'While 'clever' Muslims argue among themselves, Allah chooses Greta Thunberg to lead GSF' - ZRA
Zainal reflected on how Thunberg’s leadership defied the belief that divine strength or wisdom was reserved only for scholars or those in positions of power.
SHAH ALAM - At a time when many Muslims are busy arguing about doctrine and intellect, a 22-year-old non-Muslim woman with Asperger’s has become a symbol of courage and a reminder of God’s irony.
Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist once known for confronting world leaders over environmental apathy, now finds herself leading a humanitarian flotilla to break Israel’s siege on Gaza, a mission that many viewed as both moral and spiritual in its significance.
For Malaysian participant of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) Zainal Rashid Ahmad, this moment carried profound meaning beyond politics and religion.
“When I share about how God reveals His lessons to us, many of us, the so-called ‘clever ones’, often focus on how to raise intelligent children or build a smart nation. Yet today, GSF is being led by someone with Asperger’s, a form of mild autism.
“Individuals with Asperger’s are intellectually sharp but often struggle socially and show little facial expression. Despite that, 22-year-old Greta Thunberg, who has Asperger’s, has sent two powerful messages to the world.
“This young woman not only leads a global environmental movement but is now also at the forefront of efforts to break Israel’s siege on Gaza. From this, we should recognise how God arranges His lessons for all of us,” he said.
Zainal reflected on how Thunberg’s leadership defied the belief that divine strength or wisdom was reserved only for scholars or those in positions of power.
He observed that many who took pride in their intellect often became entangled in debates.
Some identified as Sunni, others as Shia or Wahhabi; arguing endlessly over interpretations of knowledge and end-times teachings, he added.
“Yet, this abundance of knowledge has made us negligent. When we become careless through our learning, Allah reminds us that wisdom does not rest with the learned alone. Instead, He chooses an individual with a disability, one whom society might dismiss as deficient, to lead.
“And while Muslims continue to dispute among themselves, Allah shows that He can raise leaders from the West, even from among those we might look down upon, like people covered in tattoos or those we fear because of their appearance.
“On my ship, the captain was a woman, other captains were men, some bearing tattoos. All of this holds meaning: God is saying He will not abandon Palestine. If Muslims refuse to fight for it, He will choose others to do so,” he said.
Zainal added that Thunberg’s leadership offers a profound moral lesson for all believers.
He questioned whether those who see themselves as people of faith and intellect took a moment to reflect.
“Allah chose a person with Asperger’s to lead the GSF and even people like me have followed her. Because truth, courage, love and compassion for Gaza are with her.
“Meanwhile, the so-called ‘clever’ ones remain busy quarrelling among themselves,” he said.
Earlier this month, international outrage erupted after Israel intercepted GSF, a humanitarian convoy of 45 vessels carrying over 450 activists from 47 countries, aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The flotilla was seized by Israeli forces between Oct 1 and Oct 3, resulting in illegal arrests of activists and reports of mistreatment.
Activists who had been deported reported severe abuse in detention, being beaten up, zip-tied, denied food and medication and forced to drink from toilets.
Witnesses said Thunberg was “dragged on the ground,” “forced to kiss the Israeli flag,” and “paraded like a trophy.”
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared he was “proud” of the harsh treatment, calling the activists “supporters of terrorism.”
Several Malaysians on the mission including singer Nur Heliza Helmi and her sister, Nur Hazwani Afiqah, Nurfarahin Romli, better known as Farah Lee, Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, also known as Ardell Aryana and singer Nur Fazelah Mad Tahil, also known as Zizi Kirana were unlawfully detained and later released through diplomatic coordination involving Turkiye, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and the United States.
They were flown to Istanbul on Oct 5 after being confirmed safe but “exhausted and starving” following their ordeal.
The incident sparked massive global protests across Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, London, Lahore, Kolkata, Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur, where millions condemned Israel’s actions and called its blockade a “genocide against Palestinians.”
The illegal detention of GSF participants and continued demonstrations had reignited debate over Israel’s blockade of Gaza, widely criticised as a violation of international law and a form of collective punishment.
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