Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
11 March 2024 | 11:09 a.m. SAST
3-minute read

The month of Ramadan has begun in Gaza, marked by scenes of faith and resilience amidst the destruction and extreme challenges faced by thousands of Palestinians. Many find themselves displaced from their homes, living in tents, shelters, or amidst the shattered remains of their residences. Despite the dire circumstances, Palestinians in places like Rafah and the north gathered to perform Salaat at-Tarawih in the open air, expressing their faith and making heartfelt du’a (supplications) to Allah.

The unique challenges facing Gazans this Ramadhan include the scarcity of standing masaajid and the widespread suffering caused by hunger and deprivation. Many reflect on months of starvation, imposed by Israel’s onslaught on Gaza. Moreover, recent actions by Israelis, such as distributing disrespectful leaflets invoking Ramadan greetings while imposing restrictions, are making the situation worse.

“Just a few days ago, on the brink of Ramadan, the Israelis, in a really depraved act, threw down these leaflets on the Gaza Strip, wherein they sent a kind of Ramadan greeting, insult basically, to the people of Gaza, quoting parts of ahadith: feed the needy, speak good words to people. This is amidst the dehydration and the starvation that they have imposed on Gaza. And, you know, going on in that particular leaflet to say that they pray that the fasts are accepted, and the sins are forgiven, and hoping that the Palestinians have a delicious iftaar,” Moulana Ebrahim Moosa told Radio Islam’s Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat earlier today.

Despite the adversity, sentiments of hope and determination prevail among the people of Gaza. Pictures and videos shared on social media show people welcoming the month of Ramadan in different ways, emphasising a collective desire to experience a blessed Ramadan despite the ongoing war and hunger.

“Some reflecting on before the war, how they could hear the Adhan from masaajid. Now there is nothing. Still, they say, we will pray in our destroyed homes. But we still have this yearning desire to have been able to pray like Muslims all over the world, Tarawih, in their Masjids. But a beautiful message written on one of the walls of Gaza, in this beautiful Ramadan script, decorative script, saying, despite the war and hunger, we still are going to attempt to have a blessed Ramadan,” Moulana Moosa reports.

Meanwhile, expectations for Ramadan at Masjid al-Aqsa remain clouded by Israeli restrictions and provocations. Blanket restrictions, barricades, and age limitations have been in place since October, limiting Muslim access to the site. Entry is being limited from various regions, including the West Bank, Gaza, and Palestine 1948.

Israeli assurances regarding the number of worshippers allowed at Masjid al-Aqsa are met with scepticism, given the history of disruptions and warnings issued to young Palestinians. While the start of Ramadan at the masjid was relatively peaceful, Palestinians attempting to perform salaah outside were denied entry, potentially escalating tensions in the days to come.

Given the United States’ complicity in Israel’s onslaught on Gaza, President Biden’s Ramadan message, in which he mentions the suffering of the Palestinian people, is hypocritical.

“Biden issues his Ramadan message yesterday, and he says that the suffering of the Palestinian people will be front of mind for many, and he says it is front of mind for me as well… This is another statement from the Americans that adds insult to injury. This is one of the chief engineers and architects of this genocide and the starvation that is occurring in Gaza, who now pretends that the suffering just comes out of thin air.

In addition, Biden’s pledge to construct a pier off the coast of Gaza to supposedly facilitate humanitarian aid delivery has raised eyebrows, as it is seen as just another superficial measure.

“And it comes in a similar vein to the airdrops that the Americans have initiated in Gaza, which is another superficial measure, as we’ve discussed last week. And it’s worth mentioning here that just in the last few days, during one of those airdrops, one of the parachutes failed to open. And as a result of that, a pellet of aid that fell on Gaza resulted itself in becoming an instrument of death, killing five people in the process,” Moulana Moosa says.

May Allah Ta’ala make it easy for people in Palestine and for the entire Muslim Ummah.

Listen to the Palestine Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.