They say that genetics can provide clues to why nations become weak. If so, nations become weak when the genes that generate strength and creativity either wither away or simply lose strength. When a nation is hit over and over by a number of tragedies and wars, the strongest among its citizens come forward to sacrifice both life and ability. Thus they become the first victims. As a result of the continued catastrophes and crises, the nation begins to lose its power. And so we begin to understand the reasons for the Arab Ummah’s weakness.
If we review Arab history over the past century, we see that every Arab country has been in the grip of either wars or incessant revolutions and coups. Consequently, those blessed with innovative physical and intellectual powers slowly disappeared. The elimination of strong genes caused by the man-made calamities prevented the emergence of heroes, noble persons and innovators and created the weak, cowardly and culpable. Add to these calamities a dearth of intelligent people — as a result of the brain drain to Europe and the United States — and we see the reason for our resulting moral and cultural weakness.
Stories of bygone heroes, shown on television and studied in schools, keep up the remnants of courage and pride. If we dare to take our nose out of these heroic tales and myths, we look directly at the walls of shame and disgrace. This is today’s reality.
This is not a call of desperation, disappointment or submission. Nations do not turn into nothingness; they may live and die like desert flowers, dependent upon occasional rainfall for nourishment and stimulation. If the desert receives enough rain, people will not recognize the dry and arid land they saw yesterday.
What are we to do now? How can we escape from this graveyard? What we need now is courage, both physical and moral. Even if we find ourselves short in all requirements needed to rebuild the Ummah, we must believe that we are capable of achieving our hopes and goals. Did not Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, say that those who do not cry while reciting the Holy Qur’an should at least make an attempt to cry in order to become more God-fearing? In a similar fashion, we should have the belief and optimism that we can change our lives and achieve our objectives.
We have a living example in the grit and valor of the Palestinian people who can lead us onto the path of liberation and nobility. With resolution, they have said “No” to Israeli aggression and occupation. They go to work and to schools and universities despite non-stop Israeli blockades, killings and oppression. Amid all this they find the time and the heart to celebrate joyous occasions such as births and weddings while also sharing the grief at the all-too-frequent funerals. With virtually no weapons, they have taken on one of the most powerful and ruthless of armies, and battled them to a standstill while sacrificing their own precious lives.
Israeli forces have unleashed innovative acts of oppression on the Palestinians for every single act of defiance. For every “No” from the Palestinians, the Israelis responded with ten times the force. There is nobody to help the Palestinians or prevent the Israelis from their barbarous behavior.
We, the Arabs living with this humiliation, should follow the Palestinian example and strengthen our faith in our right to live with honor, nobility and freedom. Just as the visitor in the desert exclaims at the lush vegetation after rainfall, a day will come when people will wonder: Did the Ummah really suffer from weakness or face humiliation?(Reem Al-Faisal is a Saudi photographer. She is based in Jeddah.)
