He also says, 

"Say (O Muhammad); Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? They are those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds."

A nation that forgot her Creator and as a result forgot her own self. Allaah tells the truth when he says, 

"And be not like those who forgot Allaah (by being disobedient to Him) and He caused them to forget their own selves."

Of the worst that could affect the life of the ummah is a situation where religion becomes a past time and past time becomes the religion. Sins have huge consequences. They have ruined many nations that were formerly well-established, and they continue to destroy the very essence of the present generation. 

"Many a nation We have destroyed after Nooh. And sufficient is your Lord as an All-Knower and All-Beholder of the sins of His slaves."

In spite of all this, we are not being pessimistic; for pessimism and eemaan do not go together; because pessimism means losing hope of attaining the mercy of Allaah, "And certainly, no one despairs of Allaah's mercy, except the people who disbelieve."

Fellow Muslims! The calamity of Palestine is not the first and will not be the last: This ummah has experienced many great calamities even those that were greater than that of Palestine and yet, she did not despair, nor surrender, but continued to resist and fight on until Allaah gave her victory over her enemies.

Nations in their history experience falls and pains but the living nation rises from her stumble and bypasses her pains. These pains and falls sometimes spur her to work and fight harder until she attains victory. There are, as well, rises and falls and weaknesses in the history of the Muslim ummah but then came men who changed the course of history. Though the history of this nation that Allaah has given superiority over other nations has become tainted with her present weakness, yet her present situation gives glad tidings on the birth of a generation that will be ready to hoist the banner of Islaam and change the cause of her history. The situation in which the ummah is presently living raises hope and rekindle the determination; for the history of Islaam has consistently showed us that, it is weak situations, periods of degeneration and enemy conquest that activate the ummah to think soundly and work diligently to drive away the aggressor and recover its glory and power.

It is during events like these that valiant and courageous Mujaahideen and active scholars emerge. The Prophet said, "The example of my ummah is like that of rain, in which it is not known whether the first part of it is the best or the last." He also said, "Allaah shall continue to bring up among the adherents of this religion, those whom He will make to obey Him and serve the cause of His religion till the Day of Resurrection." He also said, "Allaah brought all parts of the earth closer to me and I saw its east and west and was told that, the sovereignty of my ummah shall reach all that I was shown."

Brethren in Islaam! These incidences have been predecreed on this ummah, so that she can wake up from her stumble, understand her mission and unify her ranks under one banner of Laailaaha illa Allaah, Muhammadur rasoolullaah, "There is none worthy to be worshipped but Allaah and Muhammad is His Messenger", with sincerity to Allaah, lack of affinity to this worldly life and to the enemies of Allaah, and with an intention to help the cause of Allaah. "If you help (in the cause of) Allaah, He will help you and make your foothold firm."

Muslims should be consistently concerned about pains, sorrows and aims of the ummah, so that we may join hands in bearing this heavy sorrow and taking the ummah out of this dangerously but temporary painful situation in her course.

Every morning and evening, news reaches every concerned Muslim about his brethren in Palestine: news that shakes his heart and fill it with pain and sorrow.

These armless people has never known security since the Jews occupied their land, expelled them from their homes and persecuted them. But yet still, they remain brave and courageous with their men, women and children. Every home has almost lost a dear one or a relative. Yes, this is a picture of perseverance and pride.

These people suffer bloody afflictions, painful scenes, killings and destructions with savage and barbarism that have no regard for humanity and show no mercy to it. It is a painful situation from whose horror the body shivers and the eyes shed tears.

How can the conscience of the whole world be unmoved when it sees the one whose land has been usurped has nothing to resist the occupation than mere rocks: It is a scene that should provoke the feelings of the whole world, to see a man using only stones to fight an enemy who kills him with warplanes, rockets and tanks; an enemy whom Allaah describes that, "They fight not against you even together, except in fortified townships or from behind walls"

It is equally repugnant that this wronged man should be denied his legitimate right to express himself over the injustices that he suffers as it is repulsive to look at the blood of innocent children killed and regard that a result of the carelessness on the part of their families who are fighting the occupying enemies. Then, how can peace be made with a people, who give regard to no covenant, are not honest and respect no pact. Allaah says about them, "It is not (the case) that every time they make a covenant, some party among them threw it aside? Nay! (the truth is) most of them believe not."

The Jews have different ways of perpetrating crimes and massacres in their shame-infested history. They do not learn from historical events. They rather prefer to be persistent in their treachery and heinous crimes. Allaah says,

"And (remember) when your Lord, declared that, He would certainly keep on sending against them, till the Day of Resurrection, those who would afflict them with a humiliating torment. Verily, your Lord is Quick in retribution (for the disobedient, wicked) and certainly, he is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful, (for the obedient and those who beg for Allaah's forgiveness)."

All calamities in the land of Palestine were caused by the Jews, they instigate crises with their filthy hands, despicable souls, diseased hearts and evil intentions. Allaah says,

"Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allaah extinguishes it; and they (ever) strive to make mischief on the earth. And Allaah does not like the mischief-makers"

Throughout their history the Jews have violated many treaties, denied many agreements and perpetrated many acts of treachery. They have behaved aggressively on the earth and shed blood of many innocent children, infants, old people and armless women. Allaah says about them,

"Indignity is put over them, wherever they may be, except when under a covenant (of protection) from Allaah, and from men; they have drawn on themselves the wrath of Allaah."

The Jewish haughtiness exceeded all limits; they killed innocent souls with no regard for conscience. They committed massacres in many cities and camps and perpetrated acts of racialism like mutilating dead bodies and terrorising peaceful people with a false belief that they will destroy the Muslim nation's willpower, but far from that!

Brethren in Islaam! The Muslim people of Palestine has laid down wonderful examples of bravery with tens of martyrs, many more wounded and hundreds of detained captives. With complete siege on all towns, villages and camps and with massacres that are being committed in all places; the Muslim people of Palestine affirms that, there will be no surrender, no humiliation and no weakness; they affirm that, the Jihaad shall be continued until victory is achieved. Listen to the Word of Allaah about them,

"Verily, you (believers) are more fearful in their hearts than Allaah"

What we hear and see today are just a chapter of the great jihaad and long perseverance of the struggling Palestinian people. They have struggled, persevered and fought courageously; and they have undergone many calamities, but they have never faltered and never humbled themselves even for a day. May Allaah bless 'Umar who said, "Do not belittle your aim and ambition, for I see nothing that keeps man away from honour more than belittled aims." The Palestinian people continue their resistance bravely, losing martyrs one after another and laying thereby the most marvellous example of patience. These people know how to live an honourable and dignified life and how to die an honourable death in martyrdom. The nation that knows how to die honourably and with dignity, Allaah gives her dignified life in this world and the everlasting bliss in the Hereafter.

Fellow Muslims! Allaah's way in awarding victory depends strongly on the ummah's adherence to the injunctions of Islaam and the law of her Lord. Allaah says, 

"And verily, Our Word has gone forth, of old for Our slaves, the Messengers, that they verily, would be made triumphant, and that verily, Our hosts,  would be victors."

Elements of victory are: to remain steadfast when meeting the enemy, to be in constant relationship with Allaah by doing many acts of remembrance, to shun disagreements and dissentions and to be patient over the burdens of war. Allaah says, 

"O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allaah much, so that you may be successful. And obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage, and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allaah is with those who are patient."

But when Muslims abandon the way of Allaah, they will suffer weakness, humiliation and defeat in addition to psychological disturbances. Allaah says, 

"So do not become weak (against your enemy) nor become sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed true believers"

Do not be weak, for Allaah is All-Powerful, He will support you, give you victory and weaken your enemy. 

"And do not be weak in the pursuit of the enemy, if you are suffering (hardship) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering; but you have a hope from Allaah (for Paradise) that for which they hope not; And Allaah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise."

Victory is in the hand of Allaah alone, and few people who have Allaah's support will definitely defeat many however great their strength may be. 

"How often a small group overcome a mighty host by Allaah's Leave! Allaah is with the patient ones."

He also says, 

"If there are twenty steadfast persons, they will overcome two hundreds, and if there be a hundred steadfast persons, they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are people who do not understand."

Truth is always strengthened by the Powerful Lord. It is He alone Who possesses the hosts of the heavens and the earth. As for the enemy, Allaah has told us about them,

"They will do you no harm, barring a trifling annoyance; and if they fight against you, they will show you their backs, and they will not be helped."

Brethren in faith! Supplication is an effective weapon if made by a honest heart and pure tongue and repeated frequently. May Allaah help our brethren, remove their calamities and liberate the holy places from the filth of the Jews. It will be very desirable if the supplicant could take advantage of the periods that invocations are mostly accepted like the last third part of the night, the day of Jumu'ah, during prostration and the like.