Gaza: The Unrewarded Courage

Chapter 1

     I was born 1500 years ago. I had no parents who gave me birth but the Man who is the best among Man founded me. The Man who fought for me, the Man who saved me, the Man who spread me - my Master. Some people accepted me, others hated me. I was happy staying with them. They followed me, they practised me, they loved me, they protected me, they gave up their life for me - and this is how they spread me. I was growing not only in years but also in numbers. Now many accepted me, I was spreading across borders. I have seen different skins, I have seen different features, I have seen different cultures but they all treated me equal. I have seen the riches, I have seen the poor. Some made me sleep on their soft cotton mattress whereas some gave me the bark of trees to sleep. I was happy with the latter one as my Master followed that. People who practised me had love in their heart. They greeted each other with smile and laughter. They followed every Sunnah, they practised every farz. I was happy for them as my Almighty was pleased with them.

       Sooner more Christians accepted me, more Hindus accepted me, some Sikhs accepted and some Buddhists accepted. Now I was followed all over the globe. But as my followers increased my enemies increased... My brothers were killed, my sisters were forced to be vulnerable, my children's were savaged..... only because they had accepted me. My smile was fading.... My happy face was turning gloom. My fate was being tested..... Rebellions grew, their hatred towards us knew no bounds. They killed more of my brothers, more of my sisters. I was shattered....I was devastated. Anger came within me, my blood was boiling. I wanted my revenge. I could not stand my people being treated this way. I made my mind. I promised myself to kill all these people. I wanted them to suffer the same pain. I was adamant now.....

     Then I saw someone next to me holding my hand. His fingers entwined in mine. I turned to look at his beautiful face, His hair which had pearls shining on them, His beard where the angels resides, His lips which was more soft then a rose petal, His eyes held the noor - the illuminating light. He was my Master. I bend down holding his knees, my tears flowing freely over his cloak. I heard him say in his melodious voice, " InnAllaha Ma'As'sabireen. Verily Allah is with the patient. Indeed with hardship comes ease. Trust Allah for he is the most beneficent, the most merciful ". With this I saw him dissappear. He had built faith in me. The faith to trust my Lord - My Allah. His words reminded me of the war I had accompanied him - The war of Badr, The war of Uhud, The war of Karbala. I wiped away my tears and got up to help my people, to follow my Master.

         Today I am in Gaza, sitting on the street with my people. Our houses are destroyed by the Devils - The biggest Iblees on earth. Every morning we wake up with the sound of missiles and innumerable cries. Cries which can take away your life. Some sisters crying for their brothers and some brothers covering the corpse of their sisters. Some mothers weeping for their lost children and some children's searching impatiently for their parents. Some husband's looking for their wives and some widows looking for their lives. This is how our days pass.... Yesterday I heard a cry from the nearby hut. People said the lady had lost her husband in the air attack. Her loud groan felt like bullets to my ears. She wailed in pain. I felt the urge to run and hug her, I wanted to calm her but I realised she was a pious lady. She had spent days and night worshipping her lord. I raised my hand to the sky and with teary eyes, I prayed for her. My tears just didn't flow but it ran with so much speed. Just then I heard a small boy crying in her sister's lap. The little girl must be around ten years. Her clothes were tattered but she proudly displayed her green hijab. I sat next to her and placed my hand on her head. Her brother was crying for their mother who was still not found. Maybe she was still inside the debris. The girl wiped the tear from her brothers face and said these words, " InnAllaha Ma'As'sabireen. Surely Allah is with us brother ". Her words pricked me, I felt a heavy stone on my heart. Just then I saw my Master standing few feets away from us... His smiling face and teary eyes gave me the courage to wait.... to wait and trust my Lord..... My Allah......

     "Ya Allah, Ya Kareem, I know you are with us, with the people here, with all the people suffering in the world. Ya Allah help us to fight back. Help us to have a strong faith in you. You have been with us from Badr to Qabr. You have been with us every second of our life. We trust you our Lord for we know it's only you who love us more then everyone any everything. Ya Allah save your Deen, save your Islam from these Devils. Ya Allah never make us loose hope. We trust you and we will always stand for you for we know you have better plans for us. Ya Allah forgive our sins for we know you are the most forgiving. Ya Allah save the people of Gaza, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and all the Muslims who are under the unjust rulers. Ya Allah protect us for we know you are the best protector. Ya Allah make us the right person, Unite us, Bring peace all over the world...... Ameen Ya Rabbil Ameen....... "

       This is me - Islam. The most perfect deen, the most loved deen, the most followed deen, the most practised deen. United we all stand today for the protection of our deen. Be the best Muslim. Follow your Lords command. In'sha'Allah one day we will rule the world.... Very soon my people.

     InnAllaha Ma'As'sabireen.......