Faith, Resilience and Olive Trees: A Palestinian Family’s Struggle to Preserve Their Heritage
The olive tree holds a sacred place in Islamic tradition, symbolising peace, resilience, and blessings from Allah. For the Tanatra family of Umm Safa in the occupied West Bank, their olive harvest is not just an agricultural ritual; it is a spiritual act of devotion and a testament to their unwavering faith and connection to the land bestowed upon them by their Creator. Despite enduring settler violence and military aggression, they remain rooted, embodying the principle of sabr (patience and perseverance) as they defend their ancestral groves.
A Land Inherited and Entrusted
The Tanatra family’s connection to their olive trees stretches back generations. Saher, the family patriarch, recounts how his great-grandfather came to Umm Safa during the Nakba of 1948, fleeing Zionist forces who expelled over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes. The olive trees on their land have since become a symbol of steadfastness, rooted deeply in both the soil and their identity as Palestinians.
Allah reminds us in the Qur’an of the blessings of the olive tree:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth… [It is] lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire.”
(Surah An-Nur 24:35).
This verse encapsulates the sacred connection between the people of Palestine and their olive trees, which provide sustenance and light even in the darkest of times.
A Harvest Shadowed by Fear
For Manal, Saher’s wife, the olive harvest season was once a time of joy, unity, and gratitude. Her children, including six-year-old Nasser, would accompany her to the groves, playing under the trees while she picked olives. But this year, fear has overshadowed the season. Settlers, backed by Israeli soldiers, have established an outpost a mere 50 metres from their home, bringing with them violence and terror.
Manal describes how settlers shoot live bullets, unleash aggressive dogs, and destroy property in their attempts to drive Palestinians from their land. One evening, during a settler attack, her young son Nasser fled in panic under gunfire to his grandmother’s house. The trauma left him paralysed by fear, reluctant to leave the house or even eat.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe.”
(Sunan an-Nasa’i).
This prophetic teaching starkly contrasts with the brutality endured by Palestinian families like the Tanatras, who continue to suffer under oppression and injustice.
The Struggle to Protect Their Land
For the people of Umm Safa, the olive harvest is a sacred duty. Despite settler violence, army-imposed road closures, and economic hardship, they remain steadfast in their resolve to harvest the trees their ancestors planted. The family works together to collect olives from their 150 trees, relying on the income from the oil to sustain their household.
Manal finds strength in her faith. “We are entrusted with this land,” she says. “It is a gift from Allah, and we will protect it for as long as He wills.” Her words echo the Islamic principle of amanah (trust), which emphasises the responsibility to care for what Allah has provided.
Faith in the Face of Injustice
The Qur’an reminds us:
“Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.”
(Surah An-Nahl 16:128).
This belief sustains the Tanatra family as they navigate the challenges of life under occupation. Their olive harvest is not just an economic activity but an act of resistance and faith, a way to assert their right to the land that has sustained them for generations.
During the harvest, the family gathers under the shade of the olive trees, sharing meals and stories that remind them of their resilience. Even young Nasser, despite his fears, finds moments of joy as he climbs trees and helps collect olives. For his mother, seeing him reclaim his confidence is a small victory against the forces seeking to uproot them.
A Message to the Ummah
The struggle of the Tanatra family, and countless other Palestinians, is not just a Palestinian issue—it is a concern for the global Muslim community. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“The believers, in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy, are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.”
(Sahih Bukhari).
As an Ummah, we are called to stand with our brothers and sisters in Palestine, amplifying their voices and supporting their efforts to remain steadfast on their land.
How You Can Help
- Pray for the Oppressed: Make dua for the people of Palestine, asking Allah to grant them strength, patience, and victory. The Prophet ﷺ reminded us:
“The supplication of the oppressed is never rejected.” (Sunan Ibn Majah). - Raise Awareness: Share stories like the Tanatras’ to ensure the world does not forget the plight of Palestinian families who are defending their land and dignity.
- Support Palestinian Farmers: Purchase Palestinian olive oil and other products to help sustain their livelihoods. Many organisations facilitate the export of these goods to global markets.
- Advocate for Justice: Call on governments and international bodies to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law. Demand an end to settler violence and illegal land grabs.
- Revive the Sunnah of Brotherhood: Support grassroots initiatives and relief efforts aimed at helping Palestinian families rebuild and sustain their lives.
Steadfast Until Death
“The settlers intend to displace the people of Umm Safa. This is a message that we will remain steadfast. We are rooted in this land until death.”
As the head of the village council, Marwan Sabah, declared during a solidarity harvest.
Let us honour their resilience by standing with them in solidarity, prayer, and action. As Allah reminds us:
“O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.”
(Surah Al-Imran 3:200).
May we, as an Ummah, rise to this call, supporting our Palestinian brothers and sisters as they hold steadfast to their land, faith, and identity in the face of adversity.
Read more about stories from Farmers.
