6 Islamic Dangers of Ignoring Starving the People of Gaza

In wars, rifles are raised, rockets are launched, and homes are destroyed. But in Gaza, bread is used as a weapon, water is cut off to break spirits, and children are besieged until they starve! This is a different kind of war – a war on empty stomachs, not on armed forces. Therefore, starving the people of Gaza is not just a humanitarian violation, but a grave Islamic sin.

Here are the most significant Islamic dangers resulting from the starvation of the people of Gaza:

1. Deficiency in Faith

Al-Tabarani narrated in "Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir" from Anas ibn Malik who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "He has not believed in me who goes to bed sated while his neighbor is hungry beside him, and he knows it." Faith is deficient if a Muslim abandons their brothers and fellow believers, leaving them to their enemy without support or aid.

2. Bearing the Sin of Abandonment

Silence regarding the starvation of the people of Gaza and not providing them with relief is a form of abandonment, which is Islamically forbidden. Believers are brothers, and a brother does not abandon his brother. In Sahih Muslim, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim; he does not wrong him, nor does he abandon him."

In Sahih al-Bukhari, Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he hand him over. Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim of a difficulty, Allah will relieve him of a difficulty on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever covers a Muslim's fault, Allah will cover his fault on the Day of Resurrection."

3. Participation in the Sin of Siege

Not providing aid to the people of Gaza and letting them die of hunger is a form of participation in the siege, which is a great sin. Any person capable of aiding them who deliberately deprives them is considered to be loyal to their enemy. Allah (the Exalted and Most High) warned against taking disbelievers as allies instead of believers, as He said: "O you who have believed, do not take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers." (An-Nisa: 144). And He (the Exalted) said: "O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. Some of them are allies of one another. And whoever of you takes them as allies, indeed, he is one of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people." (Al-Ma'idah: 51).

4. Cooperation in Sin and Aggression

Allah (the Exalted and Most High) commanded His servants to cooperate in righteousness and piety. Muslims cooperate to feed their hungry, care for their poor and needy, and assist those in need. However, leaving the Mujahideen and their families in hunger and thirst is among the most severe and difficult situations where a Muslim cooperates with their enemy, even if they don't realize it. This is cooperation in sin and aggression. Allah (the Exalted) says: "And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty." (Al-Ma'idah: 2). Starvation, siege, and deprivation of food and medicine are all forms of aggression forbidden by Islamic law; indeed, they are forms of slow killing.

5. Exposing the Ummah to Collective Punishment

Some people claim that a Muslim is responsible only for themselves and has no relation to other Muslims, being accountable only for their own actions. They use this as an excuse not to support or aid others. In Musnad Ahmad, Qais ibn Abi Hazim narrated from Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, who said: "O people, you recite this verse: 'O you who have believed, upon you is [the responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided.' (Al-Ma'idah: 105). And I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 'Indeed, if people see an oppressor and do not restrain his hand, Allah will soon inflict His punishment upon all of them.'"

Allah (the Exalted) says: "And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty." (Al-Anfal: 25). The occurrence of a group of Muslims engaging in sins and oppression, and its widespread prevalence, is indeed a path to the generalization of punishment upon all people.

6. Hunger May Lead to Disbelief

Hunger is one of the most dangerous afflictions a person can face. The Prophet (peace be upon him) sought refuge from it. In Sunan Abi Dawud, with a chain of narration graded good by Al-Albani, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from hunger, for it is indeed a wretched companion."

Hunger is a sign of poverty and deprivation, and poverty can drag a person to compromise their principles and religion if their faith is weak. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) sought refuge in Allah from it. In Musnad Ahmad, with a good chain of narration, Muslim ibn Abi Bakra narrated from his father that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief, poverty, and the torment of the grave." This means it may nearly lead to disbelief because it encourages dissatisfaction with divine decree and resentment towards sustenance, which can lead to disbelief, and we seek refuge in Allah from that. (1)

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(1) Al-Fath Al-Rabbani li Tartib Musnad Al-Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal Al-Shaibani (4/63).