Gaza: the 21^st century Shi'b Abi Talib

It’s been more than a year since the events of October the 7^th, and the horrors that began in the days the followed. The Muslims of Gaza, and Palestine, to the shock of the world have faced persecution and death with a strength that comes from their love for Allah, and their understanding that on the Day of Judgement they will receive their reward and justice.

Since the events of October the 7^th, the story of the valley of Shi'b Abi Talib and the boycott of Banu Hashim has repeatedly come to mind. The Muslims at the time were persecuted mercilessly for their support of the Prophet (saw) and his call to Islam. They were sent into the valley for 3 years in a social and economic boycott; not able to leave, and those who tried to aid them were persecuted by the Quraysh. The terms imposed on Banu Hashim, as reported by Ibn Ishaq, were "that no one should marry their women nor give women for them to marry; and that no one would trade with them" The boycott lasted for three years but eventually collapsed mainly because it was not achieving its purpose.

Students are taught these events today, with teachers asking them to think about what it means for Muslims today. As young students, we read the events and the lessons that they hold for us but they seem so abstract. We make vague references to the strength of the Muslims and what that means for us today, when we are faced with hardships and tests from Allah. We may see the relevance to us today, if we think of it in context of the Prophet’s journey to establish the Islamic State- but of course that isn’t something that we are taught to focus on. Because if it was, we would question the world as we see it today and understand our Fard (duty) to follow Allah’s laws in every aspect of our lives.

But now, today, after seeing the events of Gaza and all the tests that the Muslims have faced we may be able to consider the situation as more than a series of historical facts.

The events of Gaza have drawn a line in the sand, between those who see the horrors of the Capitalist system and those who do not. The Muslim Ummah was quick in their response to the genocide, calling out for a halt to the horrors that were taking place. And they have been supported by the non-Muslim pro-Palestinian supporters across the world.

And unsurprisingly, all have been persecuted by the ‘leaders’ across the Muslim and Western World. Laws have been changed to make it illegal to speak out against Israel’s genocide. ‘Freedoms’ and human rights laws have been blatantly ignored as protestors have been harassed and arrested. ‘Israel’ has been given a free pass to break every one of the international laws that they Capitalists hold so dear, with countries recently denying that the ICC has any right to arrest Netanyahu for the crimes that he has enabled and committed.

When future generations look back at this point in time, they will see the importance of it. Just as we see the importance of the events that took place during the life of the Prophet (saw). They can draw parallels between what is happening today, and what happened at the time of the Prophet, and inshAllah see Allah’s plan unfolding.

Because right now the world is at a turning point, with people having to choose what side they stand on – will they support lies and injustice or will they fight against it?

This was a choice that was faced by the people at the time of the Prophet (saw), with the Quraysh working vehemently to suppress Islam and the establishment of an Islamic State. They understood, just as the rulers do today, that the rise of Islam is the only thing that could threaten their survival and power. Because it would give people – the Muslims, and non-Muslims- an alternative to the exploitative system that they draw their power from.

This is what scares the West and its supporters – because if the world understands this, if the world understands that it’s only Islam that can save the People of Gaza, they will support it. And then they will continue to support it because it will solve their life’s problems.

This is something that the tribes of Madinah (Yathrib at the time) understood when they chose to support the Prophet and invited him to Madinah to establish the first Islamic State. The Quraysh had tried so hard to stop the rise of Islam, but they were unsuccessful.

And in Allah’s wisdom and planning, we can see how the world is moving away from the current way of life today. People are seeing the true face of the Capitalist system and they are starting to run from it. And this, inshAllah, will lead to the re-establishment of the Islamic State, regardless of what the Western States and their supporters try to do to stop it.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Fatima Musab
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir