Good and Evil Have Rarely Been So Obvious

Palestinian family sharing a Ramadan meal in the rubble.

The photo above is the perfect image of human dignity and goodness under unimaginable circumstances. Despite bombardment, soldiers killing children by the thousands, no shelter and no safe place to go, yet they find this moment. They deserve our undying support and admiration to do whatever we can to help their people in this genocide in Gaza and all of Palestine. Contrast with the image below:

And many more would have shot him on sight.

Or this/

Worshipers in Al-Aqsa mosque zip-tied for praying there.

Is there any greater depravity?

This was the least offensive of many images showing off women’s lingerie making lascivious faces and gestures, one man wearing woman’s underwear over his uniform.

These are all attempts to humiliate and dehumanize Palestinians as their society routinely does. But NOTHING can destroy the resilience, courage, and high moral character and faith of the Palestinians. Not even these depraved satanic forces. And of course, it’s obvious who is going to hell and who is going straight to the highest paradise for their powerful faith and patience under the most dire persecution imaginable.

Trying to celebrate Ramadan in the most dire circumstances. Is that not bravery and faith for such small children?

Oldest Video of the Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca + Hajj History and benefits

Made in 1928, this video is purported to be the oldest video recording (actually is was probably film transferred to video) of the Hajj, annual pilgrimage to Mecca, also showing the preparations, travel by camel, and other aspects of what was once a much more arduous journey to the holy site. Back then you had to bring your own tents and the entire city was off-limits to non-Muslims.

The history of the Hajj (now also spelled Haj) is not only about the rituals that are performed during the annual Hajj during the month of Thul-Hajja 8-12, but also the journey to get there, which reflects the history of transportation and related development.

A Beautiful Video Message from Mecca

LETTER FROM MECCA pic.twitter.com/oChq19D04a

— SNEAKO (@sneako) December 31, 2023

He captures his discovery of the spirit of Islam in Mecca and Medina. Very moving regardless of your POV.

This video eloquently expresses the impact of being in Mecca and Medina, feeling the soul of Islam as a way of life, an attitude, a sanctuary and peace he now must take home with him to the very different materialistic West.

Message to Palestine: You Are Stronger and Allah Is with You

Dr. Omar Suleiman of Dallas, Texas gave this khutba above, among other things, quoting from and explaining the beautiful aya below:

When people said to them, “A great army has assembled against you, so fear them.” But the threat only increased them in their conviction. They said, “Allah suffices for us and He is the best Guardian.” (3:173)

Zionism: How Ideology Hijacks Religion

This Quora post brilliantly exposes how Zionism grew as an ideology from secular and socialist ideas, considering various locations such as Uganda and Azerbaijan for a possible Jewish homeland long before the Holocaust, into the nationalist political ideology it has become. The supposed Biblical justification for forcibly colonizing Palestine was used as a means to an end; prior to the invention of Zionism, Jewish rabbis and scholars were primarily concerned with Jews’ relationship to God, not with any particular “land.” Another “means” justifying the “end” was the political support of avid antisemites who saw this as a way to get rid of Jews in their countries. Muslims being accused of terrorism is directly related to Zionist ideology which sought and succeeded to convince the West to demonize Muslims, which they felt would strengthen their hand against Palestinians. But Allah’s plan supersedes their wildest conspiracies.

Israel Attacks Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

https://youtu.be/L4Ez29JfsGM

In the middle of prayers in the holy month of Ramadan, last night Israeli troops invaded the Al-Aqsa sacred mosque during prayers in an ambush, beating women and men who were in the midst of prayer. At least seven were injured and Israel claims to have arrested 500 people. What was their crime? Their crime was being Palestinians in what Israel calls an exclusively Jewish “homeland.” We should collectively as Muslims offer a du’a to Allah to help the Muslims under such oppression and injustice, and to protect all Palestinians regardless of their religion, as mentioned in the previous post.

Saudi Govt Waging War on Islam Itself, Not “Extremism”

CJ Werleman gives this insightful report and what we can do about it.

Muslims often lead busy lives, in some places struggling just to survive, and for various reasons may not be aware of this. But Saudi Arabia under MBS is no longer protecting the holy sites — and apparently the regime has been working on their destruction long beforehand, according to the video above. No longer a safe place for Muslims to practice their religion. No longer interested in protecting the rights of Muslims in the world, or interested in Islam as a religion or way of life.

Eid Mubarak!

For this Eid, newly-revised post on the story of prophet Ibrahim’s test of sacrificing his son Isma’il (Ishmael). We examine the amazing equality between father and son, reflected in word and letter counts, as well as a more complete answer to the question of why did Allah ask Ibrahim to sacrifice his son.

The Quranic Story of Abraham’s Sacrifice – Its Surprising Message and Precision

Hajj 2022

Eid Mubarak!

NYC: Empire State Building turned green for Eid

Celebrations of Eid ul-Fitr Worldwide below.

Al-Aqsa Mosque Again Under Siege

Every year, or I should say every Ramadan, Israel attacks Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, a holy site to millions of Muslims worldwide, to allow far right-wing settlers to harass worshipers and desecrate the mosque (by physical destruction), which they want to destroy. This year’s provocations came within 48 hours of each other, the first resulting in a 20-year high of almost 500 arrests of Palestinian worshipers, and the second came as an invasion of 545 right-wing settlers in cooperation with Israeli police and against written international agreements. Reports below:

In front of his child's eyes, Israeli occupation forces attack a Palestinian father at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.#AlAqsaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/ktgbxILy4i

— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 #BravePalestine (@OnlinePalEng) April 17, 2022

The point is to brutalize and intimidate Palestinians and send a message to Muslims “we own your sacred mosque.” Especially during Ramadan, to let it sink in.