I ask Allah to accept His servant Yahya al-Sinwar among the martyrs, to grant him righteous successors among his men, to protect the people of Gaza and grant them victory, and to elevate Islam and the Muslims.
Here are some reflections on the news:
1. Dying in the cause of Allah is a great honor, and martyrdom is a lofty and high status. Even the people of Paradise, after entering it and witnessing its bliss, wish for it. Congratulations to those whom Allah accepts as martyrs.
The enemies of Islam have sought to distort the concept of martyrdom and to strip the love of it from the hearts of Muslims, distracting them with trivialities and materialism. This has led many to embody what the Prophet ﷺ foretold about his Ummah in the end times: that Allah would instill weakness in their hearts, which is the "love of the worldly life and the fear of death."
Yet, a few among this Ummah still race towards martyrdom and believe in its sanctity, foremost among them are our people in Gaza.
This Ummah will not succeed unless it regains its love for martyrdom and meeting Allah, raises its youth on these noble values, and unless its scholars and preachers lead by reviving these meanings both in knowledge and in practice.
2. As the news of the tragedies from Gaza continues and its people endure difficult blows, many believers' hearts have shattered, and their fear and anxiety have intensified. Some may even have had bad thoughts.
To them, I say: Do you think that what Allah mentioned in the Qur'an about the trials of the believers "until the Messenger and those who believed with him would say, 'When is Allah’s support (coming)?'" (2:214) was an easy or quick test that could be easily passed? No, by Allah; it was a stern test. The messenger and the believers did not say, "When is Allah’s support (coming)?" because of short, passing trials, but rather due to prolonged and severe tribulations, where hope was lost except in Allah, the Almighty. Let us understand this well, and let us cut all ties except with Allah. Let us be among those about whom Allah said: "They did not waver regardless of that which afflicted them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they give in." (3:146)
3. While social media has been filled with grief, condolences, and eulogies, it has also not been void of hypocrites who have engaged in mockery, joy, and ridicule. In doing so, they renew for us the stories of Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul and his group, about whom Allah revealed verses that will be recited until the Day of Judgment. Among those verses is: "If any good touches you, it upsets them. But if anything evil befalls you, they rejoice at it." (3:120) This has always been their way: rejoicing in the misfortunes of the believers and being upset at their victories.
If Allah clarified their conditions in many verses while Islam was strong and the Prophet ﷺ was present among the people, then how about now? This clarification today is from the obligations.