We are not helpless

More than two months have passed since the start of the current assault on Gaza. The numbers of people murdered, the destruction, and the hypocrisy of the world in not stopping these atrocities can make it easy to feel helpless and that nothing matters. To feel defeated and deflated. Yet, our worldview, imagination and hope is informed by who Allah is and the Quran, not by the deception of the outward. And this is where we find the strength and steadfastness to continue, and when we know that we are not helpless at all.

In these times, we are strengthened not just by the promise of Allah and the precedent He has shown us in the Qur'an, but in who He is. When Allah tells us something about Himself, it is purposeful and never frivolous. While we usually find comfort in Allah's names of mercy, like al-Rahman or al-Wahhab, in these times, we find solace in His names of majesty and justice. These names remind us that we have not been forgotten, that the pain is not in vain, and that oppressors will face true justice.

And He tells us that He is al-Muhaymin -  He is the One in full control and authority. No matter how much those in power believe that they control events and outcomes, it is Allah, al-Muhaymin, who is truly in control. Indeed, Pharaoh thought he was in control, and to prevent his overthrowing, murdered the male babies of Bani Israel - a pompous, atrocious exercise of his hegemony. Anyone who lived there at the time would have never been able to imagine a world beyond Pharaoh. They may have felt weak, helpless, and unable to change events.

We might read this story without putting ourselves in it, thereby missing what it must have felt like to be living in those times. They were marginalized and oppressed, with no power whatsoever. Allah reminds us, "˹Remember˺ how We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh, who afflicted you with dreadful torment, slaughtering your sons and keeping your women. That was a severe test from your Lord." (2:49) 

And yet, Allah shows us through this story how He is al-Muhaymin. The 'plot twist', so to speak, is that one child avoids this fate, the son of a pious mother, who throws her son in the river. She trusts that it is Allah who is in control, not Pharaoh with his machinations, and even the river she threw him in. And this boy, the Prophet Moosa (as), ends up growing up safely in the house of the man who thought that no one could escape his plans. Yet, "they plot away while Allah is plotting too, and Allah  is the best Plotter!" (8:30)

As believers, we remind ourselves in this moment that Allah has true and full control over everything. And this is the antidote to apathy. If the powers that be truly were in control, no one would be blamed for giving up - everything from supplications to political pressure would be futile. But knowing that Allah is above, that He is in control, means knowing that whatever we do, from praying, to protesting, lobbying, boycotting, and donating to help those suffering, all count for something with Him. They move the needle by His will. Allah reminds us:

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ (137) هَٰذَا بَيَانٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ (138) وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ (139) إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ (140)

Similar situations came to pass before you, so travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers. This is an insight to humanity—a guide and a lesson to the God-fearing. Do not falter or grieve, for you will have the upper hand, if you are ˹true˺ believers. If you have suffered injuries, they suffered similarly. We alternate these days ˹of victory and defeat˺ among people so that Allah may reveal the ˹true˺ believers, choose martyrs from among you—and Allah does not like the wrongdoers. (3:137-140)

And already we see that they are, in fact, not in control. They cannot control the narrative. People are protesting in droves every day. The lies end up exposed in real-time. If they were truly in control, they would better be able to hide their lies. They would better be able to sway public opinion.

And while this might help us do what we can, the devastation might still feel too much. The injustice we are witnessing fuels the thirst for justice and accountability.

But Allah is also al-Qahhar. Al-Qahhar is the One who dominates over and subdues. One part of it is outward and physical domination: Pharaoh, for example, was drowned while attempting to subdue Moosa (as) - but Allah overpowered him. He did not die heroically in battle, but in a sea that submitted to al-Qahhar: it split for Moosa (as) and overpowered Pharaoh. His 'power' was exposed for what it was: an illusion. And this domination happens on Allah's time, according to His wisdom. The delay only builds the case against Pharaoh for the ultimate accountability on the Day of Judgment, tests those around him (what will they do in the face of this oppression, become like Moosa (as) or like Qarun?), and elevate the righteous.

Allah's qahr can manifest in other ways in this world: Allah subdues the hearts & souls of the oppressors, such that they never experience internal peace nor pleasure. They are tortured from within.

And finally, on the Day of Judgment, the "people all appear before God, the One, the Overpowering (al-Qahhār)." (14:48) Everyone who was oppressed in Gaza, all of Palestine, in Syria, the Uyghurs - everyone - will witness the humiliation of the tyrants. And the oppressors who thought they escaped accountability will have nowhere to hide.

So where do we go from here? The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Even if the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, let him plant it.” (Musnad Aḥmad 12902) We do not give up and we never falter. We use our skills and talents in different ways, from educating our families and communities, remaining steadfast in faith and spreading hope, and speaking out in truth. We continue to pray and we continue to move, remaining steadfast upon our values and ethics as Muslims.

We don't know what the world will look like next week, let alone in a couple of years. There is no way that anyone would have imagined the oppressed Muslims in Makkah, as they were under siege with little food or water, would return victorious and prosper, such that there are almost two billion Muslims today.

So, as the Qur’an tells us, “Do not falter or grieve” - support what Allah loves, in the way that He loves, and turn to Him for solace and hope. We are never helpless with Allah.