contributed photo
Prophet's Mosque in Medina.
“Faith Matters” is a column that features pieces written by local religious figures.
(Opinion) The Qur’an, which was revealed during Ramadan in the sixth century to Prophet Muhammad, is read daily to remind Muslims not only of their commitment to God and His commands but also their commitment to the lives of all living beings.
Since he is mentioned more than any other prophet throughout the Qur’an, Prophet Moses’ life is described in detail throughout the holy text.
His life was a prime example of the following quote from Howard Zinn:
“To be hopeful in bad times is based on the fact that human history is not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand Utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
Throughout history, the example of an oppressed people rising above violence and destruction to challenge and thwart the evil of their oppressor is part and parcel of God’s promise of victory for the God-fearing believer.
Moses’ life story parallels with the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom from the evil of their oppressor. Being Palestinian made them the target of a brutal onslaught that has been witnessed by the world for the last 18 months.
As Moses’ family was Jewish, all male infants were singled out for annihilation by Pharaoh. All newborn male babies were seen as a threat to the very existence of the oligarchy.
During a time of immense cruelty, Moses’ mother accepted sacrificing the wellbeing of her child due to instruction from God. She put him in a basket and sent him down the Nile River with hopes that he would be saved. Her nurturing instinct caused her to hold him close, fearing the worst, but her faith and trust in God eased her fear and she sent her infant off. He was retrieved, raised and grew up in the household of Pharoah, his enemy, with all of the pomp and circumstance that came with wealth and aristocracy. This tyrant, who ruled with an iron fist, wrecked havoc on the poor and destitute who lived under his rule.
Now we are in the 21st century witnessing the Pharaoh-like devastation and death of a people who are poor and destitute in occupied Palestine. The wealth of western nations is being used during these last ten days of Ramadan to re-escalate the ongoing genocide. The latest bombardment has resulted in the death of more than 700 citizens of Gaza, over 200 of them being children.
The mothers of Gaza will continue to birth children despite the grim reality that they may die at birth as the threat of annihilation hovers over their heads. Their hope is that the innate proclivity among humanity toward compassion, courage and kindness will prevail and bring an end to the killing. Their faith in God’s will impels them to nurture God-conscious children who will rise above the death and destruction, repelling the evil of the ruling elite and becoming victorious leaders on the land of their birth as was the case with Moses.
“This is God’s promise: God never breaks His promise, but most people do not know; they only know the outer surface of this present life and are heedless of the life to come.” Qur’an 30:6 – 7
People of faith have an obligation to stand firm on the side of justice even if it is against their own government. Evil only prevails when the faithful remain silent. Our responsibility is to demand an end to the genocide through any means necessary. That is how we demonstrate that faith matters.
Jamilah Rasheed is a member of New Haven’s Muslim community.