For the last 2 years, we have witnessed the deliberate attempt of the media, politicians and Western societies at large to control the narrative of the crimes being commited in Gaza and the West Bank by the Zionist occupiers. As the henious crimes of the Zionist military carried on with full impunity in front of the world to see, Canada recently joined Australia, Portugal, and Britain in officially recognizing the State of Palestine, while greenlighting $37.2 million in new military sales to the Zionist entity in 2025, including bombs, rockets, torpedoes, missiles, and other military equipment. 

Just a week later, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “21-point peace plan,” which was endorsed by several Muslim-majority countries—including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Many of these rulers have either explicitly or implicitly aligned themselves with the Zionist entity and more broadly, US interests, as Gaza endures ongoing destruction, loss of life, and widespread suffering.​

As Muslims, how should we view the stance of the rulers in the Muslim world who are now celebrating Trump’s one-sided plan? What does true Islamic leadership look like? A brief look at the heroes produced by the Islamic Ummah, contrasted with the agent-rulers of today, will help us understand what genuine leadership truly looks like.

A History of Betrayal of the Rulers 

The recent events in Palestine underscore a long-standing pattern of betrayal by the elite that rules the Muslim lands. This traces back to the dissolution of the Ottoman Khilafah in 1924. Mustafa Kemal’s establishment of the secular Turkish Republic marked the end the Khilafah’s guardianship of Palestine, which led to the eventual abandonment of the Ummah’s unified leadership of Palestine, leaving it at the mercy of the colonial powers to occupy and dominate. Subsequent Arab rulers have continued this legacy of betrayal and deceit until today.

As we all watched the destruction of Gaza unfold, there has been a growing realization amongst the Muslims that the rulers of the Muslim lands are completely complicit. For example, Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, made statements when he announced that the ongoing negotiations with the Zionist entity could lead to a security agreement in the coming days. Whether they be openly allied with the Zionists as is the UAE or Egypt, or symbolically opposed to it such as Turkey, no concrete actions have been taken to confront or contain the Zionist entity.

The reality is that the Zionist entity is an artificial state supported by the United States and others, and occupies a small land surrounded by millions of Muslims who are eager to see it dismantled. Its existence would be impossible if the rulers of the lands that surround it decided to isolate and confront it. The fact that it continues to act with impunity, starting wars with four of its neighbours while ethnically cleansing Gaza, is due to the complete and eager support of puppet and spineless illegitimate rulers.

Al-Quds – An Amanah (Trust)

In our rich and enduring Islamic history, we have countless examples of remarkable, courageous, and steadfast people, especially in the blessed land of Palestine. The Muslim political and military leaders of the past did not view Palestine as a mere bargaining chip to use to stay in power or a piece of land for appeasing the colonial powers. Rather, they recognized it as a sacred trust, and a land sanctified by Allah (SWT), when He says: 

“Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed…” [TMQ 17:1]

The Muslim leaders of the past understood with absolute conviction that it was the sacred duty and a trust by Allah (SWT) of the Khilafah state to defend and preserve the sanctity of Palestine.

From the time of the second rightly guided Khalifah, Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra), who personally accepted the keys of Jerusalem, to the final days of the Khilafah under Sultan Abdulmejid II (RA), the guardianship of Al-Quds was not seen as object for political leverage, but as an act of ibadah (worship) and a heavy responsibility for the Muslim leaders.

A glance at our glorious history is enough to demonstrate how the attitude of a just and capable ruler was guided by the Qur’an and Sunnah in handling the issue of Palestine. 

The True Heroes of the Ummah

It is well known and celebrated fact that the first Muslim leader to liberate Palestine was by the Khalifah, Umar ibn al‑Khattab (RA). In 637 CE, the Muslim armies captured Jerusalem from the Byzantine Empire. Umar personally travelled to Jerusalem and accepted the surrender of the city under terms called “The Treaty of Umar” that protected the Christian inhabitants, their churches, their property, and their worship.

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (RA) was the ninth khalifah of the Khilafah state. He constructed the Dome of the Rock. Under his authority, he invested heavily in Jerusalem’s infrastructure as well as safeguarded the Christians as dhimmis under his rule. 

Ṣalaḥ al‑Din al‑Ayyubi (RA) was not only a brilliant military general and commander but also a statesman and sultan. He led the Muslim armies that liberated Al-Quds (Jerusalem) from Crusader control after nearly 88 years of occupation and reconnected the land with the Khilafah state.

Another important figure was the Uthmani khalifah, Suleiman al-Qanuni (RA). He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. He restored the city’s infrastructure, repaired its water systems, and revived religious endowments (awqaf) to ensure the care of the city’s poor and the maintenance of its holy sites.

He also strengthened the status of Jerusalem as a protected waqf (endowment) — affirming it as land sacred to all Muslims.

The last legitimate ruler of the Muslims to defend the land of Palestine was Sultan Abdul Hamid II (RA). When Zionist leader, Theodor Herzl, requested land in Palestine in exchange for Ottoman debt relief, Abdul Hamid II famously replied:

“I cannot give away even a handful of the soil of Palestine, for it is not mine, it belongs to the Muslim nation. The Ottoman rule is not my personal property but belongs to all Muslims.”

While the list of heroic political and military Muslim leaders is vast, they all had unique traits in common – integrity, courage and most importantly Taqwa (consciousness of Allah). This is unlike the coward, traitor rulers of today who sold the land and the people of Palestine for a small wordily gain. 

The Final Word

The people of Palestine will not be helped through more international attention; what would motivate any of these other nations to damage their relationship with the global superpower, America, in defense of Palestine? The answer is also not more scripted speeches of condemnation. The solution is also not normalization or a two-state solution either.

The only solution is a state, committed to following Divine guidance, led by a righteous Khalifah that can unite the Ummah, and mobilize the resources, technology, and military might of the Muslim lands to defeat the occupiers and oppressors and depose the rulers of the Muslim lands once and for all.

Those ruling the Muslim lands are Islamically illegitimate. And it is a fard on the Ummah to work with those in positions of power and influence to remove these rulers. Not only that, but we are Islamically obligated to restore the ruling system of Islam, i.e., the Khilafah. Rasul’Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever dies without an oath of allegiance (bay’ah), dies the death of jahiliyyah (time of ignorance)” [Muslim].

Let us work together to fulfill the prophecy of the Prophet (SAW) and re-establish the promised Khilafah as Rasul’Allah (saw) said “and then there will be Khilafah on the method of the Prophet and then he was quiet.” [Ahmed]