1) Palestine is not the aggressor: From 1948 onwards, five hundred and thirty one villages were ethnically cleansed, thousands killed in multiple incursion operations and millions expelled by Israel. Just now a hospital in Gaza was destroyed. It’s important to remember these facts.

2) Disinformation is real: Be critical of what you read from government narratives, lest disinformation sway your heart. As Malcolm X said: ‘If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the oppressed, and loving the oppressor’

3) The killing of innocents: The targeted, intentional killing of children and women is definitively haram in the Shari’ah. It’s narrated by Ibn Umar that the Prophet (saws) forbade the killing of women and children (Sahih Muslim).

Other hadith such as in Imam Malik’s Muwatta narrate the same. We condemn it regardless of who does it (I only say this in case people are confused or believe the 40 babies story, which I do not).

4) If you feel hurt, it’s a sign of faith: Your concern, anger, passion and that pit in the stomach as you watch the news is a marker. It’s easy to despair, but let it spur us on.

5) Those slain, die as martyrs inshAllah: Our brothers and sisters who are killed in Palestine will die as Shuhadaa (martyrs). In a hadith the Prophet (saws) said “The souls of martyrs are alive in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hanging from the Throne of the Almighty…” (Muslim)

The green birds reference indicates their lofty position with Allah. It is so upsetting what they are going through, but the hereafter is better and everlasting.

6) Any action you do will be rewarded: If you go on a protest, donate money, speak about it on social media – anything you do to support your brothers/sisters will incur reward from Allah inshAllah. Allah does not neglect even the weight of an atom of good (Qur’an 99:7). Don’t forget, du’a is the weapon of the believer.

7) Allah is the Reckoner (Al-Haseeb): Allah will hold all oppressors to account in the hereafter. To the extent, in a hadith even a hornless goat will take retribution from a horned goat (Muslim). Those who usurped land, attacked others and murdered will face judgement on the day by the King of Kings.

We ask Allah he protects our brothers and sisters at this time and rewards them immensely during this great tribulation.