MLXN STATEMENT: Palestine and the Peer Voice

The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever"
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Source: Sahih Bukhari 6011; Sahih Muslim 2586 

The plight of the Palestinians is one shared with Muslims and non-Muslims around the globe. Reflecting on the statement of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ above--and as an organisation founded on the principles of empathy, mutuality, hope, and empowerment--our stance is simple. We stand with the Palestinians. Their struggle for the liberation of their people and land is our struggle, and we will continue to use our voices and platform to ensure we are on the right side of history: the side of the oppressed.

The mental wellbeing of Palestinians and all Muslims is integral to a free Palestine, and therefore the liberation of Palestine is a key priority when addressing Muslim mental health. What does a free Palestine mean to us? It means an end to the genocide and ethnic cleansing of innocent children, women and men. An end to targeted strikes on hospitals, universities and homes. An end to miles upon miles of destruction--bodies, buildings and dreams buried beneath rubble. 

It's understandable for us to feel distressed, powerless and despondent as we witness the oppression of our brothers and sisters in Palestine. However, like all matters, our faith provides us with guidance and reassurance. With this in mind, I would like to address a question we often receive from our network members: what can we do to support Palestine and how do we take care of our mental wellbeing in the process? 

Firstly, this involves each of us as individuals and a collective identifying the positions, talents and resources Allah ﷻ has granted us and reflecting on how best to use these to serve the cause. We have listed a few practical examples of actions we can take:

• Working on ourselves spiritually
• Making continuous and sincere dua (supplication)
• Attending protests
• Writing to our local MP
• Boycotting organisations and brands that promote and fund the genocide 
• Signing petitions
• Speaking up in our circles, personal and professional
• Donating to trustworthy sources 

​
As peers (people with lived experience), we are well placed to speak out on this issue. For many of us, calling out injustice and 'speaking truth to power' is a daily occurrence and skill we've honed. As highlighted in the question frequently asked, however, this does not mean we are immune to the emotional or psychological impact that often accompanies resistance. It is vital that we extend compassion to ourselves, embed ourselves within our communities, and take care of our wellbeing in the process. 

As shared with us by Imam Omar Hajaj, an effective way to keep ourselves well and maintain continuous action and support is to internalise and frequently remind ourselves that the end result is promised to the believers by Allah ﷻ --

 وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
​"The ultimate outcome belongs only to the righteous" 
​(Quran, 7:128)

And, so, we remain steadfast and hopeful in supporting the Palestinian cause, trusting wholeheartedly that Allah ﷻ will deliver His promised victory. After all this life is a test--and as Imam Omar Hajaj also reminds us in the clip below--we will be held accountable for our actions only, not the outcome. 

It is also important to recognise and express gratitude to the unwavering support from our allies, particularly Jewish communities and non-Muslim organisations that have consistently spoken out and shown up despite facing backlash. We commend their courage and express sincere gratitude for their efforts. We pray Allah swt grants them safety and abundant blessings. 
​
We ask Allah ﷻ to grant the Palestinians ease and a near victory, and that He ﷻ allows us to be active contributors to their victory and witnesses to a liberated Palestine.
​Ameen.

If you feel impacted by the content in this article or any other issue and would like support, please reach out to our team at [email protected]. We aim to respond within 10 working days. For more immediate support, please see immediate support available.