Some of the people are holding up their dead children, with blood trails on the ground, and tears swelling and bursting out of their eyes. And yet, even in this condition, they are invoking Allah's lofty names and praising Him. These scenarios reminded me of the patience and gratitude of Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) which was shown in the dua that he made to Allah at his most difficult moment: 'And (remember) Ayyub, when he called out to his Lord (saying): Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.' (21:83) And that was all that he said. And then Allah answered his dua completely and gave him even more than he expected, as Allah says: 'So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him (back) his family and the like thereof with them as Mercy from Us and a reminder for the servants (of Allah).' (21:84) The Arabic word that is used for Prophet Ayyub's adversity is 'darrar,' which, according to mufassireen, refers to a physical illness or a disability in this particular verse. And they have said that the illness was so severe that there is almost no part of his body that was not affected except his tongue, so that he could make dua to Allah. And according to one opinion, his illness was so severe that even his family had to be separated from him. However, some have also said that maybe they all died (due to disease or illness), but later on Allah gave him more children through his wife, or perhaps he was given the grandchildren from the ones who have died. And these are all valid possibilities. But, whatever the true account is, Allah knows best. Although we don't know what exactly happened to him, or to his children and his family, it is believed that he was tested with some sort of an affliction on his body. The word 'darrar' used over here, which includes the meanings of 'adversity' and 'harm' in general, can also more specifically refer to a physical incapacity. This meaning is used in the another verse where Allah says, 'Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) - other than the disabled (darrari) - and those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and their lives' (4:95). But again the most important lesson is, after being afflicted with a severe physical affliction, he simply said to his Lord: 'Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.' One thing that is striking about this dua is that Prophet Ayyub (pbuh) didn't ask for anything specific. He didn't ask Allah to cure him, to give him back his health, to give him back his family, and so on. He just praised Allah by uttering the words, 'Wa anta arhamu rahimeen' (meaning, 'And You are the Most Merciful of the merciful'). And this praise itself was answered as a dua, because Allah knew the emotion that he felt and what was in his heart, and so Prophet Ayyub didn't have to say anything else after saying that. The recognition and the verbal expression of Allah's Mercy on his tongue, even after what happened to him, was enough to bring tranquility into his heart. Likewise, in connection to the historical brutality and horrors that we are seeing now, we have to keep the lesson of these verses in mind as a constant reminder for ourselves. And the verses are to be taken to be equally relevant to any distress or calamity that we may face in our own personal lives as well. And Allah asks us in another verse: 'Who is it that answers the distressed when they call out to Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a god with Allah? Little do you remember.' (27:62) So yes, the pain, horror, and grief that has covered the Palestinians are indeed very heavy. But on top of all of that, they are also covered by Allah's mercy. But surely most people do not see that side of reality because they only perceive what is most visible and immediate. The tongue that can invoke Allah's Mercy and His beautiful names is more powerful than all the bombs and airstrikes that have rained upon our brothers and sisters so far. Allah's Mercy is the ultimate fortress and protection. So, of course, the raining of bombs is nothing in comparison to the raining of Allah's Mercy.