Isa and Refugees

If Isa (AS) were born today, he would be born in the rubble.

Maryam (AS) would have been deprived of all the necessary care.

They were Palestinian, despite all debates stating otherwise.

Isa was a refugee in his time, fleeing genocide with his mother, Mariam (AS), from Bethlehem through Gaza to Egypt.

Looking at current events, the experiences seem to be repeating in the most disturbing ways. The mothers giving birth in Gaza's ruins next to their deceased husbands and children bearing the same names as those heroes we revere from the past - Isa, Mariam, Yousef, force us to take notice of the brutal cycle of violence.

The stories echo the haunting hardship endured by Mariam giving birth to Isa under a tree with nothing but a few dates and water at her disposal.

Possessing the literal names, these innocent children and their mothers carry their symbolic weight as they undergo the loss of life and home. The names and circumstances resonate deeply with the story of Isa and highlight the pain Palestinian mothers and children endure daily.

The terrain might have changed, the politics too, but the struggles, beliefs, spirituality, and the hope for a peaceful existence remain unequivocally echoed in the lives of Palestinian people today.

They are the living representation of the extended faith narratives we cherish and learn from.

Consider their stories a modern testament, an ongoing chapter, a vivid reminder of our shared history, belief, and circumstances.

Let’s keep our minds open to the beliefs and circumstances that connect us. We are, first and foremost, believers following the same path that Isa (AS) led.

Use this to build connections with those of other faiths.

IMPORTANT: What would you do if Isa (AS) was born today? Many candles are being extinguished. We can support them. Our partners at MATW are preparing trucks to enter Gaza with critical care.

Make your contribution count when they need it the most, insha allah.