“ 'When will the Help of Allah arrive?' Unquestionably, the Help of Allah is near! ” – Part 2

With the aggression and terrorism of the Zionist regime finally subsiding, with over a thousand Muslims massacred and several other thousands injured, there are many lessons emanating from the events that took place in Ghazza over the last few weeks. I'd like to take this opportunity to mention a few of those lessons.

Firstly: The events that unfolded in Ghazza were for the most part a wake up call for the Muslims. What we witnessed was a continuation of what the Ummah has been subjected to since the day we started deviating from the Straight Path of Allah. It was a message to the Muslims to return back to their Deen, to learn at the very least the basics of their beliefs and applying that to their daily lives. The only true way for us to achieve victory over our enemies is by turning back to what we turned our backs on, the religion of glory and eminence. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur'an:

“O you who believe, if you help in the cause of Allah, He will help you and plant firmly your feet.” [Muhammad 47:7]

“And Allah will surely help those who help His cause.” [Al-Hajj 22:40]

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themeselves.” [Ar-Ra'd 13:11]

And the Prophet (SAW) said: “When you involve yourselves in interest bearing business transactions, and you hold on to the tails of cows, and you are pleased with agriculture (i.e. the land), and you abandon making Jihad in the Cause of Allah, Allah will send humiliation down upon you. He will not remove it from you until you return back to your religion.” [Abu Dawud and al-Baihaqi]

Secondly: Victory in any war is not achieved until the objectives behind initiating the war are fulfilled. It may seem on the surface that Ghazza was defeated, but if we take the above rule into consideration we would find that in reality they were not defeated. The Zionist campaign did not achieve what it had set out to achieve by attacking Ghazza. This takes us back to the battle of Uhud where the Muslims suffered severe casualties, to the point where the Prophet (SAW) himself was badly injured. But the reality of that war was that Quraish had not gained victory over the Muslims, simply due to the fact that they had not fulfilled the objectives that they had set out to achieve by initiating the war. They had come all the way from Makkah to Madeenah to annihilate Islam and the Muslims, but they returned to Makkah with Islam only gaining more strength. Then, after several years they decided to return to Madeenah to finish off the Muslims in the battle of al-Ahzab. And once again they returned to Makkah empty handed, Allah (SWT) says:

“And Allah repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And sufficient was Allah for the believers in battle.” [Al-Ahzab 33:25]

Thirdly: The Thabat (steadfastness) of the Palestinians in Ghazza was perhaps one of the greatest lessons that could be derived from this war. Remember the vast contrast in power between the Palestinians and the Zionists. With all the military might the Zionists had compared with the simple rockets in the hands of the Palestinians, they still stood firm with perseverance not allowing this tyrant to overcome them. In times like these, Allah orders the believers to remain firm and steadfast in the face of their enemies:

“O you who believe, when you encounter an enemy force, stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.” [Al-Anfal 8:45]

Similarly, Allah (SWT) describes the companions who stood firm against their enemies in the battle of al-Ahzab:

“Those to whom people (hypocrites) said, 'Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.' But it merely increased them in faith, and they said, 'Sufficient for us is Allah and He is the best Disposer of affairs.' ” [Aali 'Imran 3:173]

“And when the believers saw the Confederates, they said, 'This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth.' And it only increased them in faith and acceptance. Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow to the death, and among them is he ho awaits his chance. And they did not alter the terms of their commitment by any alteration.” [Al-Ahzab 33:22-23]

Fourthly: Another great lesson to be learnt from this war was the reality of the Munafiqun (hypocrites). This battle truly exposed the treachery of the Munafiqun who stand apparent among the Muslims. It made clear who truly stood up for our brothers in Ghazza and who backed out and accused our brothers in Ghazza of being the perpetrators. Allah (SWT) has warned us of the danger of the Munafiqun labeling them as the true enemy:

“They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them, how are they deluded?” [Al-Munafiqun 63:4]

This was a test for the Muslims to draw the fine line between the true believers and the hypocrites:

“And Allah will surely make evident those who believe, and He will surely make evident the hypocrites.” [Al-'Ankabut 29:11]

Allah describes the treachery of the Munafiqun in several places in the Qur'an:

“O you who believe, do not be like those who disbelieved and said about their brothers when they traveled through the land or went out to fight, 'If they had been with us, they would not have died or have been killed,' so Allah makes that a regret within their hearts.” [Aali 'Imran 3:156]

“And that he might make evident those who are hypocrites. For it was said to them, 'Come, fight in the way of Allah or at least defend.' They said, 'If we had known there would be fighting, we would have followed you.' They were nearer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah is most knowing of what they conceal. Those who said about their brothers while sitting at home, 'If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed.' Say, 'Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful.' ” [Aali 'Imran 3:167-168]

“Have you not considered those who practice hypocrisy, saying to their associates who have disbelieved among the people of the Scripture, 'If you are expelled, we will surely leave with you, and we will never obey anyone in regard to you. And if you are fought, we will surely aid you.' But Allah testifies that they are liars.” [Al-Hashr 59:11]

Fifthly: The events that unfolded in Ghazza displayed once again the various characteristics of the Jews. We've always read those verses in the Qur'an that describe the true nature of the Jews. Well, the recent events in Ghazza truly reflect on those verses. Here are a few of them:

1. The severest in enmity toward the believers:

“You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers to be the Jews and those who associate others with Allah.” [Al-Ma'idah 5:82]

“And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able.” [Al-Baqarah 2:217]

2. Violating agreements and treaties:

“Is it not true that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away?” [Al-Baqarah 2:100]

“The ones with whom you made a treaty but then they break their pledge every time, and they do not fear Allah.” [Al-Anfal 8:56]

3. Initiating wars and causing mischief in the land:

“And We have cast among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. Every time they kindled the fire of war, Allah extinguished it. And they strive throughout the land causing mischief, and Allah does not like the mischief-makers.” [Al-Ma'idah 5:64]

“And Our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, even after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.” [Al-Ma'idah 5:32]

4. Extreme cowardice:

“They will not fight you all except within fortified cities or from behind walls. Their enmity among themselves is severe. You think they are united, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who understand not.” [Al-Hashr 59:14]

“They said, 'O Musa, we shall never enter it (Palestine) as long as they (a tyrannical people) are within it. So go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here.” [Al-Ma'idah 5:24]

5. Killing prophets and scholars:

“And they were covered with humiliation and misery, and returned with the wrath of Allah upon them. That was because they repeatedly disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the prophets without right.” [Al-Baqarah 2:61]

“Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah, and kill the prophets without right, and kill those who order justice from among the people – give them tidings of a painful punishment.” [Aali 'Imran 3:21]

These are the Jews that Allah described to us in the Qur'an over fourteen centuries ago. Do you find any difference between these characteristics and the characteristics of those who attacked our brothers and sisters in Ghazza?

“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such trial has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you. They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until even their messenger and those who believed with him said, 'When will the Help of Allah arrive?' Unquestionably, the Help of Allah is near!” [Al-Baqarah 2:214]

Madeenah, Saudi Arabia
25th of January 2009