How similar are the events of history! And how frequently do these events repeat themselves! It's as if the errors and ambitions of some humans have no solution other than invasion, then wars, then liberation or disappearance into the pages of history without return! If we look through the history of the ancient and modern nation, we will be surprised to find out that events are almost identical in some of their stages. In parts of the Islamic and Arab historical narrative, Allah says in His conclusive book: "Certainly in their stories there is a lesson for people of understanding. It is no invented tale, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe." (Yusuf: 111). These were not just stories for entertainment, but for reflection, contemplation, and patience in the face of similar events. The first believers were patient, and patience is upon you, they were victorious, and victory is for you, and the disbelievers were defeated with a great defeat, and your disbelievers will be defeated by the permission of Allah.
In the Battle of the Trench(or Confederates), for example, we can see history repeating itself in the siege of the Muslim nation represented by the city of Medina, which contained the whole nation with its leader, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). All the Arab tribes dared to lay siege to it, while its first enemy from the Jewish tribes was lurking on the outskirts of the city waiting for a moment of weakness to break all the agreements signed during its time of weakness.
When Islam emerged in the city, Jews had no choice but to seize those opportunities, to deceive and betray as usual, and the end result was his demise in his betrayal and departure from the boundaries of the united nation to where there is no return.
Abbasid Caliphate fall
Then there was an event that perhaps was bigger than the siege and betrayal, which was when the Abbasid Caliphate fell with its vast territories and large numbers before the onslaught of the Mongols and Crusaders simultaneously. The capital of the Caliphate collapsed, drowning in a sea of blood, and people at that time thought that Islam had completely ended.
Do these events resemble what the nation is going through today? Has each country become isolated in facing the challenges of the time? Has the nation failed to come together and seek a new strength that will move its scholars, unite its word, and raise the morale of its soldiers?
The Islamic movement!
It is fair to the Islamic movement today that from within it emerged "Hamas" and "Jihad" and all the Palestinian resistance movements that are still standing strong after a year of fighting, and after the martyrdom of its leaders and the sacrifice of more than 45 thousand of its people, all for the sake of holding on to their religion, land, history, and the soil of their ancestors.
It is commendable for the contemporary Islamic movement that the factions of resistance have emerged from within it and have embraced the original idea on which the Islamic movement was founded, without compromising on any of its principles. Here lies the most important question: Where is the original Islamic movement amidst the trials and tribulations and the great events happening on the blessed land? Where is the representation of the courage of Ibn Abdul Salam, who was the first rock in breaking a huge army, not by carrying weapons, but by his words, positions, understanding of texts, and his courage in confronting the authorities?
Rising under colonial rule
It is a strange coincidence that the Islamic movement arose under colonial rule, faced, fought, and made legendary achievements recorded in the history of Arab resistance in the lands of the Arabs, with the heroism of Omar Mukhtar from a distance, and the events of the Suez Canal did not fade from the memory of the nation, and the popular unity in Palestine in 1948 despite the betrayal is absent.
The Islamic movement sprung up after the fall of the Caliphate to mend what had been torn apart, unite the people that had been torn apart by the colonizers, and instill new concepts after the idea had been tainted in the minds of the people, where Islam was reduced to merely prayers in mosques or corners, and not being practiced in the streets. Where is that energy that renewed the nation's religion after its decline? Where are its men who left the Palestinian resistance alone to pay a dear price for the liberation of the land of all Muslims, only for the Islamic resistance to show up alone in Gaza, with the roots of the movement absent from the scene, while they fight among themselves elsewhere.
How did Qutz manage to do it?
It is not fair to claim that Qutz was a supernatural hero who was able, single-handedly, to confront the million-strong Tatar army with an army from Egypt that was internally divided, suffering under poverty, humiliation, and fear imposed by the Mamluk princes at that time. Matters escalated to the point where anyone ruling over Egypt was killed, until a period of time passed without a ruler, after the Mamluk princes fought among themselves over who had the right to rule. The army was torn apart between the princes, and news of cities falling one after the other emerged, with the final message to Egypt being to surrender, as there was no ruler to receive it.
Sheikh Ibn Abdul Salam
Here, the Islamic movement appears in all its fervor, embodied in Sheikh ibn Abdul Salam, who possessed all the qualities necessary for the movement: faith, eloquence, courage, and a belief in the inevitability of victory through uniting the people and preparing the army, away from the impoverished who could no longer provide for their daily needs. The Sheikh's strength lay in his ability to gather behind him a large popular support base, uniting the peoples of Asia and Africa under one will.
The Sheikh was capable of mobilizing the nation, but the Islamic movement alone is not enough, even if it has the will.
Here, some must be neutralized while others must be won over, and the word of truth must be proclaimed for the cause, with the search for a leader who believes in the idea. It doesn't necessarily have to be the Sheikh himself, as the Sheikh has his own abilities, and the Islamic movement facing existential problems is unable to appreciate. Therefore, let the leader not be the Sheikh, but a young, strong leader who embodies the idea, courageous, brave, intelligent, and determined, who can gather funds from the wealthy to arm the relatively small army against an enemy that crushed the caliphate, planning well by choosing the battlefield. The land will not betray its owner, and the leader must initiate the strike before it reaches his home, like in the Battle of October 7, preparing his soldiers and sharpening their resolve, and then setting out with the blessings of Allah.
Martyrdom in Islam
In Islam, martyrdom is highly valued, and the Muslim understands its significance, aspiring for it. Those who consider it a loss for the nation do not truly understand the jurisprudence of jihad. It is Allah who makes believers into martyrs, while the survivors continue on their path, learning and raising their spirits to achieve the honor of martyrdom, as thousands of leaders have been killed throughout history without the fall of Islam. Entire states disappeared when jihad was absent, and people fled from martyrdom.
The second step after the martyrdom of leaders is to continue the resistance, as no one can deny the right of someone in an occupied land to resist. Just as victory was Qutz's ally despite the difficult situation, victory is also the ally of anyone who resists an occupying force that has seized his land, even if supported by all international institutions that lost their credibility when they sided with a bloody occupier. Let Palestine resist and create a new victory on its land. Yesterday it was Ain Jalout, today it is Gaza.
