Imam Omar Suleiman Du’a for Palestine gives us information and reflections through a prophetic lens. The Palestinian struggle is a global issue that raises fundamental questions about justice, morality, and human rights. For Muslims, it holds a unique place in the heart of their religious and moral consciousness. The issue at hand is whether the Islamic response to the Palestinian question aligns with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Whether, in the face of a powerful oppressor, resistance or surrender is the path to justice. This article explores the profound Islamic dimensions of the Palestinian cause and how it resonates with the Prophetic way.
Palestinian Struggle Through A Prophetic Lens
The Palestinian struggle stands as a beacon of moral clarity in the vast spectrum of political issues. Palestinians live in an apartheid, colonial-settler state, enduring dispossession, dehumanizing conditions, religious persecution, economic devastation, and ongoing violence. The Israeli state not only supports right-wing settlers with genocidal intentions. Also restricts access to Islam’s third holiest shrine, Masjid al-Aqsa.
Imam Omar Suleiman and the Palestinian Question
The Palestinian issue is not exclusively a Muslim concern but predominantly affects Muslims. However, it is essential to note that Palestinian Christians also suffer from religious discrimination and human rights violations. Moreover, some of the most vocal advocates for Palestinian rights come from Jewish backgrounds, illustrating that this isn’t a Muslims-vs-Jews issue.
The Palestinian struggle aligns with Islamic principles that emphasize resistance against oppression. Islam doesn’t promote surrender to tyranny, and the Palestinian cause embodies this resistance. The sanctity of Masjid al-Aqsa, the importance of daily prayers, and the avoidance of gratuitous insults against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is paramount in Islam, making the Palestinian question a religious obligation for Muslims.
Parallel to the Prophetic Struggle
The Palestinian struggle resonates deeply with the Prophet Muhammad’s struggle against the Meccans. The Qur’anic revelations during this period provide a model for Muslims facing similar circumstances today. The Battle of Badr in the early years of the Prophet’s migration to Medina closely parallels the reasons for the Palestinian struggle – persecution, expulsion from homes, usurpation of property, and blocked access to a sacred mosque.
Allah’s command to fight back against the Meccans was grounded in the oppression, expulsion, and persecution experienced by the early Muslims. The verses reveal that resistance to oppression is not just a specific instruction but a general principle. Acquiescence to injustice and tyranny anywhere threatens the destruction of all places where Allah is worshipped. This general principle profoundly applies to the Palestinian struggle, emphasizing the duty of resistance for all Muslims.
The Palestinian question is a profoundly Islamic issue, deeply rooted in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Quran. Its moral clarity and relevance to Islamic principles of justice, resistance against oppression, and protection of sacred sites make it an imperative concern for Muslims worldwide. While the world may offer various interpretations, the Islamic response to the Palestinian question remains resolute in its call for justice, echoing the prophetic model of resistance against tyranny and oppression.
Click here for the entire research paper on the Yaqeen Institute Platform written by Dr. Ovamir Anjum and Imam Omar Suleiman.
