History of Gaza

Gaza is our blessed Muslim land with deep Islamic roots. When Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) conquered this region in 637 CE, he brought the light of Islam to our ancestors. For over thirteen centuries, our people lived peacefully here under Islamic rule, making Gaza an integral part of the holy Bilad al-Sham mentioned in our sacred texts.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke of the special status of this region when he said: "Blessed is Al-Sham." Our scholars explain that this blessing includes Gaza as part of the greater Levant region that Allah has honored throughout Islamic history. Many companions of the Prophet settled in Gaza, including Abdullah ibn Abbas, the great Quranic interpreter, who taught here briefly.

Throughout the centuries, Gaza flourished as a center of Islamic knowledge and trade. The Mamluks built beautiful mosques and madrassas that became renowned throughout the Muslim world. The Ottoman period saw Gaza continue as an important administrative center with thriving Muslim institutions. Our ancestors maintained Islamic traditions and protected this land as part of our religious heritage.

Everything changed with the catastrophe of 1948 (al-Nakba). When the Zionists forcibly established Israel, over 200,000 of our Palestinian brothers and sisters fled to Gaza, seeking temporary refuge. They carried the keys to their homes, believing they would return within days or weeks. Instead, they and their descendants have endured decades of occupation, violence, and dispossession.

The Egyptian administration from 1948-1967 was merely a brief period before Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 war. Though Israel withdrew its settlements in 2005, they maintained a suffocating blockade that has turned Gaza into what international observers call "the world's largest open-air prison." Since 2007, this blockade has controlled everything entering and leaving Gaza – from food and medicine to building materials and fuel.

Today, over 2 million Palestinians live in Gaza's tiny territory (just 365 square kilometers), making it one of the most densely populated places on earth. Most residents are refugees or descendants of refugees, still carrying the memory and legal right to return to their original homes and lands. More than 70% of Gaza's population is under 30 years old – a generation that has known nothing but blockade, occupation, and periodic bombardment.

Despite these immense hardships, our people in Gaza demonstrate remarkable sumud (steadfastness). This steadfastness is not just political resistance but a spiritual act of worship. We face these tests with sabr (patience) as Allah commands us in the Quran:

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155)

The people of Gaza remain deeply connected to their faith and land despite living under conditions that violate every principle of human dignity and Islamic justice. They maintain strong family bonds, continue their religious practices, and educate their children despite schools being repeatedly bombed. The hafiz (Quran memorizers) of Gaza are known for their exceptional dedication, memorizing the entire Quran even as bombs fall around them.

Gaza's history is a testament to both the suffering and the resilience of the Palestinian people. As Muslims, we cannot forget that Gaza is not just a humanitarian crisis but part of our Islamic heritage and responsibility. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us: "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one limb suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever." The suffering of Gaza must be felt by the entire Muslim ummah.