Lessons for Muslims from the US-Israel War on Iran

By Ammar Awais, Hiba magazine team writer – Islamabad

The Quran urges us to ponder the realities of this world and reflect on our surroundings to acquire wisdom and strengthen our faith. In the same way, major world events such as wars should be a source of learning and reflection for us.

Like any global conflict, the recent war between US-Israel and Iran gives us much to think about and learn from. Let’s discuss three key lessons derived from this war that unfolded in the first half of 2026, and significantly disrupted the Middle East and the world beyond.

1. Preserving Unity among Muslims

The Quran describes the believing men and believing women as allies of one another. It further reveals the consequences of disunity and enmity among the Muslims:

“And those who disbelieved are allies of one another. If you do not do so [i.e. ally yourselves with other believers], there will be Fitnah on earth and great corruption.” (Al-Anfal 8:73)

Unfortunately, this is the exact scenario we are witnessing today. While the enemies of Islam are united in their stance against the Muslims, we tend to be disunited, and filled with suspicion and animosity towards fellow Muslims. As a result, Muslims are being persecuted and killed around the world, with very little value attached to their lives.

For instance, thousands of Muslims have been killed in Iran and Lebanon during the war. Yet, there appears to be a lack of sympathy towards them from some Muslims – something that clearly defies the Quranic injunction of Muslim brotherhood. Similarly, we must sympathize with the Muslims killed during the war in countries that host US military bases.

There is a deep-rooted distrust among many Muslims today based on sectarian and ideological grounds. To put it plainly, it is common to find Muslims of various denominations denouncing each other, and describing one another as disbelievers, apostates, and hypocrites. We also frequently witness incidents of violence and bloodshed in the name of religious sects.

While there are indeed some major ideological differences within Muslims, misinformation about other denominations is also rampant. Instead of believing the first negative rumour we hear about other Muslims’ beliefs, it is far wiser to verify information, understand others’ viewpoints, and exercise tolerance for the sake of unity among Muslims.

If we wish to thrive as an Ummah, and prevent our fellow Muslims from future massacres and persecution, it is necessary that we unite among ourselves. Unity among diverse groups of Muslims is something the Prophet ﷺ strove for his entire life. Sectarianism, on the other hand, has no place in Islam. Allah (swt) strictly warns us in the Quran against dividing into sects:

“…Do not be of those who associate others with Allah [or] of those who have divided their religion and become sects, every faction rejoicing in what it has.” (Al-Rum 30:31-32)

2. Embracing Technological Innovation

During the Prophet’s ﷺ time, the numbers of soldiers may have differed but both the Muslims and their enemies were technologically on the same footing: they had similar swords, spears, shields, armours, and other war equipment. That is obviously not the case today. Military technology is the single most crucial determinant of strength and outcome in modern warfare.

The Quran calls upon the believers to muster strength and prepare well-trained horses to the battlefield. This is a clear indication that they must strive for the latest and most effective means available for success in warfare. Moreover, the Prophet’s ﷺ decision to dig a trench around Madinah before the Battle of the Allies was a classic example of innovation in the battlefield that led to an unlikely victory.

As evidenced by the war between US-Israel and Iran, countries with the most superior and technologically advanced aircraft, drones, spyware, and defence systems are going to have a major edge in the battlefield today. The US and Israel, which own some of the world’s most advanced weaponry, had a definite advantage over Iran. This is a wake-up call for the Muslim countries that can potentially face aggression in future: they must invest in high-tech weaponry and strive for self-reliance in this field.   

Apart from military technology, we must also adopt the tech revolution, in general, to gain an upper hand in today’s competitive world. It’s important to shift our focus towards the production of microchips, AI-based applications, and data centres, as opposed to just basic commodities. Countries at the forefront of innovation can more easily create wealth, giving them an overall economic advantage against their competitors.

As individuals, we must familiarize ourselves with the latest technological developments in our respective fields, and pursue emerging fields of knowledge that will shape our future. Many Muslim nations have large youth populations that must be guided towards acquiring expertise in emerging fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

3. Raising our Voices through Media

During the Prophet’s ﷺ time, there were no formal media platforms such newspapers and television. It was, in fact, the poets and orators who largely performed the function of modern-day media outlets. The Arabs were very fond of poetry, which often had an instant effect upon them. Poetry was not just a form of entertainment, but was recited in times of happiness and grief, during travel and battles, and so on.

The enemies of Islam used poetic verses as a means of propaganda against the Muslims, so the Prophet ﷺ retorted likewise, employing poetry to spread the Muslim narrative throughout Arabia. He used to tell his companions: “Satirize against the [disbelieving] Quraysh, for it is more grievous to them than the hurt of an arrow.” (Muslim)

One notable Muslim poet was Hasaan Ibn Thabit (rta), who used to compose beautiful poetic verses to defend Islam, praise the Prophet ﷺ, and highlight the flaws of his enemies. The Prophet ﷺ used to urge Hasaan (rta) on, saying: “Retort on my behalf. O Allah, support him with the Pure Spirit [i.e. Angel Jibril].” (Bukhari) The Prophet ﷺ even allowed Hasaan (rta) to recite poetry in the mosque – a trend that continued during the era of the Righteous Caliphs.

In today’s world, social media is among our most powerful tools to propagate Islam, unite the Muslims, and counter the narrative of anti-Muslim bigots. Until a few decades ago, the world’s most powerful leaders could easily shape people’s views, and fool the masses into supporting their wars, by controlling the major media outlets around the world. However, with the onset of social media, that is no longer the case.

Today, Israel’s anti-Muslim propaganda has largely been exposed through videos, photos, and thought-provoking posts on social media. More people are taking a serious stance against Israeli aggression, including its genocide in Gaza, than ever before. While many international media powerhouses continue to advance Zionist agendas, people are a lot more aware of the ground realities due to authentic social media content.

As Muslims, we must make responsible and effective use of social media to propagate the truth, speak for the oppressed, and expose the double standards of those of claim to be champions of human rights.

While the present world order will not hold the US and Israel accountable for attacking Iran in the midst of negotiations, killing hundreds of children, and making a mockery of international law, we can raise our voices through social media to spread global awareness and advocate for peace in the region.

It’s only by making such conscious efforts, at whatever level possible, that we can strive for the protection of fellow Muslims, speak out against oppression, and help the cause of Islam, In sha Allah.