UFC champion Belal Muhammad opens up about his Palestinian heritage, the Zionist theft of his grandfather’s land, his connection to God through the Quran, and why he refuses to hate anyone based on their religion. His grandfather had plans to build condos for his children on family land in Palestine, but when he passed away, the government simply took it and offered a pittance of $3,000 for a property worth far more. This is the lived reality of Palestinian families that headlines never capture.
The Personal Cost of Occupation
Belal shares how his sister traveled to Palestine to handle his grandfather’s land inheritance only to be told the government had confiscated it. No negotiation, no fair market value, just a forced seizure with minimal compensation. This is not ancient history; this is happening to Palestinian families right now. His grandfather’s dream of building a family compound was stolen along with the land, erasing generations of planning and hope in a single government decree.
“The government said, here’s the money for it, we took the land. It was like $3,000 for a huge piece of land. They literally took his land. My grandfather had a plan to build condos for his kids. It got taken away when he passed.”
Faith Over Hate
Despite everything his family has endured, Belal refuses to hate any religion. He recognizes that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share deep roots and that the real enemy is not a faith but the ideology of Zionism that uses hatred as a weapon. His connection to God through the Quran and his dedication to prayer keep him grounded as a champion both inside and outside the octagon.
“The Jewish religion, Christianity, Islam, they’re all close. They all believe similar things. I don’t have hatred for a religion. I have a hatred for hate. The Zionist people hate Palestinians.”
Key Takeaways
- Palestinian families continue to have their ancestral land confiscated with minimal compensation and no recourse
- Belal Muhammad uses his UFC platform to speak truth about Palestine while maintaining respect for all faiths
- Islam teaches Muslims to hate injustice, not people or religions
- The Quran keeps Belal connected to God and provides the strength to compete at the highest level while staying humble
- Zionism, not Judaism, is the ideology responsible for Palestinian dispossession and suffering
