Palestinian women exemplify resilience, sincerity that should inspire others

SHAH ALAM – The resilience, sincerity and strong values of Palestinian women, particularly in Gaza, should serve as a model for women worldwide in building meaningful lives, maintaining human relationships and strengthening their connection with the Quran despite enduring severe hardships.

Speaking during the ‘Women of Grit’ forum, President of the Asia Pacific Women’s Coalition for Al-Quds and Palestine (ApWCQP), Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan, said Palestinians are raised from a young age to honour guests and treat others with sincerity based on Islamic teachings.

She said her humanitarian missions to Palestine since 2008 had allowed her to witness three distinct experiences that reflect the deep-rooted values of the community.

“There was a story of a grandmother who cooked plain porridge for her grandchildren and we all knew they were poor and had no other food. But because they respect guests, they still asked us to eat.

“Even though it was meant for hungry children, she honoured guests in line with the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Sometimes we also see this upbringing among children.

“There was a time we brought chocolates from Malaysia. In other places, children would usually fight over them, but these Gaza children were calm and waited for us to distribute them first.

“They also made sure everyone got to taste the chocolate. This shows they are not greedy and understand the meaning of giving and receiving even in hardship because they have been taught this from a young age by their mothers,” she said.

The Women #QuranHour Summit (WQHS) 2026, themed ‘Women of Grit’, was organised to show solidarity with women in Gaza while raising awareness of their struggle for justice and Palestinian liberation.

The programme, held at Auditorium Dahlia, Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, ran from 9am to 12.30pm and was jointly organised by MWCQP and ApWCQP.

It is part of the Saff Women Empowerment initiative introduced by Yayasan Warisan Ummah Ikhlas (WUIF) in conjunction with the World #QuranConvention Surah Al-Saff in December 2025.

Other speakers included Senior Lecturer from the Department of Psychiatry at the International Islamic University Malaysia), Associate Professor Dr Nora Mat Zin, alongside WUIF Chief Research Officer Fazrul Ismail and International Quran Recital Champion 2014, Tirmizi Ali, who served as moderator and qari.

Fauziah also shared a personal experience involving a taxi driver in Gaza that left a lasting impression on her.

She recalled offering a tip, only for the driver to refuse it, insisting on proper workplace ethics even under difficult circumstances.

“When I was about to leave, I wanted to give a little extra money as a token of appreciation, but he refused to accept it because he already had a salary. He said ‘if you still want to give it, you must ask the boss, if the boss allows then I will accept it’.

“This incident was a huge blow to me even though they really needed the money. Even in hardship, they still hold firmly to Islamic principles.

“Even though the driver was a man, who taught him this? It must have been the mothers who raised them to always adhere strongly to Islamic teachings,” she said.