- Palestinian teenager Hussam Al-Attar, dubbed “the Newton of Gaza,” ingeniously generates electricity from wind using basic tools despite displacement caused by Israel’s massacre of Palestinians.
- Al-Attar’s inventive spirit shines amidst adversity, showcasing resilience and determination amid ongoing Israeli aggression that has inflicted casualties and forced mass displacement in Gaza.
In the words of the venerable intellectual Dumbledor,
‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light‘.
Hussam, a former student of Jabel Mukaber School in northern Gaza, found himself and his family displaced after Israel commenced its devastating battering on the besieged enclave since October 7th. Forced to flee their homes in the Beit Lahia area, they travelled on foot to Al-Nasr, then to Khan Yunis, before settling in Rafah.
Hussam recounted how he and his family endured twenty days shrouded in darkness within their tent. Yet, from this obscurity emerged an immense illumination, both corporeal and spiritual.
“I looked at my twin nephews and saw only fear in their eyes. They felt lonely in the dark inside the tent. So I thought … Bring joy to them, and light up this place,” Hussam said.
Pictured: Families residing within tents in Rafah
Inspired by the cold weather and wind, which brought fatigue and illness to children, Hussam conceived the idea of converting wind energy into warmth and light. Despite limited resources, he came across two fans at a scrap market and impressively put them to good use. Hussam managed to create fans that generate electricity, albeit in small amounts, through makeshift power generators.
The Al-Attar family has affixed their tent to the side of a single-story house, enabling Hussam to ascend to the roof and install his two fans, positioned one above the other, functioning as miniature wind turbines for charging batteries. Subsequently, he linked the fans to wires running down through the house, and ingeniously utilised switches, lightbulbs, and a slender plywood extension into the tent to craft a customised lighting setup for his family.
He explained that his initial two tries were unsuccessful, and it took him some time to perfect the system until he finally succeeded on the third attempt.
“I started developing it further, bit by bit, until I was able to extend the wires through the room to the tent that we are living in, so that the tent will have light,” he said.
“I was very happy that I was able to make this, because I eased the suffering of my family, my mother, my sick father, and my brother’s young children, and everyone here who is suffering from the conditions that we live in during this war”.
Dreaming beyond limits
“I love life, and I adore its details. I wish to be an inventor and discoverer, but it is impossible for Palestine to die inside me,” Hussam declared at the tender age of 15 years.
In the midst of despair, this young soul tenaciously clings on to his dreams and aspirations, forging ahead with unwavering determination. His resolve knows no bounds as his dreams transcend the confines of Gaza:
“I am very happy that people in this camp call me Gaza’s Newton, because I hope to achieve my dream of becoming a scientist like Newton and creating an invention that will benefit not only the people of the Gaza Strip but the whole world.”
Empowering Perspectives: Life Lessons Learned from Palestinians
Hussam is yet another Palestinian who teaches us crucial life lessons: never shy away from daring dreams. Furthermore, dreaming boldly illustrates our connection with Allah, that we have internalised His attributes and have robust faith in His boundless power.
One of Allah’s names is Al-Wahhaab (the supreme bestower). We see here how amidst the turmoil of Gaza, Hussam holds fast to his grandest aspirations. Hussam serves as a poignant reminder: When faced with trials that echo the ordeal of Prophet Yunus (AS) in the depths of the whale’s belly, we must understand that this is not the conclusion, rather, it signifies a journey, for this world is but transient.
Hussam’s mother expresses pride in her son’s accomplishment, recalling his innate talent and resourcefulness since childhood. She envisions her son becoming a great inventor who contributes to his community and cause.
“This is a Palestinian generation that will not be defeated. It is a generation that is searching for life in the midst of darkness and death,” she affirmed.
“Newton was sitting under an apple tree when an apple fell on his head and he discovered gravity. And we here are living in darkness and tragedy, and rockets are falling on us, therefore I thought of creating light, and did so.” Hussam said.
The Giants of Knowledge
Comparing Hussam to Isaac Newton, renowned for his contributions to physics, mathematics, and astronomy in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, including the anecdote of the falling apple, prompts reflection on the factors that lead individuals names to be etched into books of history and science. What is it that prompts them to attain global acclaim and recognition over others?
Dismissing the fallacious assertions of numerous Islamophobes, it’s essential to refute the notion that significant inventions are solely attributed to white men in the West or those devoid of religious beliefs.
The remarkable achievements of polymaths during the Islamic Golden Age disproves such claims. Furthermore, while Newton is celebrated for his experiments with light, it is less known that Ibn Al-Haytham had conducted similar experiments over seven centuries earlier.
Similarly, many are unfamiliar with Ibn al-Haytham’s scholarly works on the subject of gravity.
In addition, centuries before Newton, Abu Bakr al-Razi delineated a robust contrast between absolute and relative space; asserting that absolute space, inherently three-dimensional and boundless, exists autonomously of the entities it encompasses. Furthermore, Ibn Sina endeavored to correlate velocity with weight, laying the groundwork for the concept of momentum. These revelations are intricately linked to Newton’s contributions.
The renowned “Giants” of science, often cited as Copernicus, Kepler, Descartes, Tycho Brahe, and Galileo, may have a lesser-known counterpart in Sir Isaac Newton, who could have very easily drawn inspiration from the works of Muslim scholars.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, extensive European colonial expansion occurred, potentially leading to a lack of recognition for discoveries made by individuals of other races.
Moreover, in the book ‘Secrets and Lies’ by David Southwell, we see how the scientific community covertly withheld numerous manuscripts authored by Isaac Newton, aiming to conceal his adherence to alchemy and alleged religious unorthodoxy:
‘Despite his unequalled scientific reputation, Newton spent the majority of his time working on his real interests: the chronology of fabled kingdoms, working out biblical prophecy, and alchemy. For the last 50 years of his life, he spent more time pursuing the creation of the philosopher's stone in his alchemical laboratory and predicting the world would end in 2060 than he did on conventional science. When he died, the Royal Society decided that the more than a million words he had written about alchemy and 500,000-plus words he had written about his belief in the Arian heresy and other theological concerns were "not fit to be printed". They were afraid this work would taint his scientific reputation’.
Evidently, we see how reputation, race and society can elevate individuals to heroism, even Newton who must’ve wasted countless hours of his life writing about the Philosopher’s stone and predicting when the world would end.
Hussam’s tale is profoundly stirring, for amidst a backdrop of turmoil, destruction, and mortality, he maintains a remarkable spirit of optimism and pragmatism- a resilience that would’ve been impossible for the likes of Newton to rival.
Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the DNA structure, and Dr. Kary Mullis, the pioneer of genetic engineering, were purportedly under the influence of LSD during their breakthroughs, suggesting that their discoveries may have been serendipitous. In contrast, Hussam’s innovative approach starkly differs – his endeavours are grounded in a resolute confrontation of reality, driven by a clear purpose to help those around him, and devoid of any reliance on escapism or narcotics, thereby exemplifying remarkable maturity and masculine traits at a very young age.
Rafah loves Hussam!
Hussam has become a beacon of pride for Rafah, a city which borders Egypt, not Mexico. It might be appropriate for someone to enlighten Biden about this distinction (he is clearly no longer fit for office).
Since the onset of its ongoing genocide, Israel has inflicted 28,000 casualties and forced the displacement of a significant portion of Gaza’s population.
According to a press release by Oxfam on the 11th January, Israel are killing an average of 250 Palestinians per day. Oxfam additionally asserted:
‘Oxfam staff in Rafah report massive overcrowding, with very little food and water, and essential medicines having run out. This crisis is further compounded by Israel's restrictions on the entry of aid, closing borders, imposing a siege, and denying unfettered access. Currently, only 10 percent of the weekly food aid needed is getting in’.
In the face of relentless aggression from the Israeli Occupation, backed by the United States and Europe, which mercilessly targets hospitals, buildings, towers, and civilian homes, Plato’s words echo profoundly:
‘Necessity is the mother of invention! ‘
Allah (swt) is al-Hakim and amidst the challenges of adversity, genuine fortitude emerges, defining true men as pillars of resilience and unyielding resolve as we see in our little brother, the Palestinian prodigy.
Now remember to say Allahumma Barik!
Update: On Friday 9th February, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to prepare for the evacuation of Rafah ahead of an anticipated invasion. Netanyahu emphasised the “necessity for a significant operation in Rafah”. This directive follows Israeli airstrikes on targets in Rafah, marking an expansion of the Gaza ground offensive into the densely populated southern city, where more than half of the territory’s 2.3 million residents have sought shelter.
