The recent actions of the Gulf regimes, particularly the United Arab Emirates, have laid bare a disturbing reality: these governments are actively undermining the Arab and Muslim causes, most notably in Palestine. The UAE, which has increasingly fostered relations with Israel, has shown no hesitation in aligning itself with those who seek to erase the Islamic and Palestinian presence, especially in Gaza. This collaboration with the Israeli entity is a direct affront to the principles of justice and solidarity that should bind the Arab and Muslim world together. Instead of standing firm in support of Palestinian resistance, these regimes have chosen to side with oppressors, further isolating Gaza and weakening the broader struggle for Palestinian rights.
Social media has erupted in outrage at the recent statements made by Salim Al Tawil, a Kuwaiti Wahhabi scholar. He shockingly claimed, “The people of Gaza have nothing to resist with, and they post clips of movies and video game footage as if they are operations against Israel, trying to deceive Muslims and donors.” He went even further, adding, “What you see of the battle scenes in Gaza are merely video games.” Such remarks have been met with widespread condemnation online, as they not only belittle the genuine suffering and resistance of the people of Gaza but also spread harmful misinformation that undermines the Palestinian cause.
This is not the first time Al Tawil has sparked controversy. He is the same Wahhabi scholar who issued a fatwa permitting normalization with the criminal murderers in Gaza. His history is littered with bizarre and misguided fatwas, including one where he declared that saying “O my father, O my mother” would make one a polytheist. Al Tawil’s views have consistently aligned with extreme interpretations that distort the true teachings of Islam and have caused division and confusion within the Muslim community.
Wahhabism, the ideology to which Al Tawil subscribes, is a puritanical and extremist interpretation of Islam that has little to do with the religion’s true teachings. Originating in Saudi Arabia, Wahhabism promotes a rigid and intolerant worldview that has often been used to justify violence and extremism. It is a movement that distorts the essence of Islam, which is a religion of peace, compassion, and justice. Muslims worldwide must be vigilant against the spread of Wahhabi ideology, which seeks to sow discord and undermine the unity and integrity of the Muslim Ummah.
