Palestine will only be liberated through Jihad

Praise be to Allah (SWT) and blessings on Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Hence, make ready against them [the mushrik enemies] whatever force and [impressive] war mounts you are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of Allah, who are your enemies as well, and others besides them of whom you may be unaware, [but] of whom Allah is aware; and whatever you may expend in Allah’s cause shall be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged. [Al Anfal, 8:60]

The communique emitted at the end of the recently held Arab Summit, in reaction to the bombing by the illegitimate and illegal occupier of the Palestine territory should shock, if not horrify the international Ummah. The document does not announce any economic or political measure, even less a military one to condemn the Zionist aggressor.

Beyond condemning the bombing, the Arab heads of state have done nothing but express their solidarity with Qatar. Even worse, they have gone further by expressing their wish to appeal those who militarily or financially support the ethnic cleansing in and eradication of Gaza, for support, thus disregarding Allah’s (swt) warning:

O you who are securely committed [to Allah’s power]! Do not take the [political] Jews and the [political] Christians for your allies: they are but allies of one another — and whoever of you [politically] allies himself with them becomes, verily, one of them; behold, Allah does not guide an iniquitous multitude of people. [Al Maidah, 5:51]

Another noteworthy lesson from this assault on Muslim territory is Qatar’s payment of jizyah disguised under the donation of a $400 million plane which would have ultimately not served any purpose since the beneficiary has done nothing to stop the pariah nation.

These events, coupled with the ongoing ethnic cleansing and expulsion of Palestinians to the South of Gaza, where there is already a flux of traumatised families as well as the state terrorism in the West Bank, force us to come back to the fatwa emitted by the International Union of Muslim Scholars, a few months back. These scholars are of the opinion that it is incumbent on all capable Muslims to engage in jihad against Israel because of the latter’s atrocities in Gaza. This fatwa, which naturally displeases the Arab Zionists should bring an impetus to the fight of the Palestinians against Zionists. According to its legal opinion, the Union states that every Muslim state has the legal duty to immediately intervene militarily, economically and politically to stop the genocide and impose a blockade on Israel.

The other significant event that should retain the Ummah’s attention is the UN’s resolution in favour of a solution to the Palestinian question by the creation of Palestine on the basis of the so-called two-state solution. This represents the legitimisation of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories by the Zionist state, in contradiction to this other resolution which condemns illegal occupation. The Ummah should reject this resolution for, Palestine belongs to the Ummah.

Neither Abbas, nor the powerless Palestinian Authority has the right to liquidate the Ummah’s territory. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said: The one who gives away any Muslim territory even the size of hand, will be given the same size in Hell.

These observations bring us to the debunking of the concept of jihad.

Behold, as for those who have committed themselves [to Allah], and who have forsaken the domain of civic evil [in Makkah] and are striving hard, with their possessions and their lives, in Allah’s cause, as well as those who shelter and support [them in Madinah] — these are [truly] the superordinate and allies of one another […] [Al Anfal, 8:72]

The concept of jihad is one that has been the most demonised and vilified, to such an extent that colonial powers have made Muslims believe that jihad, wrongly translated as holy war, is a threat to humanity. Those powers have been helped in this task by despots and dictators who have imposed their authority on Muslim states. Jihad is often insidiously associated to terrorism. However, Islam condemns terrorism and the selective reading of verses relating to jihad done by some.

Palestinians don’t need despots’ permission to engage in jihad against those who occupy their lands, deplete their resources and who have been persecuting them in the past 75 years. They know that it is fard ain (individual obligation) to defend Muslim territory and fight against aggression against Muslims. Yusuf Qaradawi states in Fiqh uz Zakaat that the most honourable form of jihad currently is the fight for the liberation of Muslim lands from the domination of non-believers, irrespective of their religion or ideology.

Independent scholars know that jihad is obligatory in the face of oppression, of the Zionists’ barbaric cruelty. Moreover, according to the ijma (consensus), it is a grave sin to ignore our brothers’ call for help. Moreover, in surah Ankabut, the definition of jihad is to fight to one’s best abilities to remain in Allah’s (SWT) obedience.

And those who struggle intensely and are keen on Us, We shall guide them to Our ways: for, verily, Allah is with those who seek excellence [in what they do]. [Al Ankabut, 29:69]

It is revolting to see that Muslims have abandoned the very concept of jihad. We have forgotten that to be Muslim means to engage in jihad, meaning to engage in a serious battle to understand our relationship with Allah (SWT) and its demands.

We should thus understand that Palestinians are engaged in a relentless fight for their liberation, for the liberation of their lands. They know that they cannot count on useless summits, or heads of state, who repeat ad nauseam their condemnation of the Israeli attacks, their appeal to end the carnage but will never dare cease their relations with Israel, nor demand that the USA stop using their military base to arm Israel or stop using their airspace to carry out the genocide. They also know that scholars are paid to issue fatwa after fatwa condemning the Palestinian resistance.

Behold, Allah has bought of the committed Muslims their lives and their possessions, promising them Paradise in return, [and so] they fight in Allah’s cause […] [At Tawbah, 9:111]

In the face of the ongoing barbarity, what should be the reaction of the Ummah if not answer to Allah’s (swt) appeal?

O you who are committed [to Allah’s authority and power]! Respond to the call of Allah and to the Apostle whenever he calls you to that which will give you [spirited] life; and know that Allah intervenes between a person and [the desires of] his heart, and that to Him you shall be gathered. [Al Anfal, 8:24]

Israel’s presence is a cancer in the heart of Muslims and should be eradicated by the solution advocated by Allah (SWT), that is, Jihad.

It is also important to evoke the Shari’ah principle, according to which what is necessary to perform a duty (wajib), is a duty in itself (wajib).

Certainly, Allah (swt) is displacing the power dynamics.

May Allah (swt) help and guide us.