Spiritual Resilience and the Islamic faith:
Overcoming the Global Trauma of Genocide
By: Huda Azam
The influence of trauma crosses borders and beyond as death tolls of the Palestinians continue to rise, creating a ripple effect of PTSD and depression in the mental health of the Arab diaspora, and all those who are impacted by this ongoing genocide. The constant raiding of the Palestinian masses results in layers of horrific crimes, each forming another ceiling in the desensitisation we witness unfolding.
Israel remains ever so persistent in raiding the defenceless, yet so powerless in its efforts to uproot Palestinians’ faith. The faith they have awakened in the Muslim community has only strengthened its resolve for justice. Tapping into the basic purposes of Islam.
As we invest ourselves to root for the Palestinian cause; helplessness, nightmares, insomnia, hopelessness, trauma, anxiety, and fluctuating emotional states are common. Islam recognizes solidarity with the oppressed as a religious duty more so if it’s about the third most holy mosque for the Muslims. Nonetheless prioritising one's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being is necessary to continue on the long term mission. However not at the cost of neglecting the purpose of standing in harmony with the Muslims suffering.
Photo courtesy of istockphoto.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” (Bukhari)
I can’t help but fall in love with the religion that is so considerate about my feelings, that my emotions are considered as an integral component of making the community.
From an Islamic perspective: emotional validation and regulation exists to instil hope while processing difficult feelings. Understanding human psyche, the Quran provides this affirmation at various stages while also building up on prophetic narratives as examples. A means to pave ease in sufferings for the Muslims. Within the framework of the Islamic faith, several strategies have sustained me in coping with the Palestinian mission. Among them are:
Seeking validation through faith
The Quran repeatedly mentions ‘eternal bliss, tranquillity and gardens of paradise’ for the patient, forbearing and martyrs in Islam, while constantly reassuring deadly consequences for the oppressors and tyrants.
These verses assure that I’m not discouraged to feel my feelings, suppress or ignore my emotions to the point that it manifests into overwhelm. There’s validation all along when experiencing and witnessing injustice.
While physically reaching out to them is impossible at the time, spiritual solidarity becomes a powerful tool. I’m relieved knowing that we have the same Lord who provides comfort for both. While the Palestinian martyrs experience the brutality of agonising death I’m assured that all they ever feel at the time of death is a pinch. The global anxiety and insomnia we experience remind us to redirect our purpose towards a higher cause.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The martyr does not feel the pain of being killed except as one of you feels the pinch of an insect bite.” (Tirmidhi)
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Emotional Redirection, regulation and Community Support:
At times while I fight the urge to overcome the guilt of not doing enough; gradually accumulating into anxiety, I have to remind myself that I’m giving my emotions the power. The ability to dictate the state of my mental health. In order to heal while giving Palestinians support I have to give my emotions an outlet. All the Prophets that came in Islam had emotional regulation and redirection as a pivot to bear difficult times. Sheikh Omar Suleiman gave this profound insight :“Is it healthy to suppress emotions? No, but it is Prophetic to redirect your emotions…. if you simply suppress your emotions and hold it in all the time and don’t talk to Allah about it then at some point you will explode.”
Validation, assurance and harvesting emotions goes beyond this. In order to get through a globally experienced trauma, we have to grow on a communal level. We have to invest our energy and resources within whatever capacity we have. As rally organisers, accountants, company managers, farmers, fruit vendors, writers, artists, students or whatever profession we have. At the end of the day we are geared towards a mission, accountable within our domain.
A poignant example is Uncle Rabea, a local Egyptian fruit vendor who tossed oranges in a passing food truck to Gaza. A local Palestinian shared with the Middle Eastern Eye “we want to tell Uncle Rabea that your emotions and what’s in your heart has reached Palestinian people and we want these emotions to reach all 110 million Egyptians people, and for them to feel the same way as Uncle Rabea and for the rest of Muslims in the world to feel the same way.”
With each individual effort, we are headed for a revolution. Truth is, alongside dedicated supplications for the oppressed, global boycott of Zionists’ products, peaceful protests by the locals and university students, success rates have in fact pushed for spiritual stability within the community.
Image by @safiyas_designs on Instagram.
Trials as test of faith and divine promise of reward:
Muslims recognize difficulties as trials and not a punishment. My religious beliefs prevent me from going through the spiral of shame and guilt, shifting my perspective to being hopeful for my fellow Muslims in the face of calamities.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that." (Bukhari)
Suffering is an outward exhibition of pain, however it acts as a powerful tool to explicate sins, increase their status in the sight of Allah and cleanse their faith. This in itself brings positivity despite the turmoil of emotions.
Nonetheless getting stressed and exhausted during elongated periods of trials is inevitable. Palestinians have been being raided and tortured since October 7th and even long before that. In this aspect faith also promotes strong reliance on Allah and provides an extrinsic motive of Paradise in the afterlife.
Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, “When will Allah’s help come?” Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹always˺ near. (2:214).
Image courtesy of istockphoto.
Historical resilience for inspiration:
As Zionists’ motives continue to unfold I often find myself dwelling in the narratives of the Early persecutions of the Muslims. Drawing parables between the historic events igniting movements changing the course of history. About the collective boycott Muslims faced and the starvation imposed on the Palestinians today. I’m reminded of the staunch faith Muslims depicted despite the unfathomable amount of oppression. The seeds of Islam were implanted then establishing it as one of the most influential as promised by Allah. Current circumstances only confirm the Promise and purpose of life: forming a community, upholding the truth, reducing and perishing the influence of evil in the world.
Huda Azam is a passionate young adult, an advocate for social justice through her writings and art. She is currently doing her bachelors in psychology and has recently completed a certificate in Qur'anic studies. By interrogating these fields she voluntarily teaches help youth maintain their wellbeing through religious guidelines. Alongside, she writes on social media to advocate for the cause. To connect more with Huda and her advocacy work, follow her on Instagram:
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