The Long Game

The genocide has shown us that we're in for the long game. We as in you. Watching from the sidelines, we won't get away so easily.

Israel’s genocide of Gaza is the new normal. A horrific, dystopic new reality where genocide and Hunger Games are livestreamed 24/7. Watch on demand.

It’s been very inspiring to see how strong the iman of the people of Palestine is. Their faith makes them unbreakable and indomitable. But something important is amiss if we don’t introspect on our own situation during this extended crisis. We need to internalize how enslaved and truly weak we as the masses have become. We have been reduced to sharing and liking content online, holding placards and chanting in the streets, while the powers that be can choose to ignore.

Yes, we must do whatever is in our power to the maximum - so we must share content and participate in demonstrations where legal. This minimum outroar is vital and has had a significant impact on the scale of the genocide. But obviously, these short-term measures are not enough to end the massacre. We the masses are in weakness.

If the masses are weak, it is because the individuals have been weak. For a long time. Therefore, we’re in for the long game: we need to build ourselves. Structure determines properties; the micro determines the macro; the individual determines the nation. So build yourself in your individual capacity. If you want to liberate Palestine, build yourself.

Build yourself in your deen; get closer to Allah. Build your body; stop letting your health go. Build your wealth. Work towards your own financial freedom, stop trading your life for pennies, and free up your time substantially to actualize what you can become. Discipline yourself. Build yourself in your own key skill, your special tool of contribution to the world. You know your own superpower/s. Stop wasting your privileged life. Get your act together.

Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. You are accountable for your capacity. Act. Use baby, baby steps to build habits. Persevere, even when you falter (which will be a lot in the beginning of healthy habit formation; just keep going for Allah’s Sake). Cut out what’s keeping you down — the drugs on your devices.

We all dream about being able to organize, marching over and physically stopping the genocide. But a dream without a plan is but a dream. With our current average levels of iman and wordly skills, we could not practically organize, sustain and build a macro-structure on such a fragile micro-structure. Leadership is needed at all levels. Supplies. Finances. Diplomacy. Unity. Faith and God-consciousness, underpinning it all. Grassroots preparation is key.

It’s easy to claim that we’re willing to go die to save the oppressed. But would we actually, in reality, willingly walk away from our homes, our families, our lives, our money — all the creature comforts of the cocoons of our daily lives? Would the many of us who struggle with giving up the warmth of our blankets for praying Fajr on time — would we actually, literally give everything away in the blink of an eye? Are we truly ready to handle a Salahuddeen — and not end up as laggards left behind him?

Growth is needed.

Baby steps. Your heartfelt relationship with Allah. Your skills.

Keep boycotting (that’s where it hurts!) — be local, buy local. Raise awareness online. Demonstrate where legal. Donate. But with all of these immediate measures, remember that we’re in for the long game. Let’s face our personal excuses and get over our laziness. Change what you and Allah both know that you need to change. Grow where you and Allah both know that you need to grow.

Most of all, make sure you’re growing closer to Allah through this test of the globally livestreamed genocide. That’s what really matters. Even on the deepest individual level, you’re in for the long game — the long game of life. Life is an investment period for the akhirah, the life after death. Keep investing.