“Keep your prayer running by daybreak so it may contain the universe, so it may contain the mystery of the [divine] names hidden in you. Wake up from the oblivion of absence. Know the prayer that is within you.” — Sheikh Ghassan Manasra
The Shabbat of October 7 was also Simchat Torah, the day when Jews celebrate the culmination of the annual Torah reading cycle and the commencement of a new one. I woke up as I do every day, rising at the early hour of five o’clock for the al-Fajr prayer, and these were the words I uttered: “O God, You are the source of peace; peace emanates from You, and to You peace shall return. Our Lord, bestow Your blessings upon us with peace”.
Not long after my prayers, that morning saw an ushering in of a harrowing new reality into Israel, a reality marked by lamentable and unparalleled bloodshed as Hamas launched a severe assault against the citizens of the State of Israel in the southern regions. I was seized by profound astonishment, an astonishment that continues to grip me as I pen these lines. I wonder, for how long will we persist in perpetuating death upon one another? Until when will we inflict catastrophe upon our neighbors? Why do we not choose love, life, and beauty? When will we recognize that we, both Jews and Arabs, were divinely placed in the Holy Land to serve as a beacon to all nations?
This event transcends all words, transcends the alphabets of both Arabic and Hebrew.
I am only gradually comprehending that the unfortunate, painful, and obscene events may escalate. Words of condemnation, in any language, may fall short. Therefore, acknowledging the gravity of this moment and bearing a profound sense of responsibility, I beseech all believers—Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike—to uphold their faith, to safeguard the human soul, and to sustain the inner light within each of us. I implore everyone to remember that mercy outweighs judgment and to aspire to embody the divine commandment, to “walk in His ways” (Deuteronomy 20:9), or as the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, instructed: “takhallaqu bi-akhlaqi Allah,” adhere to the ways of God.
As a believer, I do not have the privilege of remaining idle or silent. I persist in my prayers and endeavors for the peace of my Jewish and Muslim brethren in Israel. I urge all to act with reason, maintain restraint, and exhibit responsibility and patience while upholding the law and public order.
Israeli society, encompassing Jews and Arabs alike, faces a grave challenge. We must implore God to illuminate our hearts, enabling us to propagate the message of peace within Israeli society, across the region, and throughout the world. All of us, whether Jews or Muslims, bear the responsibility to fortify ourselves with the light of love and faith, resisting the poison of hatred and anger.
The crimes committed are evil, and evil is terrible wherever it is and whoever it emanates from. At this moment, I find myself at the juncture between prayer and the yearning for peace, praying fervently that we adopt humility and introspection, beginning with self-examination before turning judgment towards others. It was arrogance and indifference that harmed us.
I believed, and I continue to believe, that Jews and Arabs can, and should, coexist in peace. In this moment, I implore all of us to unite and extend a helping hand to one another. My heart goes out to the captives, the families of those missing, as well as the vulnerable, innocent children, and women enduring the siege in the Gaza Strip, devoid of electricity and water.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the swift recovery and complete healing of the injured. I beseech Allah to bestow peace upon all of us and to eradicate evil and injustice from the world.
“Allah calls towards the Home of Peace” (Quran: Sura Yunus 10, verse 25)
