“Gaza’s Glory: The Worst Symbol of Israel’s Defeat

إِنَّ الحَمْدَ للهِ، نَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا الله، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ ورسولهﷺتسليماً كثيراﷺتسليماً كثيرا-
أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰہِ السَّمِیعِ الْعَلِیمِ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ الرَّجِیمِ۔۔۔۔ بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
“All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, ask for His forgiveness, believe in Him, and put our trust in Him. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our own souls and the wrongs of our actions. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whomever He misguides, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone without any partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His servant and messenger. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon him abundantly.
I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed Satan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful۔
وَلَاتَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِيْنَ قُتِلُوْافِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ اَمْوَاتًاۭبَلْ اَحْيَاۗءٌعِنْدَرَبِّھِمْ يُرْزَقُوْنَ فَرِحِيْنَ بِمَآاٰتٰىھُمُ اللهُ مِنْ فَضْلِہٖ ۙ وَيَسْـتَبْشِرُوْنَ بِالَّذِيْنَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوْ ابِھِمْ مِّنْ خَلْفِھِمْ ۙ اَ لَّاخَوْفٌ عَلَيْھِمْ وَلَاھُمْ يَحْزَنُوْنَ۔(آلعمران:169-170)صَدَقَ اللّٰهُ الْعَلِیُّ الْعَظِیْمُ۔ربِّ اشْرَحْ لي صَدري ویَسِّرْلی
أمری واحْلل عُقدةً مِنْ لساني یَفقَهواقَوْلی،رَبَّنَاتَقَبَّلْ مِنَّاۤاِنَّكَ اَنْتَ السَّمِیْعُ الْعَلِیْمُ،وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ آمین یارب العٰلمین
And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision, Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them – that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
“Allah, the Almighty, has spoken the truth.
The truth of Allah, the Most High ,My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] And ease for me my task, And untie the knot from my tongue, That they may understand my speech. Ameen, O Lord of the worlds.”

“Esteemed friends, brothers, and sisters,
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

When I was invited to give a lecture on the topic “Gaza vs. Israel… Who Lost and Who Won?”, I decided that I would consider myself fortunate to be the lawyer of the martyrs of Gaza in this case. I will attempt to enlighten you with the ground realities and intellectual arguments, not only to inform you about the details of this case but also to give you and all the listeners the right to decide who lost and who won.

Firstly, I want to begin my case by addressing the objections and accusations made by some intellectuals who claim that Hamas slaughtered 47,000, Gaza was obliterated, and what was gained? A ceasefire!!! Another group says that there should have been better preparation for the fight, forces should have been built… The third, fourth, and fifth groups are also raising similar objections. They can continue, as it does not matter to us, but I want to ask these intellectuals just one thing: Where did Gaza’s fighters and those martyrs get the strength from to initiate their fight for justice? The enemy has 605 aircraft in their air force, how many planes did Hamas need to face them, especially when Gaza has no airport? Where would these planes take off from? Don’t you know that in this war, a Muslim country, Jordan, was assigned the task of destroying all missiles heading towards Israel? And what about the Navy? How many nuclear submarines did Hamas have to deploy under the sea? And then you would have been able to challenge them, right? You see them as mere insects to crush, don’t you? Isn’t that true? We are all aware of the details, each injustice is etched in our memories, and my Lord will replay every single moment before our eyes.

As Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَ یَوۡمَ یَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلٰی یَدَیۡہِ یَقُوۡلُ یٰلَیۡتَنِی اتَّخَذۡتُ مَعَ الرَّسُوۡلِ سَبِیۡلً (فرقان:27)
“And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, ‘Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way.’” (Al-Furqan: 27)

Those same critics will regret and chew their hands in remorse, some will even bite off their own arms, but the mountains of regret will remain on their heads.

Indeed, more than 46,500 martyrs have fallen, but were the resistance fighters spared? Were they not sacrificed? Of course, they were! They answered the call of Al-Aqsa and showed the world that there is still an unresolved issue in the Middle East. Nearly a century has passed, but we have not forgotten our homeland, our home. This is the true victory, that they did not forget their rights and passed them down to future generations. On the other hand, they also instilled fear and terror that will not be forgotten. Their backs are also broken.

Before the war began, the economy of the oppressors and invaders (Israel) was rapidly growing. Their annual GDP per capita was higher than that of Western countries, with a 6.8% increase in 2021 and 4.8% in 2022. By July 2024, according to the Bank of Israel, their growth rate was reduced to less than 2.8%. The Bank of Israel projected that by 2025, the cost of the war would reach $67 billion. Now, tell me, in which battle have Muslims ever had a greater number than their opponents? In one battlefield, even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was digging a trench while tying a stone to his stomach. What do these intellectuals and critics say, should the war have been fought in such conditions?

For the first time in history, we are witnessing a situation where nuclear powers have gathered,equipped with instruments capable of peering into the depths of the earth, reaching the heights of the sky, and searching every inch of the land. Yet, they failed. On the other side, there are those who fight with slings, stones, a few guns, and homemade bombs, standing proudly in front of tanks, artillery, snipers, and drones, and they still emerge victorious. This is a miracle of the 21st century, an invaluable story etched in the annals of history, a deed worthy of being written in gold, and a new chapter in the history of warfare. Can this not be considered a victory?

Can anyone imagine that just a 41-kilometer-long and less than 12-kilometer-wide strip of land, surrounded by enemies on all sides, where every object from the earth, sky, and sea is under surveillance, and every action is monitored by their soldiers, can continue a war for 15 months and 12 days? Every inch of the land has been searched, from Northern Gaza to Khan Younis and Rafah, every city has been turned into rubble. Where there was any suspicion, that place was flattened. People were slaughtered like vegetables, but still, the resistance could not be crushed. Salutations to those mothers who raised such brave youth.

This is not my opinion; journalists from across Europe are saying that in terms of human rights, Hamas was on the side of justice. As soon as the ceasefire was declared, prisoner exchanges began, and the world witnessed how Hamas freed its prisoners. Israeli women were celebrating, holding gift hampers given by the mujahideen, with pictures taken during their captivity included in the gifts. On the other hand, Palestinian prisoners were also released, but their bodies were bruised, their clothes tattered, and their suffering reflected in the ceremony of their release. Despite this barbaric treatment, the United Nations has turned a blind eye, and the so-called human rights advocates in the European Union remain insensitive. Not even Facebook, which labels every other Islamic post as terrorism, or YouTube and social media are awake.

Let me share with you just three statements made by Israeli prisoners during their release. After listening to them, you will decide: Who truly lost, and who won?”

One Israeli woman, a college lecturer, was crying at the time of her release, saying that she didn’t want to return, and that she wanted to stay with the fighters. She explained that they had fasted while providing us with food, endured severe thirst to provide us with water, took care of our comfort, and no one ever looked at us with anger.

Another woman, a media professional, admitted upon her release that for years she had written against Hamas, embellishing the material provided by the government. She confessed that the information was patently false, but Hamas never responded with a word. Instead, they impressed her with their good manners, and when a Muslim doctor came to treat her during her illness, she discovered that his entire family had been martyred in an Israeli bombing that same day. Yet, he continued to address her as “sister” and treated her diligently, even though, in her writings, she had referred to such people as animals.

The third hostage was a professor from Hebron University, and he, too, shared an emotional statement upon release. He confessed that he had always called Hamas individuals the dirtiest of animals and had urged his students to feel the same. However, he was so impressed by their behaviour that he promised to spend the rest of his life correcting his mistake, educating his students about the true situation. Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

The youth of Gaza have taken the war to a whole new level, opening a fresh chapter in history. With bombs and tanks in front of them, they stood firm, showing unwavering determination, courage, and bravery. In order to stop the rapidly viral videos, biased social media owners and the American and Israeli narrative keep searching for ways to impose further restrictions. They aim to suppress such news and only show the world the lies that protect Jewish interests. Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

Someone shared this beautifully on social media: A husband told his wife that the war was ending, and they would house Gaza’s children. The wife replied: “No! We will send our children to Gaza’s children so that they can train them in Gaza’s ruins.” When asked why she thought this way, her answer was enlightening. She was no ordinary woman but a senior member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, from a European country. She said, “During the war, I had the chance to meet dozens, even hundreds, of children from Gaza. One thing I noticed in all of them, despite being caught in the most horrific conditions and witnessing the mutilation of their parents, siblings, and relatives, was that they held onto patience, saying that all these martyrs have succeeded, and they have shown us the path to success. These children believed there was no fear of death. What’s to fear? Don’t those living in the White House and other palaces die too?” Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

I am reminded of Allama Iqbal on this emotional subject. He says in Saqi Nama:
کسے خبر کہ ہزاروں مقام رکھتا ہے
وہ فقر جس میں ہے بے پردہ روحِ قُرآنی
خودی کو جب نظر آتی ہے قاہری اپنی
یہی مقام ہے کہتے ہیں جس کو سُلطانی
یہی مقام ہے مومن کی قُوّتوں کا عیار
اسی مقام سے آدم ہے ظِلّ سُبحانی
یہ جبر و قہر نہیں ہے، یہ عشق و مستی ہے
کہ جبر و قہر سے ممکن نہیں جہاں بانی
کِیا گیا ہے غلامی میں مبتلا تجھ کو
کہ تجھ سے ہو نہ سکی فقر کی نگہبانی
مثالِ ماہ چمکتا تھا جس کا داغِ سجود
خرید لی ہے فرنگی نے وہ مسلمانی
ہوا حریفِ مہ و آفتاب تُو جس سے
رہی نہ تیرے ستاروں میں وہ دُرخشانی
Who knows that there are thousands of places
That poverty in which the undisguised spirit of the Quran is present
When the self sees its own,
it is called the Sultanate
This is the place that is the measure of the believer’s powers
From that place, Adam is the Glorious Subhani
This is not coercion and anger; it is love and intoxication
That is not possible with coercion and anger Where the founder
Has been made, you who are in slavery
That you could not guard poverty
Like the moon that used to shine, whose stain of prostration
The foreigner has bought that Islam
Became a rival of the moon and the sun, from whom
That brightness in your stars did not remain

Who could have known that the poverty of spirit that was once so despised would become the very source of the true strength of Islam? The strength, once scorned, now shines brighter than the stars, leading the way through darkness. The plans to expel Muslims from their lands and force them into other countries have all failed. Instead, the cruel soldiers are now scrambling to delete videos of their crimes from social media, fearing that someone might recognize them and expose their acts. Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

This war has many facets—a long history of Palestinians negotiating with imperialist powers, accepting all the conditions of the United Nations, yet seeing no results. On the eve of October 7, the entire Arab world was busy forging ties with Israel, and the Palestinians had been erased from the conversation. Islamic states, prisoners to their own interests, had long abandoned military, diplomatic, and moral support for the Palestinians. But then came October 7, and the game was turned on its head. The world realized that Palestinians were an independent force, their resistance was alive, their spirits were high, and their youth were still ready to lay down their lives for their homeland. Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

Those who thought Hamas’s resistance had been crushed and that it was a thing of the past, should know that Israel has had to sit down with the very representatives of that resistance and sign agreements that Palestinians had agreed to from day one, but which Netanyahu had refused to accept. Those who thought Gaza was a thing of the past and that Israel would now settle along its coast, should know that according to the agreement, Gaza belongs to the people of Gaza. Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

Those who believed Palestinians would be completely expelled from Northern Gaza should know that the people of Gaza have now secured their rightful claim to the area. Those who were certain that the Philadelphia and Netzarim corridors would always remain under Israeli boots should know that Israel will have to withdraw from both corridors. Those who thought the resistance fighters would be crushed, and their generations would never forget, should know that only in Beit Hanoun have so many Israeli soldiers been killed, more than in any of the previous wars. Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

Those who thought the resistance of a few reckless fighters had been silenced, should know that Israeli Brigadier Amir Ovi is now lamenting that the resistance is still alive and well, while Israel is hurting. The fighters are recruiting new members, but Israel is seeing people fleeing military service. Now, you decide: Who has won, and who has lost?

In Gaza, resistance is united. People have gone through unbearable suffering, children have frozen to death, graves have become scarce, but there is no division. Everyone is standing firm, drenched in blood but never hopeless of Allah SWT’s mercy. On the other hand, Israel is breaking down under frustration and despair. Religious Jews in Israel are now clear with their government that they will leave the country but will not participate in the war. Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is threatening that this agreement is a defeat for Israel, and he will resign from the government. The Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is also protesting that any such agreement at this moment is equivalent to defeat. Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

Errol Segal is shouting that this agreement has been imposed on Israel. Yossi Yoshua says it is a terrible agreement, but we were powerless, and what could we have done? Now, ask the local fear-mongers, what do the balance sheets of gain and loss say? Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

Israeli war analysts are crying out that the day America weakens or turns its back, Israel’s game will be over. Israeli Air Force officers are detailing that without American aid, Israel would not have lasted past the third week of the war. They are astonished that a small city with thousands dead and millions injured, no help came from anywhere. Despite having weapons that were the equivalent of multiple nuclear bombs, they received no aid. Not even a Muslim country provided them with water or food, yet they stood firm. How did they stand firm? How did they keep fighting? Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

Some were already destined to die, while others were waiting for it, but none faltered. At the temporary war room at Hebrew University, the first study now being conducted is on how resistance remained steadfast under such conditions. Why did morale not break? The world has long forgotten the resistance of Vietnam, but in the future, it will be read how such resistance in Gaza was possible. The struggle now is over credit between the current and the newly elected American presidents, as to who will take the credit for this achievement. Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

The resistance, which the West’s social media community standards once deemed as causing diseases like tuberculosis, tetanus, convulsions, and polio, is now being forced to negotiate. Its name had to be included in the agreement, and the global world now has to acknowledge it. Meanwhile, Israel is so fearful of the consequences that they have decided to keep the identities of their soldiers fighting in Gaza secret, in case they are arrested for war crimes abroad. Advisory orders are being issued on how to avoid arrest if traveling abroad. Even Netanyahu cannot travel freely around the world due to the fear of being caught by the law. These are the ways of a victorious army or signs of an international pariah? Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

In Israel, Biden’s envoy, Jake Lew, has stated that Israel has not only lost the Global South but is also losing the West. He says that while they are still with Israel, the new generation thinks differently, and in the next twenty or thirty years, matters will be in their hands. According to Jake Lew, Biden was the last president of this generation, which grew up under the narrative of Israel’s establishment. The narrative is changing now. Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

What is the new narrative? The new narrative is that one-third of Jewish teenagers in the United States are supporting Palestinian resistance. 42% of Jewish teenagers in America believe that Israel is committing genocide. 66% of American Jewish teenagers sympathize with the Palestinian people. Are these not significant statistics? Gaza has fought its battle with a combination of victimhood and dignity, despite the indifference of Muslim countries. A large number of Muslim intellectuals had forgotten Gaza for the safety of their Facebook accounts. Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

Israel’s false narrative of victimhood has been shattered. The so-called civilized conqueror’s attempts to reshape the narrative have failed. The so-called pundits who tried to suppress resistance have now returned after negotiating with the same resistance. Now, you decide: Who has lost, and who has won?

The struggle is still long; countless more acts of valour will unfold, but resistance remains, and it will persist. Resistance doesn’t end easily. As David Hearst beautifully said, Gaza has changed the course of history. Now, you decide: who has lost, and who has won?

The story is not over yet, and the balance of power in the region is non-existent. The powerful enemy is plotting, and Muslims have only one way forward: military strength and economic power. In today’s world, it is impossible to survive without these two tools. Allah SWT has changed the map of the Middle East in a matter of moments. On one hand, Syrian resistance fighters have triumphed, and on the other, Palestinian martyrs. May Allah SWT grant that instead of fighting each other, the Muslim world strengthens itself and prepares against the common enemy. This is now the only path to success.
دل اگر دل ہے تو دریا سے بڑا ہوتا ہے
سر اگر سر ہے تو نیزوں سے شکایت کیسی
“If the heart is truly a heart, it is greater than the river.
If the head is truly a head, what grievance is there with the spears?”

My Dearest Friends, Brothers, and Sisters!
Death is not something new. Death is destined for everyone. No prophet or saint is exempt from the law of death. Whoever comes into this world eventually departs after fulfilling their appointed time. Death is the greatest protector of life. We all are His trust, so who is capable of betraying it? For someone to be sacrificed in the path of Allah SWT in such a state of faith at the peak of youth is indeed a great blessing. And why shouldn’t it be? Such a death is the most beautiful cause and means of union with the Beloved, and there is no greater blessing than union with the Beloved!

Respected Friends, Brothers, and Sisters!
Anyone who enters this world must inevitably depart one day, and coming into this world is, in fact, a prelude to departure. However, some who depart leave behind a legacy of wealth, pride, and contentment for their parents, relatives, and fellow countrymen. This legacy makes even emperors, laden with treasures, appear as paupers in comparison. Greetings to Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas, who was confined to a wheelchair, for sowing the seeds of good deeds in the hearts and minds of Hamas’ youth over many decades. After his martyrdom, divine mercy nurtured those seeds, ultimately leading to a flourishing crop of good deeds. If this harvest were to be distributed, everyone would find their hands full. These youths have so highlighted the footsteps of the Messenger ﷺ with their blood and lives that now every individual sees their destination as easier to reach. These youths, with their piety, sincerity, and selfless fulfilment of duty, have crossed all distances in a single bound—something that the Prophets, Companions, and righteous people have always longed for. The memory of these noble youths will continue to shine with the light of faith over the dark islands of disbelief until the Day of Judgment.

The martyrs of Gaza have not only reminded us of numerous lessons but have also etched it in our minds that even the breath of life or the existence of an atom in this world contributes to the creation of causes and the unfolding of results. Just as a blemish from a bad deed tarnishes the mirror of existence, a single moment of good deed adds immeasurable value to the collective store of good in the world, recorded on the tablets of time and reverberating through eternity. On the Day of Resurrection, when groups of people will stand before their Lord, these youths of Gaza will stand before Him with such honour that the whole world will envy them.

My Dearest Friends, Brothers, and Sisters!
We too must meet with Allah SWT one day, but when, where, and in what condition, only Allah SWT knows. How grand will that meeting be when a humble servant meets his Lord, the Great Creator! How fortunate these youths are, for when they stand in the divine presence, their shrouds will hold the most precious offering to Allah SWT. Yes! In those shrouds, there will lie bodies full of true faith and action yet adorned with the glorious insignia of martyrdom. These medals will be kissed by the mercy of the Most High, and it will be declared:

توحید تو یہ ہے کہ خدا حشرمیں کہہ دے
یہ بندۂ دوعالم سے خفا میرے لئے ہے
“Monotheism is this, that on the Day of Judgment, Allah SWT says:
This servant, who is displeased with both worlds, is dear to Me.”

How I wish we, too, would think of such a meeting and let it ignite a longing within us. How I wish we, too, could face such a death where the limbs of our mortal bodies are sacrificed one by one, all cut for Allah SWT, all laid down at His feet—He whose hand has shaped us into existence. Certainly, the bodies of these youths may have fallen prey to the forces of evil, but they are worthy of a hundred kisses from our tearful eyes, for the angels took them and presented them before Allah SWT. Their youth bears testimony that they have not sacrificed themselves for this world but for the Hereafter. They did not love the worldly things; they loved Allah SWT alone. They did not place their faith in the comforts of this world but in the beloved Prophet ﷺ. They sought refuge not in the shades of this world but in the sweet shadow of martyrdom. They travelled along the beautiful road of life, but their thoughts never wavered beyond martyrdom and the eternal afterlife.

They have gone to meet their Lord, rejoicing in youth and beauty, and now beauty itself yearns for such a longing! Now, I ask you, who has lost and who has won? These youths, instead of revelling in life and the world, have chosen the path of truth and the Hereafter, dying in the process so that the heavens and the earth weep for them, but Allah SWT rejoices among His angels, saying, ‘This servant has come to Me.’

Indeed, Gaza, Kashmir, and all other oppressed Muslims fighting for freedom know that their real home is not in this world but in the world that begins as soon as the body and soul part. This is the world where Allah SWT Himself is waiting for those who will sell their world for the Hereafter. It is a world of eternal life, where there are gardens of deep and light green, where the rivers of milk and honey flow, and where fear and sorrow have no place. It is the world where angels will call out, “Oh Allah SWT! These are the youths whose whole world was lost in Your love. They gave up everything to reach You.” Their hearts knew that dying in the way of truth was the only way to meet Allah SWT, and martyrdom means living forever. They reached this certainty, and oh, how enviable is their faith, testified to by the angels themselves! How sorrowful is the state of our faith, which remains silent in fear. When these youths are presented with divine grace and honour in the Hereafter, Allah SWT knows where we will be and in what state.

Indeed, the martyrs of Gaza have brought honour to the entire Muslim Ummah, and they have become the means of salvation for all, establishing such timeless examples in this world that the satanic killers, the tyrants, now acknowledge their defeat. Surely, the martyrs of Gaza, and those returning to Gaza, have triumphed. Alhamdulillah! Today, we congratulate them on their victory. Oh, Brave people of Gaza! Congratulations from us all!

Today, I want to present the greatest desire of my life before Allah, taking you all as witnesses, in the form of a request: O Ahkam Ul-Hakimeen: elevate me to the status of a martyrdom that is accepted and approved in Your path and protect me from being ashamed before my Master, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the Day of Judgment.
O Lord, accept from us, for You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Allahumma Ameen.
A lecture was given on X-Space on Sunday, 3rd Sha’ban 1446 AH, 2nd February 2025.