These seven letters mark the beginning of Dearest Gaza, written during a time when the suffering of the Gaza Strip unfolded in full view of the world and many of us found ourselves watching from afar, unsure what witnessing truly demanded of us. They are not reports, arguments, or attempts to explain events, but reflections on faith, distance, responsibility, and what it means to belong to an ummah that feels both connected and powerless in the face of injustice. These letters form the first stones of this archive. They are an opening act of remembrance and witness, from which other voices may one day emerge to write, reflect, and carry forward the act of remembering.
Dearest Gaza,
The word ummah appears frequently in the Qur’an. It refers to the community of believers who are joined together by faith in Allah and by their commitment to the guidance brought by the Prophet ﷺ. This community is not defined by language, ethnicity, or geography. From the earliest days of Islam it included people from different tribes and lands who shared a common belief and a common responsibility.
When the Prophet ﷺ established the community in Madinah, the idea of the ummah took practical form. The migrants from Makkah and the helpers of Madinah lived side by side and supported one another despite coming from different backgrounds. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged this bond by pairing individuals from the two groups as brothers so that no one would feel abandoned or isolated. Through this arrangement the early Muslims learned that belonging to the ummah required mutual care and solidarity.
The companions often spoke about the unity of the Muslim community. They understood that a believer should not think of himself as separate from the wider body of Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ described this relationship by comparing the believers to a single body. If one part of the body suffers, the rest of the body responds with concern and care. This teaching was repeated often because it explained how Muslims should think about their relationship with one another.
Over time the ummah expanded across many regions and cultures. Muslims came to live in lands separated by great distances, and the circumstances of their lives became very different from one place to another. Yet the principle remained that faith created a connection stronger than geography. Even when Muslims lived far apart, they were taught to remember that they belonged to the same community.
Your condition reminds the ummah of this bond. The people of the Gaza Strip are part of the same community of faith as Muslims in every other land. When hardship touches one part of the community, it calls the rest of the ummah to reflect on the meaning of that connection and the responsibilities it carries.
Ever your sister of the ummah you dignify.
