Regarding “pain”
Pain is a universally shared human experience. We define our happiness in relation to the degree of suffering we encounter in life. Sometimes, this suffering is physical, arising from illness, injury, or wounds that afflict us. On other occasions, it is emotional, and we endure the pain associated with the grief of losing a loved one, parting with a cherished possession, or failing to achieve a goal. Periods of unemployment or overwork may also contribute to our trials, and there are moments in life when we face the challenges of natural causes like drought or flood.
Throughout various stages of life, we often grapple with only some of the challenges mentioned above. However, in recent times, the people of Gaza are undergoing all the aforementioned tribulations. Children with severed limbs or severe burns, await medical attention in hospitals where doctors have not experienced rest and leisure for a long time and are working tirelessly every day. While women and children in tents suffer from the torment of not having access to drinking water, the flood slowly overflows beneath the same shelter, worsening their already difficult lives. Young people in Gaza, who have never witnessed life beyond the besieged city since birth, are now willing to overlook even the sight of Gaza itself to take a step towards the freedom of their land. For months, they have been preparing to confront the occupying Zionist army in underground tunnels.
It appears that enduring suffering is an inherent aspect of life in this world. However, what truly matters is how we respond to these hardships.
“They do not know Palestinians”
The leaders of the Zionist regime have a history of perpetrating acts of violence against the people of Gaza. This time, they were well aware of the hardships that such devastating bombardments would impose on civilians in Gaza. However, the scale of the regime's crimes in these recent conflicts suggests that they are pursuing objectives beyond seeking revenge for the occupiers killed in Hamas’ surprise operation on October 7. In the early days of the war, there were discussions indicating that the Zionist regime intended to forcibly relocate the people of Gaza to the Sinai Desert in Egypt. Israeli officials spoke openly about “wiping Hamas [and the resistance movements in Gaza] off the face of the Earth.” It reached a point where some concluded that Israel aimed to turn Gaza into a barren land devoid of any living beings.
Amidst this unprecedented cruelty, a remarkable resilience in Gaza became evident. The more intense the pressures of war on the people of Gaza, the more beautiful scenes unfold, portraying their unwavering faith in God and their patience in the face of adversities.
In front of his bombed-out home, this elderly Palestinian man reads a verse of the Quran that says: “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is an excellent trustee” (Quran 3:173). He expresses his support for the resistance groups.
A father who has lost three of his children in the war expresses gratitude to God, saying that he thanks God for having offered three martyrs in the path of God and His Prophet.
A video captures a mother, whose son has become a martyr, passionately declaring, “My children are sacrificed for ‘al-Quds.’”
A wounded young man, despite the severity of his injuries, reads the Quran and finds solace in its verses.
A teenager, witnessing his brother in the throes of death, repeats the Shahada, hoping that by uttering these words, his brother can find solace as he departs from this world
All these scenes together have marked a resistance that, now, after over seventy days of war, is increasing political, economic, and even military pressures day by day on the Zionist regime. The situation has progressed to the point where even U.S. authorities are talking about scaling back of the conflict in Gaza.
Where does this “resistance” originate?
Not only the recent conflict in Gaza laid bare the world's eyes to the racism and brutality of the Zionist regime, but also unveiled the unparalleled spirit of the people of Gaza. The exceptional resilience they demonstrated was both astonishing and simultaneously admirable to people worldwide. Shortly after the war began and videos circulated on social networks, non-Muslims in various countries became curious about the connection between Gaza's endurance and the Islamic faith. Witnessing Gazans reading the Quran beside their loved ones' bodies or amidst the rubble of bombed homes, many non-Muslims went on to purchase a Quran. Additionally, on certain social media platforms, groups were formed for the purpose of Quranic studies.
The question arises: How is it possible for people in Gaza, even after losing their dearest ones, to express gratitude to God and continue their resistance?
Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a retired intelligence colonel and Zionist Middle East expert, provided a notable response to this question during a program on Channel 14 of Israeli television. Unlike other authorities within the Zionist regime, Colonel Kedar acknowledged the invincibility of the resistance groups. In the TV program, he stated, “I have emphasized multiple times that even if only one member of Hamas remains, with one hand and one leg severed, and only two fingers intact in the other hand, he will stand atop a demolished mosque. Like victors, he will raise those two fingers as a symbol of triumph. Why? Because his sons and grandsons will continue his path.” He further elucidated the reason behind this unwavering faith and spirit of resistance fighters, stating:
In the Quran, there is a verse that declares, “إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ” [“Indeed, Allah is with the patient ones (2:153)”]. God is with those who possess the ability to endure for an extended period. Patience entails spending 2 or 3 months in tunnels, devoid of daylight, facing food scarcity. Then, emerging with an AK-47 rifle and targeting an enemy individual. Why? Because they possess the capability to endure over time. They live for God, and God is with them. They engage in jihad for God, while we fight for freedom only. So, our fight is not holy like theirs. In Islam, God is the primary figure, if not the sole figure, an MVP player. If we look at it like a game, God, for us, is sitting on the bench. This difference, imparts distinct mental and physical strength to Muslims.
Proven patience
In an interview delving into the dimensions of the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War, General Qasem Soleimani, the martyred commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), recounted a spiritual insight shared by Imam Khamenei. He mentioned that during the initial days of the war, in a meeting in Mashhad city, Iran, Imam Khamenei promised Hezbollah's victory in this conflict. In this war, Imam Khamenei also prophesied the triumph of the Palestinian people due to their endurance against hardships. In a speech on October 25, he stated:
These people have truly been patient. Some of the scenes [of what’s happening in Palestine] have been shown in the world’s mass media and also in our country. His [a Palestinian’s] child is martyred; he praises God. His child is martyred; he says it’s for Palestine. A wounded teenager praises God and recites verses from the Quran. These people’s patience is very important. The enemy wanted to push these people to raise their arms in surrender. But they didn’t raise their arms. They didn’t surrender. This is a very important point. This patience and their trust in God are the things that will come to their aid. This is what will make them victorious, and ultimately, they will be the victors.
