IT WAS A powerful and moving sight to see the people of Bangladesh come out in massive numbers for the March for Gaza. Trainloads arrived from every district, a moment of pride that testified to the deep-rooted connection our people feel with Palestine.
Their love for Palestine is not just emotional or political — it is a love rooted in aqeedah. Palestine is not merely a land; it is sacred, blessed by Allah, and intertwined with our Islamic history and identity.
However, as I’ve said before, even in moments like these, we witness the ongoing struggle between the Islamic spirit of our people and the secular framework imposed upon us.
Secularism is a colonial success story and its greatest export having influenced many Muslims, often without them realizing it. It coercively places the nation-state, along with its symbols — such as the flag, citizenship, and institutions — above our duty to Allah and the ummah. It binds us with global organizations like the UN, which was designed to maintain the nation-state system, but at the expense of our Islamic values.
Looking at the demands raised by the march organisers, we see a confusing mix of ideas, many of which dilute the Islamic vision and solution.
Demands to the United Nations and the International Community
- The Zionist genocide must be tried at the International Court of Justice;
- Effective measures, not just ceasefires, must be taken to stop the genocide;
- There must be a return to the pre-1967 borders;
- East Jerusalem must be recognised internationally as the capital of Palestine;
- Palestinians must be allowed self-determination and sovereignty.
This is the secular playbook — seeking solutions through the UN, and ICJ, and pushing the two-state solution.
But do we not see the farce? The UN has done nothing for Palestine since 1948. It serves the colonial powers — the permanent members of the Security Council — who can veto any decision. The ICJ has declared the occupation illegal, and yet nothing has changed. The ICC has issued warrants for Netanyahu, but he still roams freely in Europe and the US.
To accept the pre-1967 border is to accept the continuation of the Zionist settler colonialist apartheid state that has caused nothing but war since its inception.
The two-state solution is a lie. It is unIslamic, unjust, and unworkable:
- UnIslamic, because Islam forbids giving away even an inch of Muslim land to non-Muslims.
- Unjust, because it legitimizes the theft of land from Muslims and Christians.
- Unworkable, because it divides and weakens us, leaving a powerless strip of land surrounded by the Zionist entity.
Historically, Palestine was part of a larger wilayah under the Ottoman Khilafah — encompassing today’s Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. We must not be fooled by secular solutions. Our problems will not be solved by them. The Islamic solution is clear: liberation by the Muslim armies, as in the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) and Salahuddin Ayyubi.
Demands to the leaders of the Muslim Ummah
- Sever all economic, military, and diplomatic ties with Israel;
- Impose trade blockades and sanctions;
- Provide full support to Gaza;
- Isolate Israel through diplomatic pressure;
- The OIC and Muslim countries must take a strong protest and effective diplomatic stance against the oppression of Muslims in India, particularly the Waqf Amendment Act.
While these demands are valid and necessary, they miss the root cause of our weakness: our disunity that was created by the colonialists. The ummah is fragmented, lacking political unity under the singular Khalifah that Islam obliges. The OIC — or more aptly, “Oh, I see” — mirrors the UN in its ineffectiveness, content with meetings and banquets while Muslims bleed.
Demands to the Government of Bangladesh
- Reinstate “Except Israel” in our passports;
- Cancel all agreements with Israeli institutions;
- Send state-led relief to Gaza;
- Boycott Zionist companies through official policy;
- Speak out against India’s Hindutva-driven oppression, an ally of the Zionists;
- Reform textbooks to include Islamic history and identity, especially concerning Al-Aqsa and Palestine.
These are strong points — and many align with Islamic principles — but they can never be fully realized under a secular system. Bangladesh’s constitution is built on the pillars of nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism. Only a state founded solely on Islam can truly protect, implement and propagate Islamic values and policies.
Our Responsibilities and Pledge
“We pledge to boycott every company and force sustaining the occupation. We will raise a generation of Nuruddins and Salahuddins, ready to defend the deen, the land, and the ummah. We will not allow ourselves to be divided, for division invites occupation. We begin this mission in our homes, with our children — embedding Islamic values into our language, history, education, economy, and society.”
The sentiment of the Muslims is clearly for Islam — and the secularists know this. That’s why they redirect this energy into symbolic actions that drain our emotions but achieve no tangible change.
Yet, even in this, the Islamic spirit of the people broke through. Organisers told attendees not to bring the shahadah flags — the white and black raya bearing Islam’s shahadah — and to only bring Bangladeshi and Palestinian national flags.
But the people didn’t listen. All praise to Allah. They brought the Islamic flags. The people of Gaza are dying in their thousands— literal martyrs to la ilaha illallah. And we are expected to wave nationalist flags instead?
The podium may have said one thing but among the hundreds of thousands who gathered, we saw placards and chants for the Khilafah, for unity, and for the armies of the ummah to rise. The call was clear.
Conclusion
Allah will make the truth prevail and falsehood perish. That is His promise. On that, there is no doubt.
لَقَدِ ٱبْتَغَوُا۟ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ مِن قَبْلُ وَقَلَّبُوا۟ لَكَ ٱلْأُمُورَ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَهُمْ كَـٰرِهُونَ
They had already sought to spread discord before and devised every (possible) plot against you (O Prophet), until the truth came and Allah’s Will prevailed—much to their dismay. (at-Tawbah 48)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “This message will reach to wherever the night and day have reached. Allah shall not leave any home built by clay or stones or by animal skin (tent) except Allah will make this religion to enter it, to give honour to those who are honourable and to disgrace those who are disgraceful. The honour Allah shall give to Islam and dishonour Allah shall give to unbelief” (Ahmad).
Living For Islam 