GAZA -

When the young Malaysian Muhammad Nader Al-Nouri set foot in the "land of angels", as Malaysians describe Gaza, he fell on his knees in prostration, thanking God that he had received what he says is "a blessing that does not exist in many parts of the world."

"I came to Gaza in search of doors of goodness.. We need people in Gaza more than they need us, despite their tragic reality due to the Israeli siege and wars." The story of love that linked this young Malaysian to this besieged small geographical spot.

Love "Land of Angels"

In 2013, the first meeting was between Qamar al-Zaman, 35, and Gaza, which he says he never expected to visit. His visit at that time was aimed at studying Sharia, and the story began as he tells it in a sound Arabic language. “Gaza was one of several options for studying Sharia after I left Syria, following The outbreak of war there in 2011, and after research and discussion with my parents, I chose Gaza.”

Qamar al-Zaman stayed in Syria for about a year and a half, and following the outbreak of the revolution and the deterioration of the security situation, he returned to Malaysia, and discussed with his family several options to fulfill his wish to study Sharia, after obtaining a university degree in "marine sciences" from Malaysia, and he says, "With all awareness, I chose Gaza." And we call it in Malaysia the land of angels inhabited by humans with special characteristics.. They love life, but they do not fear death if it is for the sake of the land and the sanctities.

Qamar al-Zaman came to Gaza with a solidarity convoy through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and joined the Faculty of Sharia and Law at the Islamic University, to be the first Malaysian student in Palestine.

He said, "Everything in Gaza is different, even the air feels that it has a special flavor...Despite the harshness of life, the people here have great abilities to resist their difficult circumstances, and their lives continue; ".

With a smile on his face, Qamar al-Zaman recalled his first arrival to Gaza, and said, "I had a busy schedule and daily banquet dates. I used to eat in the homes of people I met for the first time."

Qamar Al-Zaman founded the Gaza Lovers Foundation Malaysia to increase his connection with Gaza, to which he came to seek Sharia (Al-Jazeera)

war experience

After about a year and a few months that Qamar al-Zaman spent in Gaza, Israel launched its third war, which lasted 51 days, and it was “cruel and terrifying,” as he described it.

He says, "The days were difficult, and I was staying alone in a house in Al-Touffah neighborhood, which was subjected to heavy bombardment... At that time I felt lonely, as there was no electricity or internet, to communicate with family and friends."

Qamar al-Zaman explains, "Despite the ugliness of the war, I did not think of leaving Gaza, and I decided to stand firm with its people, and I had founded the Gaza Lovers Foundation Malaysia, to sponsor orphans at the time, in addition to my university studies."

In the war, the Foundation participated in educating the children of families displaced from their homes in dangerous areas, as well as establishing a mobile medical clinic, to provide aid to the population, especially to those who cannot reach health centers, due to the dangers of war.

There are many situations that are still stuck in the mind of this Malaysian young man, and contributed to his adherence to staying in Gaza, and he says, "Perhaps there is no other place in the world other than Gaza where you may see the young man crying because he did not obtain martyrdom with his friend or family, more than his grief over their separation. ".

Qamar al-Zaman is proud of his marriage to a martyr's widow and the care of her five children (Al-Jazeera)

Marriage to the widow of a martyr

These and other situations made Qamar al-Zaman feel nostalgic for Gaza whenever he left it on a business mission or a short visit to his family in Malaysia, to decide to increase his connection with Palestine with a link greater than just studying and providing humanitarian aid.

Naim was the eldest orphan of this widow from his father, the martyr Ashraf Mushtaha at the age of 14 when Qamar al-Zaman met him, on a recreational trip, and admired him, after he had aroused his interest and learned his story;

He says, "I found him a different model from other children. He has a great deal of intelligence and understanding of his cause. He traveled to Australia and Jordan to talk about Palestine and Gaza. This boy was the key to my connection with his family and my marriage to his mother."

Qamar al-Zaman became close to Naim and his family, and with time his connection with them increased, but his marriage to Naim's mother was not an easy task. Down at his desire and insistence after nearly two years of discussion.

The Qamar al-Zaman family's connection to his wife, children and family increased after he took his wife, mother and son Naim to visit Malaysia after the marriage in 2016. He says, "The relations became excellent and the ties were strong, especially after I gave birth to my two children, Hawraa Al-Janan and Qamar Yusef."

Qamar al-Zaman is proud of his marriage to the widow of a martyr, and she sponsored him to raise orphans who lost their father during his resistance to the occupation.

Gaza Lovers Foundation Malaysia supports various sectors and depends for its funding on popular donations from Malaysia and its neighboring countries (Al-Jazeera)

Gaza lovers Malaysia

Over the past nine years, Qamar al-Zaman succeeded in developing the work in his institution, which started as a small idea to care for about 300 orphans, and today it has become one of the leading institutions in Gaza, providing assistance in several fields. They need to strengthen their resilience with projects that help them face poverty and unemployment, and improve the standard of living.”

He added, "My attachment to Gaza is ideological, and my mission has not yet been completed, and I will continue to make every effort to help the simple people in the land of angels... Here are wonderful examples of victims who rise and refuse to surrender despite death and destruction."