Ghaza under seige

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:25:00 GMT

We start our day by making ablution with clean water and praying the morning prayer.

We do this while the air conditioner is protecting us from heat or freezing.
Then we start preparing ourselves to go to work or to study and have a fresh and tasty breakfast.
We could also visit a patient in a clean, equipped, and safe hospital.
We drive our cars in the quiet streets.

But ...

What if our nights were not as quiet?
What if water was not as clean? Or even available?
What if we fail to use our air conditioners, refrigerators, or computer?
What if our cars ran out of fuel?
What if we were unable to buy milk and bread?
What if we couldn't feel safe about our children playing in the playground?
What if we were worried about ourselves, our families, and our loved ones from bombs falling from time to time?
What if a relative or friend died in the hospital because of an electricity blackouts?

What if brothers of us - while knowing about our misery- were ignoring what is happening to us and not supporting us?
Even worse, what if our brothers were dancing and having parties despite our inability to lift the oppression we're facing?

This situation is not a fictitious story, but it is what your brothers and sisters in Gaza are facing.
Gaza, which is inhabited by about one million Muslim in an area of less than 70 square kilometers.
Gaza, which has been under occupation for more than forty years?
Gaza the honorable and resistant.

Gaza is currently living a tragedy amid severe shortages of fuel, electricity and basic supplies of life.
Is it conceivable that we bury our heads in the sand and only care about ourselves?
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said "Whoever is not concerned about other Muslims is not one of them" (or as he said PBUH)

He (PBUH) also said "Whoever sees a 'munkar' (evil, unlawful, unjust, etc.) should change it by his hand. If he couldn't, then by his tongue. If he couldn't, then by his heart and that is the weakest of faith" (or as he said PBUH)

When the greatest evil and unjust is happening in Gaza, would we act as if nothing is happening?

Brothers and sisters, whoever of us is able to donate - however small the amount - should do so through legitimate and reliable channels like the organization of Islamic Relief and local official charity associations.

Whoever is able to remind people through family gatherings, blogs, or forums should do so.

We pray to Allah Almighty, who owns the heavens and the earth and who has power over all things.

Oh Allah, lift the siege of our brothers in Gaza
Oh Allah, relieve them from oppression and humiliation
Oh Allah, accept their dead as martyrs
Oh Allah, bestow your mercy over the orphans and the bereaved
Oh Allah, Lord of the Worlds, help them out of what they're in

This article is translated from the original Arabic one I wrote in my main blog

Reflections: Events

Ghaza under seige