Illustration by @safiyas_designs

100 days of ongoing bloodshed. Mothers mourning the death of their babies. Fathers kissing the lifeless bodies of their children. Entire generations are buried beneath destroyed houses. Dried blood on rubble is all that remains. Broken bones. Amputated legs and arms. trauma. blood. death. 

The land will bear witness to the slaughter of innocent lives. The land will remember its embrace of the martyrs. The people will never forget. Palestinians will never forget. God sees everything. He is al-Baseer. 

….

On December 7, 2023, Refaat Alareer, a prominent Palestinian writer and poet was killed at home in an airstrike with his entire family. 

He left this world yet his words will forever remain engraved for Gaza. The tongue will keep Palestine alive through his poems. As an aspiring writer, this is a powerful reminder about the strength of words and speech. 

The pen records histories, stories, families, and even genocides. The ink spilled on paper has tremendous power to change the tide of any circumstance and any person. Even though the ink fades away, the tongue never forgets since those written words become attached to a memory, a body, and a land. 

With this in mind, I had to write about the genocide. For Gaza, for Palestinians. For future generations. For my children. Alareer death reminded me of my ability to use my words and raise awareness about the injustices occurring in Palestine. This is in honor of him.

…

The Prophet said the following about changing evil as reported by Abu Sa’eed  al-Khudree, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim]

Since the beginning of the war waged on Gaza by Israel, I’ve thought a lot about the Prophet’s Hadith mentioned above. I ask myself how can I bring change to the current situation in Gaza City? What can I do to stop the killings of innocent lives? Is there a way to make an impactful change for people who are unjustly suffering at the hands of their oppressors?

As I sat in the comfort and safety of my home, I took as many actions as I could like boycotting brands and companies funding and supporting Israel’s colonization. Signing petitions and campaigns to stop the genocide. Pressuring politicians and local MPs. Raising awareness by posting on social media. Making donations to provide some sort of relief to those suffering. 

Yet, I knew I could do more. With the unfolding situation in Gaza, I’ve realized the greatest gift and most powerful change I can make for this ummah and for the world is through my children. 

As a parent, I can ensure my children are grounded in a deep understanding of justice. With this sort of awareness, they can become vehicles of truth and stand firmly upon their faith while aligning themselves with the oppressed. With strong-willed children, this becomes a powerful way to strengthen the ummah and the global community.

There are many ways to raise determined children who fight against injustice.  From a young age, speaking to children in an age-appropriate way about political and historical issues can help portray an image of what justice and injustice mean in this world. 

This can be done through books or getting kids involved in taking actions like attending protests. Or even teaching them to become conscious consumers when boycotting. As parents, sharing stories about the Prophet and his companions related to the fight for justice serves as a great way to make them firm on their faith and stand for equality. 

The strongest method to educate children is through modeling and so I actively make changes in my life to showcase to them the result of meaningful actions. My gestures have a direct impact on my children’s outcomes when it comes to standing for truth. With this being said, I hope to foster in my children a strong understanding of what justice means in Islam, for them to be able to stand firmly on their faith and fight for truth wherever and for whoever it may be. 

I remind myself that Islam is not a passive religion, but rather a faith rooted in actions. Duaas are powerful ways to change any condition and situation since it’s a direct plea to Allah. Yet, even He commands us to take the first step before witnessing a difference in our condition. 

From the day I began writing this post until I finished it, the situation in Gaza is getting worse by the second with over 26, 000 thousands people killed in the last 100 days. It’s both heartbreaking and infuriating to witness the mass killing of innocent civilians in a gruesome and destructive way. 

It will take years maybe decades to rebuild the beautiful city of Gaza. Above the physical damage, Palestinians are experiencing great suffering in their mental health. They’ve seen their families and entire generations gone with one sudden strike. Palestinians hold pain in their chest until they leave this earth and still, trauma carries on for generations to come. 

How do you live with this reality? How do you move forward knowing you’ve lost everything that was once so familiar?  How do you trust the world knowing they watched you burn yet remained silent to your screams? 

Even in the face of death, the resilience and strength of Palestinians are unshakable. 

It’s crucial not to get numb as news and images come out from Gaza. The conditions are getting dire with a humanitarian crisis unfolding right in front of our eyes as even the last safe zone, Rafah is under attack. Let’s continue speaking out about Gaza and Palestine until there’s an end to the occupation in all its forms. 

May Allah ease the pain and suffering of Palestinians. May He protect and liberate them from all forms of violent aggression and oppression. My prayers extend to all those suffering around the world including the people of Kashmir, the Ughyuirs, the Rohingya people, the children of Congo, and the people of Sudan. 

Note: As of February 13, 2024, more than 28,473 Palestinians have died.

Below are profiles of individuals who provide useful tips and resources for parents when it comes to discussing Palestine. 

Free activity resources for children about Palestine from Mamateachesme https://www.mamateachesme.com/?s=palestine

Follow Dr. Hannaa Ghannoum for tips on discussing the current situation in Gaza with children (@drhanaa.peacewithinhome)  https://www.instagram.com/drhanaa.peacewithinhome/?hl=en

I’ve compiled a resource guide including all relevant information related to Gaza including links to donations and campaigns. You can find the guide in the link below. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zkpEL8Dgcj0xHMRmzQIJ1aza3aZj1opeLWgEOFMUbn0/edit?usp=sharing

Below is another link to a comprehensive booklet on dismantling Israeli propaganda with facts and advocacy for Palestine. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dDRxp7Ve1JeiHJ-Qlt9dQQo_H37ErSNF/view