Waseem A. Sayed, PhD

🇵🇸🇮🇱 LATEST: Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aa) urges Ahmadi Muslims to pray for situation in #Palestine & #Israel, highlighting ongoing injustices. He calls for Muslim unity to help plight of innocent #Palestinians! His Holiness said: “I want to ask for prayers in relation to the current situation of the world. In the past few days, a war has started between Hamas and Israel due to which civilians on both sides - women, children and the elderly - are being killed or have been killed, without any distinction. “Even at times of war, Islam does not permit the killing of women, children or anyone who is not participating in the war, and this teaching was strictly established by the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. “The world is saying - and it has some truth to it - that Hamas initiated this war and killed Israeli civilians indiscriminately. Leaving aside the fact that the Israeli army has been killing innocent Palestinians prior to this, Muslims should always act according to Islamic teachings. [...] If there is a legitimate war, then it can take place against the army, but not against women, children and the innocent. Nevertheless, the step Hamas took was wrong; it caused more harm than good. “In response [to Hamas’ attack], the punishment or war should have remained against Hamas alone - this would have been true bravery and the correct response. However, what the Israeli army is doing now is extremely dangerous and it seems this will not stop. The number of lives of women and children that will be lost cannot be imagined. “The Israeli government announced that it will completely wipe out Gaza and to do that it endlessly bombed Gaza, reducing it to a pile of ashes. The latest development is that the Israeli government is saying that more than 1 million people should leave Gaza, and some have begun leaving already. “Thankfully, though a weak voice, the UN has raised some concerns that this is against human rights, is wrong and will create a lot of problems and that Israel should rethink this instruction. Instead of condemning Israel outrightly, they [the UN] are making a mere request to them. “Nevertheless, the innocent who are not participating in the war cannot be blamed. If the world sees Israeli women, children and civilians as innocent, then the Palestinians are innocent too. “The teachings of the People of the Book also say such killing is not allowed. Muslims are blamed that they have committed wrong, but these people should look at themselves too. “The Ambassador of Palestine [in the UK] was interviewed by the BBC and, in response to a question, said that Hamas is a militant group, not the government and that the Palestinian government has nothing to do with them. He also raised a valid question - that if true justice had been established, then this situation would not have arisen. If world powers do not have double standards, then such disorder and warfare can never even occur. Thus, end these double standards and the wars will end themselves.” His Holiness said he has been saying these points for a long time, in light of Islamic teachings, but in response, leaders agree without any action. He continued: “Ignoring justice, all the world powers - or Western powers - are uniting to punish Palestinians, and conversations are being held everywhere about sending armies.” He also spoke about the misinformation in the media that is being spread. It is often the case that pictures are shared to try and prove injustice against Israelis, but later it is found out that the pictures were actually of Palestinians, yet there is no retraction in the media for this. He said that it seems the world powers do not want this war to end. After World War One, the world powers created the League of Nations, but it proved to fail due to justice not being upheld, and World War Two ended up taking place. This is the same situation as the UN. It was created to end wars and aid the oppressed but has clearly failed in its objective. His Holiness continued to say the war that will take place now due to the current injustice, we cannot even comprehend the destruction that will be caused and everyone knows this, yet there is still no focus on establishing justice in the world, nor is anyone highlighting this point. He said at least the Muslim nations should pay heed and erase their own disagreements in order to establish unity. If Muslims have been told in the Quran to improve relations with the People of the Book, then why can Muslims, who share the same kalima, not place their problems aside and come together. This is the only way to rid the world of the disorder we see today. As one, Muslims must raise a voice against those who are oppressed. If there is unity in the Muslim Ummah, there will be power in the voice that is raised. Otherwise, these Muslim nations will be responsible for the loss of innocent lives. We should keep the teaching of the Holy Prophet SA in front of us: To aid both the oppressed and the oppressor (by stopping them from oppression). In the end, Huzoor (aa) prayed: "May Allah the Almighty grant wisdom and understanding to the Muslim governments, and may they unite to uphold justice. May he also grant wisdom and understanding to the powers of the world, so that instead of causing destruction in the world, they strive to save it from destruction. [...] It should always be remembered that when destruction occurs, even these powers will not remain secure.” “The only weapon we possess is the weapon of prayer. Thus, more than before, all Ahmadis should use the weapon of prayer.”