When images of suffering become part of our daily news cycle, what happens to our sense of humanity? As devastation, displacement and loss continue to dominate our screens, we face an uncomfortable question: Have we become so accustomed to suffering that we are beginning to look away?

On this episode of Thikrullah, we are joined by Prof. Dr. Khalid El-Awaisi, an academic specialising in Islamic Jerusalem and Bayt al-Maqdis studies, Islamic history, and the historical geography of the Holy Land.

Holding a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, Professor El-Awaisi has focused his research on the historical geography of Bayt al-Maqdis and the geographical interpretations of the Qur’an. He previously served as Director of the Centre of Islamic Jerusalem Studies in the UK and is currently based in the Department of Islamic History at Ankara Social Sciences University in Türkiye.

Together, we explore the human, historical, spiritual and moral dimensions of the suffering in Palestine — and what it means to remain conscious, compassionate and responsible in a world where injustice can become just another headline.

Ultimately, this conversation asks us to look beyond the images on our screens and reflect on what happens within us when suffering becomes routine. How do we preserve our empathy? How do we uphold justice when it is inconvenient? And how do we ensure that repeated exposure to tragedy does not diminish our willingness to care?

Because the question is not only what is happening in Palestine, but also what is happening to us as we witness it.

Guest:
Prof. Dr. Khalid El-Awaisi