Unlocking Leverage: A New Perspective on What You Can Do To Help Solve the Palestine Crisis
A Practical Guide to help Muslims go from Powerless to Proactive about Palestine (and beyond)
How do you solve a problem like Palestine?
This is an age-old and as yet, completely unsolvable question. This question gnaws at the conscience of not just Muslims but anyone with a sliver of humanity. We are anguished at the sight of our brothers and sisters suffering, being driven out of their homes and bombed mercilessly — a suffering that seems to have no end.
May Allah protect them and grant them immense sabr, and be firm and swift in His justice, ameen.
“The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5665
Probably the biggest reason why this hurts so much is because we feel so damn helpless. No one is coming to the poor Palestinians’ rescue. And that’s been the case for decades.
The oppressors own the media, so they’re dominating the narrative, vilifying the victim with their lies. They own the politicians who then act accordingly to introduce new laws to suppress freedom of speech and they have unlimited wealth and influence so it feels so mismatched it’s embarrassing. It’s like they have all the cheat codes enabled, and when something feels that daunting, it can deflate and demoralise you, to the point you lose hope.
Never Lose Hope
One of the most debilitating emotions in times of injustice and adversity is the sense of powerlessness. It can eat away at your resolve, leaving you in a state of despair.
But does this mean it is impossible? Of course not.
“Do not lose heart nor fall into despair! You shall triumph if you are believers.” - Qur’an [3:139]
Despair is not in the vocabulary of a believer. It's crucial to understand that our collective feeling of powerlessness is more a state of mind than an absolute truth.
We have resources, immense talents, and, most importantly, faith.
“He (Prophet Abraham a.s) said, “Who can lose hope in the mercy of his Lord except those who have lost the straight path?” -Qur’an, [15:56]
This is extremely tough to deal with, but life is tough. This is part of the test. We simply HAVE to believe we will be victorious in the end, and therefore must keep striving for the cause. It is even prophesied in a hadith narrated in both Bukhari and Muslim that Islam’s resistance to Israeli oppression would eventually be successful and on that day of success, when even the stones would speak in assistance, Islam would have triumphed over all her rivals.
Until that time however, we must tie our trust in Allah with proactive measures—as per the hadith "Trust in Allah but tie your camel." Allah has gifted us with intellect and the capability to bring about change - if we are willing to take the action.
We need to stay calm, rational and think out a strategy that can actually move the needle.
So let’s do this now. This essay is a look at what practical measures can be taken, to really help Palestine both collectively and individually.
Increase Your Belief
The first thing to do is to increase our belief. If you don’t believe you won’t achieve, it’s as simple as that. Belief and mindset is the foundation to any long term success.
One of the best ways of increasing our belief is to look at past precedent.
Are there examples from history where an underdog has won where it seems impossible?
When you dive deep enough, history is absolutely full of examples of seemingly impossible victories. Prophet Dawud (David) defeated Goliath with little more than a slingshot. Prophet Musa (Moses) led his people to freedom from Pharaoh's tyranny against all odds. The Battle of Badr was won with an ill-equipped Muslim army. In the broader context, we can look at the battles of Yarmouk or even more recently, the Algerian war of independence or how the Taliban overcame the mighty giants of the Soviet Union and the United States just a few decades apart.
Even non Muslim examples are aplenty, Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution, the Vietnam War and going further back, the Haitian Revolution in what was one of the most famous slave revolts in history. These were downtrodden slaves who rose up and defeated their French colonial masters without any training or equipment - and established the first black republic as a result.
If you feel powerless, remember the original source of power
A great definition of power I once heard is “the amount of time it takes to go from thought to action.” If you have a lot of power, it’s very fast. Whereas if you are weak, it will take a long time or never happen.
A CEO might have a lot of power in his company because he can think of an idea, and get his team to execute on it ASAP. A king, president or general has lots of power because they have staff or soldiers waiting to implement their commands.
The Ummah, on the other hand - do NOT have a lot of power. This most recent conflict confirms it perhaps more than ever.
But who does? Allah has the MOST power. Remember Kun faya Kun - “be, and it is!”
In fact, in times like this we must remember the golden rule: la howla wa la quwatta, illah billah hil aleeyil azeem: this is translated as: there is no power EXCEPT with Allah.
If Allah wills - things can change in an instant. Take the reliance and pressure of yourself and the ‘Ummah’ to rise up - and put it in Allah’s hands. You just need to do your bit.
Understanding our objective
Now that’s the belief side sorted, where do you begin?
Let’s start with our objective. We need to topple the tyrant.
Easier said than done, sure. But remember, we’re just hypothesising right now. How do you go about toppling a tyrannical status quo?
Well, loosely speaking there are essentially two ways. Top down or bottom up. The macro and the micro.
You can either dismantle an oppressive system from the top or you can chip away at it from the bottom. The top-down approach relies on leaders and influential people (or even countries, in this case) initiating the change. The bottom-up approach depends on grassroots movements, where ordinary people like you and me create the momentum. We can look at both of these methods.
Coming up with a strategy that succeeds
Next, we need a strategy. This is where a framework can help.
One that comes to mind is the OODA loop.
Developed by strategist and U.S. Air Force Colonel John Boyd, the OODA Loop is a practical concept designed to function as the foundation of rational thinking in confusing or chaotic situations. “OODA” stands for “Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act.”
“What is strategy? A mental tapestry of changing intentions for harmonizing and focusing our efforts as a basis for realizing some aim or purpose in an unfolding and often unforeseen world of many bewildering events and many contending interests.” —John Boyd
Essentially, it means that we need to observe the situation for what it really is, then orient ourselves, looking at our resources, our constraints, what barriers would prevent the rest of the loop being completed. Then now that we are clear about the full picture and what could hold us back, it’s time to decide on a method, a way forward, and finally to take action. It’s called a loop because we get feedback from taking the action, and if we need to tweak, we can go into observation mode again.
Having done this there is one observation that stands out that is crystal clear.
Why are Israel so relentless in their attacks and not willing to listen to any desperate pleas to stop? Not even from the international community, nor international law, not even their own people.
In marketing communications, there is a copywriting convention called WIFM - meaning “what’s in it for me?” To write in an influential way that ensures the reader understands the benefits of taking action and the pain of not taking action. People tend to be rather logical, cause-and-effect types of creatures. They act when there is a reason to act. The basic premise of this acronym is that when the result of an action is in the best interest of a person, they are more likely to choose to do it.
In this case, there is no WIFM, at all. It’s because there is no accountability, there is no incentive to stop or no punishment if they continue. Israel has no compelling reason right now to heed calls for peace because they don’t feel any type of pressure, their allies are egging them on and they are also obstinate enough to withstand many forms of pushback.
When orienting ourselves, our barriers in terms of being able to hold them to account or deliver pain is that we are weak, disunited, have no figurehead and many corrupt leaders in place sabotaging our progress.
What we lack, plain and simple, is LEVERAGE. This is the absolute key to solving this. This is the number one thing you need to influence or control any situation to your advantage.
So this must become our strategy. We need to put together a coordinated response that actually makes an impact and lands not only a punch, but enough of a nuisance that they have no choice to back away.
What is leverage?
Leverage is the capacity to influence a system, or an environment, in a way that multiplies the outcome of one's efforts.
Archimedes once said, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world."
Leverage is that 'lever.' Leverage is essentially to use something to gain maximum advantage.
"Leverage is the difference between what you put in and what you get out." - Alex Hormozi
Here’s an example, using a personal anecdote.
Once upon a time, I was a retail buyer for a big blue-chip company with thousands of stores worldwide. We would often bring in suppliers of varying sizes for talks about listing a new product or negotiating a price cut or promotion. I had only a couple of years experience at the time but given the weight of the company, I was always negotiating from a position of strength due to who I worked for, despite coming up against seasoned business people with 20-30 years experience. I had all of the leverage. It wasn’t a fair fight. I could easily go down the route of “we don’t really need them, they need us” and become arrogant and close-minded.
Where it would balance out was if on the other side was an equally or even bigger company with a big recognised brand that was a staple and best-selling product for us. We couldn’t afford to act in a way where we lose that brand or relationship.
For a smaller supplier, they could still have a lot of leverage if they had a revolutionary product, or if they had a lot of competing retailers wanting it, or had proven demand - all of these factors and more would give them more leverage and balance out the conversation somewhat.
Leverage allows you to punch above your weight.
Think about if you knew deep dark secrets about an A-list celebrity or even royalty. You’re a nobody - but if you know the right information, your leverage in that situation is extremely powerful.
The more points of leverage you have, the more pressure you can exert.
Introducing a model for Leverage
Someone who talks extensively about leverage in the business world is entrepreneur, investor and philosopher Naval Ravikant. He is known for his insightful perspectives on startups, technology, and life philosophy and is the co-founder of AngelList, a platform that connects startups with investors. He is considered a legendary investor having invested early-stage in over 200 companies including Uber, FourSquare, Twitter, Wish.com, Notion, SnapLogic, Opendoor, Clubhouse, Stack Overflow, Bolt, OpenDNS, Yammer, and Clearview AI, with over 70 total exits and more than 10 Unicorn companies.
“If you don’t have leverage, you’re never going to make real wealth.” — Naval Ravikant
He talks about leverage as a model for getting wealthy but the same principles apply.
Where it says wealth, we can read ‘power.’
This is his ‘Leverage’ Model:
“To get rich, you need leverage. Leverage comes in labor, comes in capital, or it can come through code or media. But most of these, like labor and capital, people have to give to you. For labor, somebody has to follow you. For capital, somebody has to give you money, assets to manage, or machines.” - Naval Ravikant
Ravikant names four different classes of leverage (as seen from the diagram above):
Collaboration/Coordination (People Leverage): This is good old fashioned strength in numbers. One man can do a little, many men can do a lot. Millions of men can do even more.
Capital (Money Leverage): This is access to finance and resources.
Code (Machine Leverage): This is all about how you use technology to gain advantages.
Content (Media Leverage): This is the influence on hearts and minds through content, media, culture and the like.
So you can see leverage can come from labour (people), from money (capital), from technology (code), and from intellectual property (content). Or a combination of them all. It’s about how you use what you have to amplify your influence, reach, and impact.
Here are a few examples of how these types of leverage have been used in the past to help the underdog win:
People - Malcolm X and ‘brother’ Hinton Johnson
On April 26, 1957, a member of the Nation of Islam, Hinton Johnson, witnessed fellow NOI members being beaten by police. Outraged by what he was witnessing, he intervened, which resulted in him being brutally beaten. The officers had split Hinton’s skull open and arrested him, providing him no medical care. Malcolm X and fifty members joined him in a march to the police precinct and stood outside in ranks, in a disciplined formation. Malcolm X demanded to see brother Hinton and insisted he must be taken to a hospital and threatened the officers that if Hinton did not receive medical care, then the NOI members outside would remain there until justice was done. An ambulance came but by this point the crowd had grown to more than 4000. This was the first time that African Americans had taken a stance against police brutality in Harlem. Standing outside the hospital, members of the NOI stood in front of regular citizens who joined the crowd, and the police quickly felt threatened and told Malcolm X to disperse the crowd. Malcolm X rejected their demand, and said “our brothers are standing peacefully, disciplined perfectly, and harming no one.” Doctors assured Malcolm X that brother Hinton was receiving medical care and would recover. Malcolm then gave a hand signal to all the Nation of Islam members, and the crowd dispersed. Captain Green said a famous line that has stuck with history forever, “That’s too much power for one man to have.”
After brother Hinton was released, the Nation of Islam helped him sue the police for police brutality. Hinton Johnson was ultimately awarded over $70,000 in the settlement, and it made history by being the largest police brutality judgment that New York City had ever paid.
The power of a united group of people, organised effectively.
Capital: King Faisal & the OPEC Crisis
“If the war bells start ringing on Palestine, you will soon see me, my brothers and son leading the battle against Israel” - King Faisal ibn Abdul Aziz
This one is a great example and highly relevant to the current situation.
In 1973, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia masterfully used oil as a form of political leverage during the OPEC crisis. Recognizing the West's heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil, he led OPEC in cutting production and implementing an embargo against countries supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War. This action quadrupled oil prices and sent shockwaves through the global economy, forcing a reevaluation of foreign policies and energy strategies in Western nations. Faisal's skillful use of this leverage not only elevated Saudi Arabia's geopolitical significance but also demonstrated the potency of controlling a single, essential resource to achieve far-reaching political goals.
King Faisal used the Capital leverage: he recognised that oil was not just a commodity; it was a political weapon. The Western dependency on his product was the leverage he needed. By cutting oil production and implementing an embargo against countries supporting Israel, King Faisal knew he could induce a crisis that would reverberate around the globe.
And it did. The impact was immediate and severe. Long lines at gas stations became a common sight in the United States. The crisis even led to shifts in American foreign policy, encouraging a more balanced approach in the Middle East. In Europe, the situation forced governments to invest in alternative energy sources and reconsider their foreign policies as well. The leverage had worked.
Code: Genghis Khan and modern day platforms
There are a lot of examples of technology levelling the playing field between underdogs and powerhouses. One from older times is Genghis Khan.
Genghis Khan started as a young boy from a poor family in Mongolia, who were not exactly a powerful state at the time. Yet, he managed to build one of the largest empires in history. He was keen on adopting new technologies from conquered people - and this turned the Mongol Empire into one of the most advanced and effective war machines of the time.
One of the most significant areas where Genghis Khan adopted new technologies was in siege warfare and advanced weaponry. The Mongols were originally a nomadic people, skilled in horseback archery but not in capturing fortified cities. As they conquered people who were experts, like the Chinese, they quickly adopted their technologies such as trebuchets, catapults, and siege engines. He also integrated the Chinese crossbow into this army. This made the Mongols far more effective at taking fortified positions and gave his men greater range and accuracy.
Genghis Khan was open to learning from the people he conquered. This made the empire a melting pot of technologies, tactics, and ideas from different cultures, which enriched the Mongol Empire in various ways.
By adopting new technologies and integrating them into his already effective military and administrative apparatus, Genghis Khan turned the Mongol Empire into an advanced and adaptable force that could take on various challenges and terrains. It's actually an amazing example of how being open to innovation can provide significant leverage, even when starting from a position of relative weakness.
A modern day and more well-known example are the likes of Airbnb, eBay and Uber, who have successfully leveraged technology to take on the behemoths of the traditional hotel, retail and taxi industry, established for over a century or more and establish themselves as one of their respective industry leaders in a very short time.
Content: The Trojan Horse and the Printing Press
One of the most famous examples from mythology, the Greeks used a giant wooden horse to trick the Trojans into allowing them inside their fortified city. It played on the Trojans' curiosity and arrogance, leading to their downfall. A great example of a type of ‘content’ in that it confused them and influenced them to make a wrong decision.
The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, was a game-changer that leveraged the power of mass-produced information to shift societal dynamics. By making books affordable and accessible, it democratised knowledge, boosting literacy rates and empowering the general public. Before this invention, Europe lagged behind, and most except the clergy or elite were illiterate. This newfound accessibility of information fuelled transformative movements like the Reformation and the Renaissance, disrupted the monopoly of elites on knowledge, and facilitated rapid scientific and cultural advancements. Essentially, the printing press gave societal underdogs the leverage to challenge established powers, transforming them into influential forces in culture, politics, and science which continues to this day.
How Has Leverage Been Used Against Us?
Let's not be naive; leverage has also been used against us and has contributed to our current state. Through media propaganda (content), financial systems that perpetuate inequality (capital), and technology platforms that censor voices (code), the scales are tipped against us. The systematic othering of Muslims (people) ensures that we start from a place of significant disadvantage.
People: In the past, this was often how wars were won. The more troops you had access to, the more fearsome the army. Today, Muslims are a minority in the West, so we are outnumbered in Western lands and scattered everywhere. However, in terms of pure numbers alone, Muslims probably have MORE leverage than their counterparts - so the division and disunity sown by the West to divide and conquer has also played its part.
Capital: This is the unfettered access to almost unlimited capital, both by foul means or fair - whether it is through VC funds and investment arms excluding minority founders to owning and maintaining the entire riba-based banking system that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer, and the ability to print money without limits, leading to more inflation. It’s also institutions like the IMF and huge conglomerates like BlackRock and Vanguard that own the majority of shares of the main companies and therefore can influence at will. Money talks after all.
Here’s an example of capital leverage playing out. UK-based Muzz (formerly MuzMatch) is a successful marriage app targeting Muslims with over 8 million members. Match Group (owner of Tinder and others) liked what they had done so made them multiple 8-figure offers to acquire. Muzz said no, as they wanted to remain Muslim-owned. Match Group, jilted by the object of their affection, had huge capital leverage so were able to litigate with impunity (both in the US and UK) and force Muzz to spend millions in court to defend themselves. Muzz survived, bloody-nosed but at great expense (and had to change their brand name too). It made no difference to Match but could have been devastating for a company of Muzz’s size.
“The new generation’s fortunes are all made through code or media. Joe Rogan making $50 million to $100 million a year from his podcast. You’re going to have PewDiePie. I don’t know how much money he’s rolling in, but he’s bigger than the news. And of course, there’s Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs. Their wealth is all code-based leverage.” Naval Ravikant
Code: This has become more prevalent with how advanced modern technology has become. Whether it’s in weapons and arms, having eyes and ears everywhere through CCTV and data gathering, or even new emerging technologies like AI, blockchain and the metaverse. A basic but clear example could be silencing or deleting an influencer’s channel on YouTube or Instagram. Acquisitions of innovative tech firms are always taking place so the latest technology is always in the hands that are under ‘control’.
Content: This has been the main weapon of choice for decades, with bias, propaganda and anti-Muslim rhetoric continually being dished out by the mainstream media. That same has historically marginalised Muslim voices whilst amplifying the other. Hence Muslims have a label of being a terrorist or running grooming gangs or all sorts - even when the facts suggest otherwise. I still recall an old Europol report which confirmed that all terrorist attacks carried out across Europe by Muslims, whether seen through, failed or foiled, up until 2013, amounted to precisely 0.7%. Where exactly does this label come from if not the media who push whatever narrative suits their ultimate agenda? It’s not just mainstream media, it’s everything which pervades into our culture that affects our world view. It’s comedy, it’s Hollywood, it’s art and culture and even Wikipedia.
With all this in mind, what are our top down and bottom up approaches to these areas of leverage?
The Top-Down Approach
Now, given the current state of our leadership, a top-down approach seems next to impossible. But unlike Piers Morgan, let’s consider some hypotheticals. Stranger things have happened, after all. Let’s not underestimate the emotional pull that the Palestinian plight has on almost all Muslims.
From a People perspective, what if Muslim-majority countries formed a strategic alliance or even better, put steps in place to begin to restore the Khilafah? Put all their differences aside and created a bloc, similar to the EU. Withdraw en masse from the UN, a mass exodus. They could also align themselves with a China or Russia that is neutral at best with the West and Israel to make up for the shortfall. China and Russia have both been muted since the original attacks and Israel were disappointed that the Chinese response in particular was not stronger. BRICS could be a good model to follow, here.
For capital, what if these Muslim-owned countries finally moved off the dollar, en masse towards the Rouble, Yuan or even long term a Muslim alternative currency? Perhaps even a decentralised solution on the blockchain?
In terms of practicalities, depending on involvement, withholding or limiting resources could cause severe disruption and apply leverage. Another oil embargo a la OPEC would be less damaging than 1973 as sources have since been diversified but would still have a huge impact. Just look at the cost of living crisis the Russia-Ukraine war brought about due to the limited distribution of Russian gas and energy?
If we’re brainstorming hypotheticals, we could get creative. Saudi's PIF fund who invests in Disney, Uber etc could put pressure on these companies the way Vanguard and Blackrock do. Or to start funding Muslim-owned or Pro-Palestinian companies. Emirates or Etihad or other airlines could limit their airline routes for a period or cut off all flights to the UK, US and Israel and anyone else who supports for instant impact.
For code, an obvious technology leverage is to remind the West of Pakistan's nuclear technology. But longer term, what if we built our own technology platforms? Pakistan for example has some of the best IT talent in the world. Give them funding. Get them going.
From a content perspective, invest in soft power, like films and entertainment, to counter negative stereotypes? Perhaps a RT-esque news channel hiring the best of the best journalists, like Saudi did with LIV Golf and the Saudi Pro League, or even create their own Hollywood. With the eye-watering sums of money the Gulf regions have, if they managed to host a World Cup, anything is possible.
China: A Great Example of the Power of Leverage
China are a great example of what is possible when you get all of these things in the right place, in a top-down way. The fact they are so resistant to external leverage is a powerful lesson in the efficacy of holistic, strategic planning.
Every time I have visited China, I can’t help but be impressed at their ambition, their execution and uniformity. They know how to get stuff done. The desire to build and push their own brands and companies in particular was impressive. The only Western brands I saw consistently were McDonalds and Starbucks. But they had their own VISA, their own Shell, their own everything. They REJECTED permission for most Western brands to establish a foothold there. Contrast this to the Gulf, who on the contrary, don’t have many large brands of their own (other than Aramco and the airlines), and allow all the Western brands to expand their footprint all over the region.
By creating their own robust systems of leverage across multiple fronts, China has rendered itself largely impervious to external pressures, and here's how:
People: The Chinese government prioritises unity and nationalism, creating a collective mindset that serves as a buffer against external ideological influence. It’s one culture, one main language (albeit multiple derivatives) and therefore a very strong sense of heritage and cultural identity. This unity enhances social stability and focuses the nation's efforts on shared goals.
Capital: China is an economic powerhouse with immense wealth derived from its role as a global producer. They've diversified their foreign reserves and reduced reliance on the US. dollar, making economic sanctions or pressures from institutions like the IMF far less impactful. They are the largest investor in gold reserves in the world. They have also invested very wisely in other nations thus giving them more global and geopolitical influence.
Code: China is a technological behemoth. They've developed homegrown tech giants like Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei, reducing dependence on Western technology. China actually has 9 of the world’s biggest 20 tech companies. They're not just keeping pace; they're setting the pace, as evidenced by their foray into 5G technology and contributions to global platforms like TikTok.
Content: The Chinese government exercises strong control over media and information through rigorous censorship, thereby inoculating its populace against external ideological influences. They've also invested in global media outlets to project their narrative and invested heavily in soft power through cultural exports.
Whether it's the unity of their people, the might of their capital, the innovation of their code, or the control of their content, China has established multiple layers of internal leverage that make them largely resilient to external pressures. Their success in these areas serves as both a shield and a spear, allowing them to protect their interests while influencing global affairs on their terms.
The Bottom-Up Approach
Now onto the important bit. What can YOU the individual do?
In a few words: Be a nuisance! Think about it, those who are a nuisance in a customer service setting often get served more quickly.
But, don’t be a lone wolf. Hunt in packs.
“Hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. Remember the favor of Allah upon you, when you were enemies and he brought your hearts together and you became brothers by his favour.” Quran 3:103
People: Get organised. Be united. No more petty division over things that don’t matter. Understand there is a them and us on this matter. It’s too important to stay impartial. As Desmond Tutu famously said: If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”. Remember, this is one area we already have a huge amount of leverage - as we outnumber them significantly - if only we weren’t so divided. So any semblance of unity would be their worst nightmare. What that means practically - even if you disagree with someone’s general world view, or their interpretation of Islam, in this matter, overlook those differences. Jim Rohn once said “When 2 or more people decide on a common purpose, nothing is impossible.”
In the past, mass protests of people have made often a difference, such as in the civil rights movement. While not always effective, there’s no question there is some sway that mass solidarity with large groups can have on the outcome. More effective than this would be a mass boycott or strike. Hitting them where it hurts, huge disruption, and a significant loss of revenue can be more powerful in large numbers than you think. Even if you’re in the UK or US - the impact on their economies could pressure their leaders to encourage Israel to stand down. Connection and communication is key to getting organised - with a code of conduct and overall objective.
Capital: For those with wealth, think about where you are deploying it. Sponsor those working for the cause. Invest in Muslim-centred businesses, and make others wealthy. Invest in Waqfs and grow the wealth. Trade with one another, give your fellow Muslims your business - even if it costs slightly more and is less ‘convenient’. This is a long term game and there’s a lot of catching up to do. We simply must grow this part faster. Build real assets. Be very mindful WHERE and WHOM you are investing in. In the short term, keep donating to official charities working on the ground.
For those entrepreneurially inclined, the more you rely on a paycheque the more you’ll be forced to comply and silence your voice. Go and free yourself slowly but surely. Be prepared for a lot of hard work and a lot of failure along the way.
“Businesses owned by responsible and organised merchants will eventually surpass those owned by wealthy rulers.” — Ibn Khaldun
We can see this quote come to pass today, the unicorns such as Amazon, Apple, Google (Alphabet), Netflix, Tesla etc have considerable influence - to the extent they can sway policies.
Who are going to be the Muslim companies that can compete on this level?
We need to up our ambition. Create impact for the mainstream. Yes there are plenty of ‘halal’ alternatives required for our own people. But we have so much talent. The world needs ethical/Islamic principles, values and businesses, more than you think, and more than they think.
Code: For those who are technologically savvy, this is your world. How can you master (and even better, innovate the future technology) so it’s not something we can be excluded from, and it’s something that works for us, not only on their terms?
The great news is we are entering a brand new era of Web 3.0. The old advantages and head start can be eroded very quickly indeed. Master AI, robotics, blockchain, the metaverse, and look into all the emerging technology. Get involved and study it, and then go build. The good thing is more and more people are getting fed up of the control systems. Look at the rise of Rumble, a less censored alternative to YouTube. There is definitely space - provided you execute with excellence.
Partner with the wealthy ones from above who can fund you. This is where the biggest and quickest strides can be made (long term) in terms of leapfrogging us from the sidelines into front and centre. A hypothetical example: it was known that two Muslims created the Covid-19 vaccine. Imagine they didn’t do it on behalf of a company, and were the sole gatekeepers for this global vaccine that every single company, every single government wanted. That is a lot of power, wealth and influence!
Content: This is very varied, but is effectively managing the flow of information. Lobby and challenge wrong information. Ask questions and correct disinformation, hold leaders to account. Get good at officially complaining if you see something wrong. Be a nuisance. Do not let the trolls get away with false narratives. Record the information, keep a store of it. The victors of wars shape history. Do not let them erase Palestine off the map. Give the people an identity, a voice. In the era of YouTubers, TikToker’s and Instagrammers, it’s perhaps easier than ever to become a content creator for the force of good.
But it’s also a creative responsibility. Create documentaries, create movies that don't have Muslims portrayed as the villains and also highlight Muslim heroes. Become stand-up comedians or artists or writers - there are different ways to get into the psyche of society and have influence. Look at one of the best-selling books of all time - The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. He is a Mormon, and incorporated a lot of Mormon concepts in the book, repackaged for a lay audience. But people found huge value in the concepts in spite of that. We have so many beautiful traditions and values in our religion that we can share with others if packaged in the right way that resonates.
If you don’t feel creative, or you are not inclined towards content creation, as a consumer you probably have the most important role. To AMPLIFY. This is what allows leverage to work! If there are Muslim influencers saying important good things, then share share share! Promote it far and wide. Let’s build up those voices we need and give them the power they need to influence on a wider scale.
In the Muslim world, we are always on the lookout for leaders, the Mahdi or Messiah that’s going to lead us to the promised land. But in the absence of sincere, top class leadership of the right calibre at the upper echelon, the onus falls on all of us to become those leaders we’re desperately crying out for.
EVERYONE has got a role to play. Figuring out your purpose is a huge step in the right direction.
Stay united. Build Muslim-focused businesses. Master technologies that are shaping the future like AI, robotics, and blockchain. If you don’t have the technical skills, no worries. Be the one who challenges false information, asks tough questions, and keeps leaders accountable. Be creative and influence with a long term impact in mind. This is where you can truly make a difference and get the leverage.
“Forget rich versus poor, white-collar versus blue. It’s now leveraged versus un-leveraged”. - Naval Ravikant
More than the sum of its parts
I hope through this essay you can see light at the end of the tunnel. Yes in our current state we are weak collectively and don’t have great leadership. But with a proper system and coordinated system we can punch above our weight and truly make an impact.
A football manager of a lower league team can cause an upset even if he has weaker players by being fiercely disciplined and organised and playing for one another. Having heart and grit.
We need to play for one another. This is encoded in our religion already:
“None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
“Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever helps ease one in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah helps the servant as long as he helps his brother.” Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2699
Think about the Taliban. Outnumbered, vastly disparate resources but what they had in spades was yaqeen - conviction. That level of belief where you are fully immersed in what you’re doing and you have full faith you will be successful. That level of certainty will overpower the opponents and demoralise them, a true psyops campaign.
So, don't just rely on prayer; get involved, get educated, get strategic. Whether it's raising awareness, boycotting, investing in causes, or providing direct aid, your individual contributions can compound into something significant.
Stay positive
In these dark times, we need to keep the Stockdale Paradox (from the book Good to Great) in mind. This is to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be, BUT retain absolute faith that you will absolutely 100% prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties you may be facing.
A word of warning. Don’t respond too much to what’s going on with emotion and anger. You will burn out and it’s not sustainable. Instead channel that anger, use it to kickstart a change in your life for the greater good. A strategic, long term, logical approach.
A government should not mobilize an army out of anger, military leaders should not provoke war out of wrath. Act when it is beneficial to do so, desist if not. Anger can revert to joy, wrath can revert to delight, but a nation destroyed cannot be restored to existence, and the dead cannot be restored to life.” - Sun Tzu, the Art of War
Yes, it is difficult and challenging. But we must persevere and stay resilient in pursuit of our purpose.
Ibn Abbas reported: I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when he said to me, “Young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. If you ask, ask from Allah. If you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the nations gathered together to benefit you, they could not benefit you unless Allah has decreed it for you. And if the nations gathered together to harm you, they could not harm you unless Allah has decreed it for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2516.
Don't mistake your feeling of powerlessness as a sign from above to stop trying. Our faith teaches us that Allah's help can be just around the corner, and oftentimes, it's darkest just before dawn. Allah's plans are beyond our comprehension, and what may seem like insurmountable odds can turn in your favour with divine intervention (trusting Allah) and consistent effort (tying your camel). Play the long game; don't be reactive, be strategic. The landscape of power can change in an instant, shifting towards those who have been steadfast in their conviction and efforts. Be grateful, always - and never, ever stop praying.
It all begins here
Here’s the only thing: it won’t happen overnight. It will take years of building towards a brighter future, this future golden age where Muslims are leading the way. But it all begins with a decision.
A decision to be better.
If you won’t do it for yourself, then please do it for Palestine.
“I stopped all oil supplies to the West. What are we waiting for? Palestine is calling upon you. Palestine is crying for your help. Rescue it. Save it from the Zionist disaster (Israel). What scares us? Do we fear death? To die a better death is to die as a martyr in the path of Allah. We need to rise. An Islamic revival. This is the call of Islam” - King Faisal ibn Abdul Aziz
Resources that can help you
“People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.” - Blair Warren
I hope this essay has been persuasive enough for you to at least think about a more productive, purposeful and powerful response to the challenges that lie ahead.
The above quote is known in marketing as the ‘one sentence persuasion’. I’ve tried to incorporate all of those elements in this essay to persuade you to move forward and mobilise and get active. Because it’s important we don’t sit and watch. No more inaction. We are not supposed to feel helpless. There is action we can take - and even better, there is action that you are not only good at and more aligned to who you actually are, but action that will really, REALLY make a difference. What’s even better is if your brother, your sister, your friend, your colleague also takes the action that is correct for them, we will all get there faster, together.
If you’re really wanting to make a difference but you have no idea where you’d be best suited or are looking for a direction, then the best place to start is to know yourself and figure out your true purpose and where you can make the most impact, using the gifts Allah gave to you. Should you be in code, or capital or in content? You can check out the free training at www.secondgoldenage.com/purpose and if you wish, book a call to discuss what would be best for you.
If you want to read more of my work, you can subscribe to my Substack.
You can also follow me on X - www.x.com/famjad84
The below organisations are good starting points if you’re looking to get started on a more ‘leveraged’ approach to making a difference.
People:
Get to know your history. History resources on Palestine and even general Islamic history is important, as well as understanding the big picture as to why it’s all happening.
An eschatological analysis of Palestine - Jerusalem in the Quran | Al Aqsa attacks and the False Messiah
A resource with a comprehensive reading list: A History of Palestine Resistance | www.decolonizepalestine.com
History of Islam by Sh Ismail Kamdar
MEND: MEND aims to equip Muslims with the skills, resources and materials necessary for them to play a more active role in society. They could play a role in helping to organise Muslims in a better way. www.mend.org.uk
CAGE: Naturally, as you adopt some of these stances, you could face repercussions. CAGE are a not-for-profit advocacy that will help you to get justice. www.cage.ngo
One thing we need is a community platform where Muslims can communicate and mobilise effectively. I am not aware of one that is currently in use. What is the most active Skool, Circle or Slack group for Muslims to share ideas and collaborate? I have one that I’m working on but it’s not quite ready yet.
Capital:
Islamic Finance Guru: An excellent resource and team that is dedicated to its mission of increasing Muslim wealth, through education and investment. They ask the right questions, put together great content both entry level and more advanced to really close the wealth gap for the Muslim masses. www.islamicfinanceguru.com
Minted: A great tech platform making the investment into gold, silver and other precious metals easy. www.theminted.com/
Muslim CEO: If you’re looking to start a business that gives you more free time and has more impact, you can check out www.muslimceo.com and attend a future webinar: www.muslimceo.com/escape9to5
Wahed: Another excellent investment platform that is centred on making Muslims wealthy. Check out WahedX for investment opportunities and they also have a waqf aspect incorporated into their app. https://www.wahed.com/uk
LaunchGood: One of the best tech platforms for good out there. Over a decade of service to the Ummah, this is the place anyone can raise funds not only for Palestinian causes but for any idea. www.launchgood.com
Code:
Muzlamic Makers: A great resource for professionals in tech to connect and collaborate - whether you’re a developer or not. All great tech needs designers, writers, marketeers. You can contribute to the next big thing! www.muslamicmakers.com
Deen Developers - If you want to code, be in this community of brothers and sisters doing great work with tech. If you want to see an effective implementation of this article, look at their ‘emergency hackathon for Gaza’ on October 21st and 22nd where they will be working together to come up with solutions that amplify the Muslim voice and tackle the technological challenges of this crisis. www.deendevelopers.com/gaza
Content:
5 Pillars - Sometimes a thankless task but an excellent media platform made by Muslim for Muslims with journalistic integrity. They have delivered consistently over the last ten years, asking the right questions, holding Muslims and non Muslims to account. www.5pillarsuk.com/
Muslim Mastery - If you want to speak out more, perhaps start your own YouTube channel , and need help with your confidence, communication or public speaking, get in touch with Muslim Mastery. They have helped to train many of Muslim influencers today including Mohammad Hijab, Hamza Tzortzis and others.
MPAC - They’ve been around a long time, and are very experienced with lobbying and the like. www.mpacuk.org
Know Your Rights: A good article explaining how to express solidarity with Palestine
Note: There’s a ton of great organisations who do excellent work who I may have forgotten or not be aware of. If you want me to include an important organisation doing great work, please DM me or add a comment below with the organisation and why you think they should be included.
Really brilliant article - thank you for sharing 🙌🏻 and hope it reaches far and wide.
The last verse of Surah Nuh should be read before Fajr in sujud....