Never leave your soul in despair
For God is our Hope and with Him is our affair
"Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allaah except the disbelieving people." (Yoosuf: 87).
"If Allaah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allaah – never will He waste their deeds. He will guide them and amend their condition. And admit them to Paradise, which He has made known to them. O you who have believed, if you support Allaah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet. But those who disbelieve – for them is misery, and He will waste their deeds." (Muhammad: 4-8)
Worldview:
Every community has a paradigm that projects its relationship with the phenomena world. Islam also provides a worldview based on faith in one God, Prophethood, and belief in the Hereafter. These three principles are the foundation of religious understanding in the Quran. Regarding the catastrophe in Gaza, I want to examine these principles and propose an understanding of the circumstances based on the Quran.
The Story of Khalid bin Walid:
The basis of the Muslim worldview begins with shahada – testimony to the oneness of God. Tawhid simply means that God is in command. There is no one worthy of worship except God. To illustrate this, during the campaign against Byzantine, Muslims were outnumbered by their enemies. When the commander Khalid Bin Walid sensed that despair may overcome the Muslims, he reminded them by shouting– "La hola wala quwwata illah billah" – "there is neither power nor might except with God". In response, the entire army heeded the call and started to repeat the statement. With trust in God and faith in heart they defeated a mightier opponent. This occurred because Muslims understood that success is from God and whenever they turn to Him they will indeed triumph. The Quran reminds the believers,
"Victory only comes from God, the Mighty, the Wise." (Qur'an 3:126)
The second principal that outlines the worldview of a Muslim is the belief in the code of conduct of Prophet Muhammed - the second part of shahada. In this context, God says,
"You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah". (Al-Ahzaab: 21)
The Story of the Missing Sunnah!
A classic example of success by following the footsteps of the Prophet is found in the story of a Persian campaign. The Muslim army laid an extensive siege to a Persian district but they were not successful against the enemy. The Muslims did some soul searching. In the past, whenever they laid siege to an area they succeeded in no time. They started to investigate the cause of the delay in victory. After much discussion and debate in the camp it was found that the entire army had neglected the use of tooth-stick (miswak) – a sunnah of the Prophet. Therefore, they rushed in fulfilling this sunnah. On the other side, when the enemy saw the Muslim army with this new practice, they trembled in fear thinking that the Muslim soldiers were sharpening their teeth to eat the Persians. Due to this fear, the enemy surrendered their will to fight and the Persian district was liberated due the practice of one sunnah alone.
This story may serve as an aide memoire that Muslims have a role model and any type of response that goes against the teaching of the Prophet is simply un-Islamic. Surely, "the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad" as the Prophet would relay to his companions during Friday sermons.
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