11 lessons from US campus pro-Palestine protests

Robert Cohen, a Professor of Social Studies and History at New York University, who is knowledgeable on the topic of student activism, has stated that the continuing demonstrations in support of Palestine could be “the largest student movement so far”. [1]

Contents

Make du’ā for those who are involved Young people can positively change the world A global student movement is now required We must lend our backing to these students American du’āt need to offer their support The fitrah of Allah is showing through Trust that people’s fitrah will support you during da’wah Ability to think freely without being controlled US makes dictatorships look like democracies The world is in desperate need of Islam We respect the bravery of these students Also watch

On 17 April, students at Columbia University in New York began to set up encampments in order to demand that, in addition to the apartheid state ceasing hostilities in Palestine, the governing body divested from Israeli businesses. [2]

At around the same time, Asna Tabassum, a Californian Muslim student at the University of Southern California (USC), was banned from delivering her valedictorian speech due to baseless “risks relating to security”. [3]

In reality, the speech was blocked because it was pro-Palestine in its message. Arguably, it would have caused even more public demonstrations against Israel and its US partner, had she been allowed to deliver it. [3]

Tabassum said,

“I am honoured to have been selected as USC Class of 2024 Valedictorian.

“Although this should have been a time of celebration for my family, friends, professors, and classmates, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all.

“I challenge us to respond to ideological discomfort with dialogue and learning, not bigotry and censorship. And I urge us to see past our deepest fears and recognise the need to support justice for all people, including the Palestinian people.” [4]

US police forces have been arresting hundreds of these young people, but they cannot be so easily silenced.

The hundreds of students who have stood their ground and spoken out against the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people reveal a number of lessons that we can take.

Make du’ā for those who are involved

By Allah, I feel proud of these students and, by Allah, I make du’ā for them.

They deserve our du’ā, first of all that Allah guides them — because we want such brave people to be with us in Jannah — and second of all, that they continue to do good, as Muslims. This is a very important point.

And I believe, Imams and everyone else, that we should all send messages of support to those involved in these protests.

Young people can positively change the world

In general, young people are the driving force behind any global change.

As many commentators have already said, such a scale of protest has not happened in America, except those in opposition to the Vietnam War in the late 1960s and the 1980s opposition to South African apartheid.

It is for this reason that there was a major change globally in regards to that of Vietnam, apartheid South Africa, and other events and injustices.

A global student movement is now required

This point is linked directly to the one above:

We urgently need a collaborative and aligned global movement by university students, because such students can make this global change a reality if the right planning and co-ordination is done.

We are seeing that British university students are taking to their campuses, setting up encampments and joining in with this collective action. More is required to keep up the momentum. [5]

We must lend our backing to these students

As Muslims, we need to support them in this effort.

So let me openly ask, where is FOSIS (The Federation Of Student Islamic Societies) in this matter?

Being the UK and Ireland’s largest Muslim student confederation, it will be a positive step for them to come out with a powerful supportive statement.

Similarly, where are the other Muslim organisations and student bodies, organisations in the UK, in Europe, and in the whole world?

American du’āt need to offer their support

On the lack of widespread support from American du’āt, where are they in support of these students?

We have seen, māshāAllah, Shaykh Dr. Yasir Qadhi and Shaykh Dr. Omar Suleiman speaking publicly in favour of these students, encouraging them to continue. But where are the rest of the Muslim speakers?

In addition to Muslim scholars, we need to encourage other leaders to be open and vocal about supporting these students.

The fitrah of Allah is showing through

SubhānAllah, it is amazing that the natural disposition of mankind is showing in these young people.

Allah says in the Qur’ān,

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًۭا ۚ فِطْرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“So be steadfast in faith in all uprightness [O Prophet] — the natural Way of Allah which He has instilled in [all] people.

“Let there be no change in this creation of Allah. That is the Straight Way, but most people do not know.” [6]

Despite the domestication processes that these young people have been exposed to by their regimes — whether it be the deep state or other influences, or even by Zionism all over the world — they refused this domestication process!

They have been able to come out of that unscathed. And we should salute them for that.

Trust that people’s fitrah will support you during da’wah

Those who give da’wah must have confidence that, by the will of Allah, the fitrah will be the first supporter in your efforts.

With the natural disposition, this empowers the person on the receiving end. When I talk to any non-Muslim, I know that internally there is support for my statements. Why is that? It is the fitrah guiding them behind the scenes.

In fact, the fitrah of the entire creation is supporting those values. After all, they are Islamic values. And Islam considers justice to be a core value.

Allah says in the Qur’ān,

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

“Indeed, Allah commands justice, grace, as well as generosity to close relatives. He forbids indecency, wickedness, and aggression. He instructs you so perhaps you will be mindful.” [7]

Furthermore, He (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) states,

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًۭا

“Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners; and when you judge between people, judge with fairness. What a noble commandment from Allah to you! Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [8]

Ability to think freely without being controlled

When young people are able to see things as they truly are, this shows that they are not controlled through media. This shows that they have freedom to think.

For these young people, it is not the case that someone else is thinking on their behalf, or that they are being brainwashed by the ideas of others.

Our battle as Muslims delivering da’wah is the battle against that which is stopping people from thinking.

We want people to think, and that’s why we are open to criticism as Muslims. Yes, let people criticise us, but let them think freely, and know that we are willing to debate. We are willing to explain what Islam says to them.

As Allah says, the main reason for people being placed in the Hellfire is because of disbelief in Him. Why did they disbelieve? It is because they did not think.

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

“And they will lament, ‘If only we had listened and reasoned, we would not be among the residents of the Blaze!'” [9]

So let us support the freedom of of real thinking, not the “freedom” of limited thinking and passing that off as “real” freedom. This is the game that many dictatorial regimes continue to play.

US makes dictatorships look like democracies

These demonstrations have exposed certain members of the current US leadership as being a worse dictatorship than perhaps Syria or elsewhere.

As for the causes behind dictatorship, perhaps certain things trigger such a system in Arab or other Muslim countries. But in America, what triggers dictatorship?

It is the criticism of Israel and Zionism. Criticising certain values that are imposed upon the people, as if they are saying,

“Listen, we are free, and we want you to be free. This is the free world and the land of democracy, provided that you don’t go near those red lines that we have set.”

But this is not real freedom. Is the US government another dictatorial regime?

And we have seen what they have done to the students, they have arrested hundreds of them with aggressive tactics. Even members of staff have been detained — this is very disturbing.

In one example, the police forced a Professor of Economics, Caroline Fohlin, onto the ground and detained her despite her pleas,

“I am a Professor! I am a Professor of Economics.” [10]

We have seen the footage of Fohlin telling the police about her position, apologising and asking for the handcuffs to be removed. Why not at least speak to her with reason? Did these police officers find any weapon on her person? Why did they treat her in this way? And is this what is termed American freedom, to assault educators and students? [10]

This violent reaction from certain elements of law enforcement is why I believe many Americans are frustrated to the point that, ironically, they are joining in with the demonstrations.

The world is in desperate need of Islam

This ongoing movement is a very strong message that the world is in need of Islam.

However, we should not confine Islam as an alternative for the spiritual vacuum, or merely for spiritual corruption.

Rather, we should offer Islam as a global civilisational alternative for the fundamental problems that our civilisation is facing, and this means that we must be very active in our communities, in our da’wah.

Be proud of your religion while taking part in this movement, it is a golden opportunity for us.

We respect the bravery of these students

My final point is connected to making du’ā and support for these brave students.

We truly respect their bravery, and admire that they are engaged in peaceful demonstration. It is clear that they are peaceful in their ways. And may this continue.

We wholeheartedly respect them and I think that their movement should become globalised. As a result, they have the potential to be seen as an icon for global change in this century.