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,
In the Qur’an there is a principle that appears again and again. Every person will stand before Allah and answer for what he knew and what he chose to do with that knowledge. The Qur’an says that on the Day of Judgement a person’s hearing, sight, and heart will all be questioned. This reminder appears in many verses because it teaches believers that awareness itself carries responsibility.
The early Muslims understood this clearly. When the companions of the Prophet ﷺ heard a command from Allah or guidance from the Prophet, they did not treat it as information that could be ignored. They believed that once knowledge reached them it became part of their accountability before Allah. This is why many of them changed their lives immediately after hearing a verse of the Qur’an or a teaching from the Prophet ﷺ.
There is a well-known narration in which the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sees a wrongdoing should try to change it with his hand. If he cannot do that, he should speak against it. If he cannot do that, then he should at least reject it in his heart. The companions understood this teaching as a reminder that indifference is not acceptable for a believer. A Muslim may have limited ability to act, but he should never become comfortable with injustice.
The history of the companions shows how seriously they took this responsibility. When Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab governed the Muslim community, he often reminded the people that authority and comfort did not remove their duty toward others. He feared that if Muslims became too accustomed to security they might forget the struggles that many believers faced in other places.
Your situation reminds the ummah of this same lesson. Knowledge of hardship is not something neutral. When Muslims become aware that other members of the community are suffering, that awareness places a question before their conscience. Each person must decide how he will respond to that knowledge.
For some people the response may be prayer. For others it may be charity, advocacy, or support offered in different ways. The forms of response will differ from person to person, but the principle remains the same. A believer should not allow knowledge of injustice to pass without reflection on what responsibility it creates.
Ever your sister of the ummah you dignify.
