Salam, Mohammed.

Thank you very much for this much needed and timely question which highlights one of the most important issues that does not relate to one country only rather to the whole world; namely the issue of Palestine.

In fact, the Palestinian issue is a representation of the eternal fight between the oppressed and the oppressor, between the occupied and the occupier. Gaza holocaust is one of a series of events in the long process of fighting for rights and is a landmark on the atrocities committed by the Israeli Zionist occupation.

Of course not only religious values are to be called in this situation; rather, human values, reason, passion and emotion should all be amassed for a situation like this.

Now, the answer to your question is yes, religious values can offer a lot to people, because whether they like it or not, people give space to the voice of religion. It is our religious sense that builds in us the conscience; the love for good and the hate for evil.

It is normally religion that defines what value is. It is religion that defines what is good and what is bad.

People cannot go on their own to find out these basic concepts; although they can diversify them and develop their conception. Yet, the core is still a religious product, simply because religion is something that is normally linked with the Divine, God the Most High, in whatever name people do call Him.

Because people cannot define value and cannot draw a clear border between value and non-value, they need divine guidance to place a manual for them so that they do not fall into the abyss of injustice and chaos.

When it comes to the issue of Gaza and what is happening there, there is a plethora of values which Islam can offer in this respect. Topping the list is justice, which I believe is the most needed value of our time and all times.

Justice is the core value that summarizes the whole crisis and solves it. In Palestine, as is the case in many other places, what is causing disruption and atrocities is the absence of justice. When man dares to wrong his fellow man, occupy his land, take his house and claim that it is his, what face of humanity can we imagine if not the face of injustice and evil?

With the world's super powers calling for calmness and serenity, I believe they should call for justice before anything else. Simply because calmness is merely a reflection and representation of justice.

You cannot leave someone bleeding and run for a thermometer to test his temperature. You have to stop the bleeding first, and then measure whatever you want. That is the unsolved equilibrium here which causes the problem and keeps the wound bleeding.

Everyone is speaking about the present situation while the present is so much linked with the past. Justice comes first and it has to be called to play its role and this is one of the most important things Islam can offer, simply because God is Just.

You asked on what basis can people react, and I tell you we have to differentiate between the people inside and the people outside Palestine. The people inside have the right to react on the basis of self-defense and restoring the long lost rights and this will be considered a small part in the bigger process of putting justice in place.

Because part of justice is to stop the oppressor from his oppression, for many reasons including his being your brother in humanity.

Yet, the people outside have got many other bases, venues and ways to react with the same aim of restoring justice.

First, awareness and raising the awareness about what is happening in Gaza. People have to speak about the history of the injustices that were and are being committed in Palestine. They should also amass the whole world against these injustices.

People can print flyers and distribute them everywhere. Watch documentaries about the history of the problem to help them understand the deep roots of the problem.

Muslims can speak to their non-Muslim friends. They should unveil the Israeli atrocities and massacres and let people know the truth and create a contra-media campaign.  

Second, people should show emotional and financial support to the Palestinians who are displaced, tortured and killed day and night. They should try to alleviate the pains of the Palestinians and stop the holocaust that is being practiced against them.

People can donate to organizations that work for Palestinian aid. There are many of them everywhere in the word.

Thirdly, linking ourselves with Allah and seeking His guidance and qualifying ourselves to deserve His victory is one main value that we need. When people claim the victory is late, I say they are making it late because they are not up to it.

People outside Palestine can sponsor an orphan, help a family in need or at least sponsor a project that can generate money to a family, or pay education fees for a son of a martyr. The reward is much and the least money can definitely be of value.

Another unfailing weapon is duaa (supplication). We should pray to Allah to help them out of their plight.

One important thing has also to be taken into consideration is to dispatch religion from what is happening in the name of religion. Those atrocities being committed in the name of religion should be declared to have no connection whatsoever with religion.

In front of the Israeli rabbis edict that these atrocities are justified, we should show that religion will never command a man to shed the blood of his fellow man.

By highlighting these facts, we will be putting a lot of aspects of justice in place and helping people stand against oppression.

Islam says that the usurped lands have to be given back to their owners. It says that women, children and non-combatants have to be safe and never be subject to any attack. Islam says that justice has to be put in place and it is the right of everyone to be treated justly.

Finally, I think there is a greater need as well to make religion appealing to people and this is one of the most important values that we need to highlight.

People need to regain their trust in religion and that it can solve their problem, people need to reconnect themselves with God again and give Him a space in their lives. I believe when people turn off their hearts and disconnect them from God, many evils start to emerge and many atrocities spark.

The only way to give a stop to this is by awakening the fear of God in the hearts and minds of people, and therefore opening their hearts to each other. When people realize they are brothers, they will think twice before infringing rights of each other.

I hope this answers your question. Please keep in touch.

Salam.

Useful Links:

The Biblical Roots of the Palestinian Problem

The Blessed Sanctuaries of Jerusalem

Al-Aqsa Mosque & the Qiblah

Temple Mount

Prayers for Gaza (Share Yours) (External Link)

Gaza Holocaust: Share Your Call (External Link)

Gaza Holocaust: Muslims' Duties? (External Link)

The Sacred Duty of Defending Jerusalem (External Link)

Gaza Holocaust Museum (External Link)

Al-Aqsa: Status & Significance (External Link)

How to Help Fellow Palestinians (External Link)

Palestine: After Storm Comes Sunshine (External Link)

How Can Muslims in the US Support Their Fellow Palestinians? (External Link)