The Prophet (saw) said “There’s still khair (goodness) in my Ummah till the Day of Judgement”

With the continuing disaster in Gaza seeming like a situation without an immediate end in sight, members of the Muslim community in Luton came together on Saturday 26th July 2014 for a community event and iftar to discuss the crisis.

The event included a panel discussion with prominent members of town’s community which consisted of a number of local Imams, Alims, a local academic and commentator and Hizb ut-Tahrir’s media representative, Taji Mustafa.
The panellists spoke with great emotion of the rising death toll and casualties amongst the civilian population in Gaza and they reminded the audience through ayat and hadith of the connection that Muslims living in the UK have to their brothers and sisters in Palestine. One speaker said that it was time for the different sections of the community to unify and overlook issues iktilaf (differences of opinion in fiqh) and stand together for an end to the injustice. A number of speakers also highlighted the double standards of western governments and politicians towards the actions of Israel and said that they only show they are interested when it’s time for elections and they want the Muslim vote.
Unanimously, the speakers condemned the lack of response to the situation from the governments of the Muslim countries who have remained silent and continue to maintain diplomatic, economic and military ties with the Zionist entity whilst having the resources including large numbers of highly trained and equipped armed forces to bring an end to the 66 years of occupation and oppression. They collectively agreed the Muslim world needs unification through the re-establishment of the Khilafah.

There were comments praising the efforts of ordinary Muslims living in the UK who have given in Sadaqah (charity), organised protests, called for the boycott of Israeli products, have taken to social media to create awareness of the suffering taking place and for the duas they have made in this blessed month for the oppressed and weak. Taji Mustafa said that these efforts were a result of the eeman that Muslims have in their hearts. However, the community should understand the solution to military aggression is for an army to be sent there just as the Prophet (saw) did in response to the dishonouring of one Muslim woman by Bani Qaynuqa.

He said that the Muslim community should put the efforts and energies into to holding the Muslim rulers to account for their inaction rather than protest to the UK government who were the architects of the Zionist state.

Finally, he encouraged the audience to speak to their families and friends in the UK and in the Muslim world and spread the call for the Khilafah to be re-established so that the Muslims armies can be mobilised under a sincere Islamic leadership to liberate and protect the Muslims of Palestine and everywhere else where there is occupation and oppression.