Q1. What can we do for Muslims in Palestine?
Some scholars are of the opinion that all Muslims everywhere in the world should rush to our brothers and sisters there in aid ready to sacrifice our lives i.e. in Jihad. They say that merely sending passive Du’as is not enough and that on the Day of Judgment those who were oppressed i.e. the Palestinian brothers and sisters shall question why their global Muslim brothers and sisters did not come to their aid and that the latter group will be punished for their actions or lack thereof.
So my question is is that the above statement correct and if so, why?

A. A person with Islamic knowledge of Quran and Hadith would generally not state that all ‘Muslims should rush’ for jihad. Such thinking opposes the Quran and Hadith. Such behavior would be devastating to Islam and Muslims. Islam has stressed the need for Islamic education, education pertaining to attaining a livelihood, taking care of family, etc. If all men went in jihad, who would do justice to our minors, the elderly, widows, etc. The scholar cannot be opposed to such rational thinking! To give benefit to the scholar, we would have to state that he meant more then what was quoted above.

Q2. If not, then what can we do to legitimately help oppressed Muslims everywhere (not just in Palestine)?

A. Dua is an Ibadah. To oppose it or have a reduced significance towards it would be equivalent to having a disregard to the practices of the prophets. To only make dua and not act according to the injunctions of Islam would also be incorrect. It was the practice of Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) to make dua for all people, primarily for the spiritual benefit of humanity. In Islam, we are called upon to do both, make dua and act according to the wishers of Allah.

Thus where appropriate, we must act with dua .This practice is found in the life of Adam (AS), Zakaria (AS), Ibraheim (AS), Nooh (AS), Musa (AS), Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) etc. May Allah shower all prophets and those that love them with Mercy, Ameen.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.