The night is filled with the terrifying sounds of bombs exploding nearby, shaking our flimsy tent and adding to the noise of the drones that hover above us 24 hours a day. The air is thick with the smell of burning buildings and scorched earth, making it hard to breathe. My sisters and I huddle together, whispering prayers and clinging to the verses of the Qur'an we know by heart. Sleep seems impossible, drowned out by the constant noise of the bombing around us.
The nights are filled with fear and supplication. After Fajr, we wait for the first light of dawn and peer through our tent. Tired but determined, we begin our daily chores in this new place to which we have once again been displaced. The smoky air, mixed with the terrible smell of decay, is a harsh reminder of all the death and destruction nearby. But we have no choice but to carry on.
We fetch water from the sea or try to find drinking water from a tank, light fires to cook what little food we can find, and wash our few clothes with makeshift soap made from ashes.
It is hard to stay clean. Without regular supplies, we have to get creative. We use sand and leaves to scrub our skin and soak rags in rainwater to wipe away the dirt. Cooking is equally difficult as there is little fuel. Despite the terrible smell, we burn anything we can find—wood, leaves, and even old plastic.
The best part of the day is going to our makeshift mosque, a simple tent where we gather to study the Qur'an. The bumpy, dusty half-hour journey by donkey cart is worth it for the peace and happiness we find there.
As the cart bumps along the rough road, I can't help but think of life before the onslaught. We had beautiful homes surrounded by love, paved roads despite the blockade, and mosques with tall minarets where we could pray and learn. Our schools were filled with laughter and learning, not the sounds of destruction.
Despite all we've lost, our faith remains strong. Our belief in the Akhirah and our trust in Allah (swt) keep us going. The words of the Qur'an are our anchor, giving us strength and hope. Despite the despair, our faith makes us resilient and reminds us that this world is temporary and our true reward awaits us in the Hereafter.
Impact on me
I often wonder what it feels like to lose everything - your home, school, neighborhood, friends, relatives, and even family. What do you take with you when the Israelis call to tell you that you have one minute to get out of the building before they bomb it? Such calls come with frightening regularity in Palestine, giving families only seconds to grab what they can and flee. How do you keep your faith when you are driven from your home to a school, then to a tent, then from a tent to nowhere but the desert? How do you find the strength to carry on?
As I contemplated these questions from the safety of my home, I came across a video of young Palestinian girls in Gaza who showed the incredible strength of Islam.
These beautiful young girls, who have been displaced many times and have seen indescribable daily horrors for months, have not given up their study and memorization of the Qur'an. As someone who works on memorizing the Qur'an every day, albeit with extremely slow progress, I am filled with awe. I am in awe of their connection to the Qur'an, how they have made it central to their survival and perseverance, and how they have built their strength through the words of Allah Almighty.
These remarkable human beings call their Qur'an memorization circle the “Halaqa of Kindness” because finding kind words during genocide is both difficult and crucial. Despite their dire circumstances, they manage to look clean and tidy, displaying admirable strength and resilience. The most striking aspect is their demeanor: they are always smiling, strong, and excited about their daily trip to the tent mosque.
Inside the tent, which looks suffocatingly hot from the screen I am watching, you can see many girls sitting next to each other, all looking neat and tidy and memorizing the Qur'an. They all look so focused, determined, and strong despite being in the midst of the most documented, horrific genocide of modern times. Two of these extraordinary girls have recited the entire Qur'an, from Al-Fatiha to An-Nas, in a single sitting. Can you believe it? That means they recited six hundred pages from memory! Yes, you read that right, more than 600 pages. The will, determination, discipline, autonomy, and connection to Allah (swt) these girls must have is mind-blowing.
They give us strength; they are portrayals of the true nature of submission to the will of Allah (swt), true patience (sabr), perseverance, and resilience. Instead of succumbing to hopelessness and depression, they resist by holding on to life dearly. But the life they hold on to is not about worldly possessions; memorizing the Qur'an and following its guidance is a possession so rich that it benefits the person in this world, but it's true wealth is revealed in the hereafter.
All of us, all Muslims who are struggling to remain hopeful in these times, to keep going in the face of adversity, and to focus on increasing our memorization of the Qur'an, should take their example from these young souls who do not cease in their struggle to please Allah (swt) in the most desperate and terrible circumstances. Those who take action and resist oppression are far less likely to fall into despair because their hearts are not set on worldly possessions but on a reward that no one has ever seen. Their story is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Islam, reminding us all that true strength comes not from our circumstances but from our connection to something greater.
