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Name
Sami
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Profession
Question
How do you see the latest visit of the Pope to Palestine? Was it really a religious visit, or was it political? How would the Muslim leaders give such a warm welcome to someone who has publicly insulted Islam?
Answer
There is no question that the current Pope insulted Muslims in more than one occasion. As Muslims, however, we are not supposed to return wrong with another wrong. In fact, we are taught in the Qur’an to forgive especially if such an act is expected to soften the hearts of those who hate Muslims unjustifiably. Another aspect in our ethics as Muslims is to be hospitable to our guests as following the footsteps of the Prophet, peace be upon him, who received with courtesy all visitors including his opponents. In fairness, however, the Pope also spoke occasionally about his respect for Islam; as such we should give him an opportunity to modify his position. I would have been more assured of the Pope’s goodwill if he could have matched his diplomatic statements about respecting Islam by visiting not only the occupier but also the many victims and injured of the brutality of such occupier. I would have been even more assured and glad if he used his moral authority among Christians and his good offices to speak the truth more plainly and condemn the atrocities that have been committed and continue to be committed against the Palestinian people. I would have been much more assured if he didn’t focus, as he did, on the religious ties between Judaism and Christianity and translate his words of “respecting Islam” by speaking about the undeniable connection between the three monotheistic faiths, whose followers are physical and/or spiritual descendants of Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him.
Name
Khadija
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Profession
Question
I heard of a possible shake of al-aqsa mosque that the Israelis are intending to do? Is this true?
Answer
There are several reports that seem to justify this apprehension. That seems also to be consistent with various Israeli governments’ sustained policy of changing the character and historical landmarks in occupied Palestine. May Allah save such sacred spots from any evil design.
Name
Thulgi
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Profession
Question
Everytime the subject of Palestine is raised I feel I am burning from inside, feeling very sorry for the future of our brothers and sisters under occupation. Sometimes, honestly speaking, I feel very desperate, while in other times I feel very proactive and willing to contribute positively to the just case, but I think I need some guidance as to which way is more effective and mostly needed. If you can share with me some possible ways, I would be grateful to your eminence.
Answer
First, I commend you for sharing the concerns of your brothers and sisters in Islam and in humanity at large. I say that because not only the majority Palestinian Muslims are suffering under the yoke of oppressive occupation, but also our Christian brothers and sisters as well. For example, restriction of access to holy places in Jerusalem applies to both, Muslims and Christians.
Secondly, while it is only human to feel desperate at times, the Qur’an teaches us “never despair of the Mercy of Allah”.
Thirdly, you are absolutely right in reminding all to be proactive and contribute positively to this and any just cause. Areas of contribution include:
1. educating ourselves, our families, our communities and the world at large about the justness of the Palestinian cause, not just as Palestinian but as a human cause.
2. to provide through acceptable legal channels badly needed financial aid for the orphans, widows and all those who are deprived of their basic human needs.
3. to benefit from conferences and media to publicize what is going on under the Israeli inhuman and oppressive occupation.
4. to reach out and join forces with other decent and fair-minded people of all faith and civil communities including many Jews, even Israelis, to demand justice for Palestinians.
5. to apply legitimate pressures, peacefully, on all governments in the world, to change their attitude and to place the ethical and humane values above politics and material or other gains. This should apply in the first place to the Muslim, and more specifically, Arab governments who seem to have chosen to take the seats of spectators rather than using their diplomatic, economic and other means to defend the helpless.
6. to make du’a’ to Allah Almighty to help us all restore peace and justice in the land of peace.
Name
Mohamed Nazir
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Profession
Question
What is the status of Jerusalem in Islam, Judaism and Christianity?
Answer
It is unfair to deny Jews and Christians their feelings of religious and spiritual attachments to Jerusalem. But what is happening under the policies of successive Israeli governments is to deny Muslims their profound attachments and rights in Jerusalem and in Palestine at large.
Jerusalem and Palestine at large are central not only to Palestinian Arabs, both Muslims and Christians, but also to all Arabs and Muslims worldwide. It is significant to Palestinians because this is the land of their ancestors [the Canaanites and others] who were already there long before Jews entered into it after Prophet Moses [peace be with him]. Whether this original population later accepted Christianity or Islam, Palestine was and is their land and ancestry home.
It is central to Arabs at large since the Zionist ambitions go far beyond what has been already occupied but more.
It is also of great importance to Muslims at large for the following reasons, at least:
1. As physical and /or descendants of Abraham they are included in God’s promise to live in this land.
2. It is the land where many prophets arose. All prophets and their followers are Muslims in the broad meaning of the term.
3. Jerusalem was the first qibla (direction to prayer) before God ordained the Prophet, peace be upon him, to change the qibla to the Ka’bah (the hose of Abrahm). As the Qur’an explains in Chapter 2, verse 143, this was instructed by Allah so as to test the truthfulness of faith of the early Muslims who connected the Ka’bah with the idols the desecrated it at the hands of idolatrous Arabs. This act underlines the importance of Muslims’ connection with Abraham who built the Ka’bah as the first place of worship of the One God. Also, the equally important connection with Abraham and the second house to worship God in Jerualam, which Muslims believe it was built 40 years after the ka’bah.
4. It was from the site of Al-Aqsa “mosque” that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, started his miraculous journey in heavens. The Qur’an refers to the night journey of the Prophet, peace be upon him, from Makkah to Jerusalem and described the present of Palestine as blessed land (see the Qur’an: 17: 1) This journey of the Prophet, peace be upon him, symbolizes the connection with previous Prophets and the final culminating message of Islam, symbolized by his journey between Makkah and Jerusalem and back to Makkah.
5. It is in Jerusalem also that the final battle between Muslims who will be joined by Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, after his second coming against the false Messiah.
6. The Prophet, peace be upon him, made it clear that the most sacred mosque after the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, is Al-A1qsa mosque in Jerusalem.
Finally, we must distinguish between people’s sentiments and feeling of reverence to Jerusalem and Palestine in general and using those sentiments to justify acts of injustice and disposition of the Palestinian people from their legitimately owned homeland and property. To make religious claim based on scripture alone is to imply that God is in real state business!! Scriptures do not replace legitimate deeds of ownership of people who lived there almost continuously for many centuries.
Name
khaled hassan
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Profession
Question
What is the role of religious institutions, mosques, universities and schools in supporting the aqsa mosque?
Answer
Through such institutions it is possible to raise the awareness of Palestinians (Muslims and Christians alike) Arabs, Muslims at large and the rest of humanity about the colossal and sustained injustices done to the Palestinian people for at least sixty one years. It is unfortunate that such injustice could go on for more than six decades with the world, more specifically the more powerful nations, are turning the face the other way. Worst even was to support occupation and usurpation politically, economically and militarily. Equally unjust and unethical is to fail to apply sanctions provided for international law and UN charter to stop such injustices, even atrocities. The unethical “might makes right” must be vigorously opposed and ultimately ended.
This multilateral awareness campaign should include historical aspect, religious aspect (for both Muslims and Christians) and humanitarian aspect that should be of concern to the entire international community. By international community I don’t mean a few powerful nation claiming to speak on behalf of international community. The concerns of the silent majority should be heeded.
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
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Answer
Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Jamal Badawi for speaking to Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We advise our readers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
