The assault on Gaza has been an incredible tribulation for the people of Gaza and the entire Muslim world. However, Allah tells us that the purpose of worldly tribulations is to awaken our hearts and make us turn back to Him.
In this vein, 78% of those surveyed reported that their relationship with Allah has improved since the assault on Gaza began. This is an astounding proportion, and the reasons for this are likely many, including being reminded of death and needing to implore Allah to help alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters. However, one of the most powerful factors appears to be the unshakeable faith of the people of Gaza elevating the ummah’s
religiosity and consciousness. Many have seen countless videos of the people of Gaza trusting in Allah (
tawakkul) in every circumstance, including toddlers and children praising Allah and vowing to be patient and mothers and fathers graciously accepting the martyrdom of their children. Witnessing all of this has caused 91% of our respondents to state that the people of Gaza have given them ‘quite a bit’ or ‘a lot’ of religious inspiration, with 97% reporting being ‘quite’ or ‘extremely’ proud of the people of Gaza. The people of Gaza are giving
dʾawah (calling people to Islam)
globally, inspiring people to open up the Qur’an in search of the beliefs that we have witnessed providing them with so much strength. Evidently, the ummah’s spiritual awakening has been heavily impacted by reconnecting with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
We discovered that 85% of Muslims reported feeling ‘quite a bit’ or ‘a lot’ of comfort in the Qur’an, and 80% found similar levels of comfort in the biography (seerah) of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Qur’an has come to life in new ways for Muslims from all levels of religiosity. The verses that we’ve read numerous times now have new meaning when we connect them to the situation in Gaza; the verses describing the attitude of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions during war appear to aptly describe the people of Gaza and the verses describing punishment for oppressors now make more sense. Ultimately, the Qur’an has taken on new relevance as it describes the situation unfolding before our eyes as if it were being revealed today.
The details of the afterlife found in the Qur’an and Sunnah have also brought tremendous comfort and clarity to Muslims worldwide. For example, 96% reported that knowing that our brothers and sisters who were martyred are alive in paradise brought ‘quite a bit’ or ‘a lot’ of comfort. The Prophet ﷺ beautifully explained this to his companions to motivate them and cheer them up, saying, “When your brothers were killed at Uhud, Allah put their souls in green birds that go down to the rivers of Paradise, eat its fruit, and nestle in lamps of gold under the shade of the Throne. Then, when they experienced the sweetness of their food, drink, and rest, they asked, ‘Who will tell our brothers about us that we are alive in Paradise provided with provision, in order that they might not be disinterested in jihad and recoil from war?’ Allah said, ‘I shall tell them about you’; so Allah sent down, ‘And do not consider those who have been killed in Allah’s path to be dead.’”
Similarly, 94% said that knowing that oppressors (who don’t repent) will be punished was also a major source of comfort. The Qur’anic descriptions of how oppressors and their supporters will bicker in hellfire and blame one another provide the believers with certainty that justice will be served on the Day of Judgment (Qur’an 28:59-64). Strikingly, before the assault on Gaza began, the existence of hellfire and its punishment was a cause of doubt for some Muslims, but now it has become a source of conviction for many.