is there are many people around who've got absolutely no idea of the
extent of what's happening because the media the mainstream media is basically sanitizing what's
going on, so if we can somehow get people to to be more connected with the unfiltered, the uncensored
media and try to just connect them and make them understand because a lot of them have got no clue
about the history, the oppression, the occupation, they have got no clue about that, and they've only
been fed what they've been fed through the media it's about all of us just stepping up and doing
whatever little thing we can, you might think it's small but you never know how great it will be in
reward with Allah subhanahu wa tala and I think that one of the powerful lessons that I personally
learned from the Quran where Allah tells us that the smallest thing which you might think
is hopeless could bring about huge results.
And we're not accountable for the result, rather it's the effort
Yeah and so that's the other thing too I was going to say, there is an
obligation upon us to strive to do whatever we can to rectify this absolute genocide and tragedy
but at the same time we need to also realize we're only accountable according to what is in our capability.
Allah does not place a burden on us in accountability more than we can bear
so we do what we can, we take whatever action we can no matter how hopeless it might seem, and we leave
the result to Allah, that's the approach we have to have as Allah tells us in the Quran.
Let the Believers put their dependence and Trust in Allah.
And he truly is the best disposer of our Affairs. Absolutely SubhanAllah Al-Wakkel
Jazaaki Allahu Khairan for coming into the studio today.
It has been an absolute pleasure and we look forward to seeing you again and until next time
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatu Allahi Wabarakatuhu