I agree that there is no point sympathising if we still indirectly contribute to empowering the oppressors, not even because we lack choice ourselves, but just because we can’t be bothered to examine our actions and can’t bear to lose some convenience or prestige.

But I also think this is not applicable just to Palestine – the effect on the issue of Palestine should spring from a more general Muslim ethic. It should also show in a Muslim’s reluctance to buy from companies that oppress their workers to make some unnecessary fashionable electronic gadget, it should show in preference for companies that buy fairly from farmers paying prices that provide a decent livelihood and family betterment, it should show in abhorrence to cruel animal testing particularly for irrelevant things like cosmetics, it should show in concern for the environment and kindness to animals and wildlife. These attributes should – of all people on Earth – show in Muslims, even when they must suffer some hardship and sacrifice for the ethical choice, because it is a matter of religion.

We should recognise that in today’s world, every choice and act and transaction in our day-to-day life has not insignificant implications across borders and food chains. And we should try our best in mindfulness of this, to fulfil the command to walk humbly on the earth.

I appreciate and salute the courage to write about this issue. We have weakened so much that we even get frightened and afraid to even talk about this open oppression and illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the destruction of Palestinian homes, orchards, and lives,

I absolutely agree with you Jinan, I feel the exact same way. I prefer not to make the issue of Palestine as a Jews vs Muslim thing because that kind of polarisation helps nobody, I look at it as a violation of human rights and a complete disregard to the value of human life. But this is exactly why we as muslims need to stand up to this atrocity.
I was so annoyed with some of my facebook friends who on the day of the Flotilla attack dedicated their statuses “to the poor people of Palestine”, what use is that if you continue to finance the companies who support these butchers? The people of Palestine don’t need our sympathy, they need us to do something! BDS is the best place to start.

the hadith is so appropriate– the similitude of the froth on the sea.

currently we are just weightless as an ummah ..insha’Allah the revival will gather pace.

jazak’Allahukhyarn

what a needed article. may Allah help us all wake up and change for His sake and the sake of helping our ummah, ameen