Dealing with the continuation of this live-streamed genocide this Ramadan has been difficult for us all. But it has been jarring to observe the contrast in our social media feeds - on the one hand, we scroll past sheer horror, devastation, loss and heartache to seamlessly move to the many lavish feasts of our fellow Muslims - seemingly oblivious to the suffering. Are we justifying an Islam that is bereft of feeling?
We struggled as a team to develop a title and caption for this episode because we all felt a sense of guilt and culpability. What would our brothers and sisters in Gaza think about our Ramadan: the child who helplessly scuttled around to pick up the body parts of his murdered mother, the father of a dead journalist angry at his brethren’s lack of concern, the mother who lost everyone - it is as if we have normalised this slaughter.
I attended very few public iftars this Ramadan, and at most events, Gaza is no longer even mentioned, save for some cursory call for dua.
Dr Khalid El-Awaisi tells us we will all be asked by Allah on the Day of Judgement what we did for Gaza. It is unsettling, but we all have to hear his message. We have to do better.
ثُمَّ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
On that Day, you will be asked about your pleasures.
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