DETAILS

Hassam Munir is a public history educator, with a particular focus on Islamic history. He is pursuing an MA in History from the University of Toronto. He has given public lectures in Canada, the US, and Uzbekistan, and published many articles on different topics in Islamic history. He formerly worked with the Ontario Historical Society and was recognized as an Emerging Historian at the 2017 Heritage Toronto Awards. He is currently part of the team at Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. In the current context, it is very important to study the history of Palestine, particularly the city of Gaza. Knowing Gaza’s rich history will, inshaAllah, help us attach our hearts and minds to the people of Gaza at a deeper level, and also enable us to boldly and intelligently challenge false narratives that are used to justify Israeli oppression. This session will cover the following topics: • What are the origins of Gaza? • How has the geography/location played a role in its history? • Who were the original people known as the Philistines? What were their interactions with Bani Israʿil? • What is the history of Jews in Gaza, from ancient times and under Muslim rule? • How did Islam come to Gaza? How did different Muslim rulers rule it over the centuries? • Who were some of the Islamic scholars that came from Gaza? • What are some of Gaza’s cultural contributions to the world? • What is the modern history of Gaza under occupation?