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Islamonline Live Dialogue Editing Desk
Name
Muzammil
-
Profession
Question
First of all, I would like to send congratulation for all brothers and sisters in Palestine with brother Ismail Abu Shanab for resistance and defense for the land of Isra' and mi'raj. Secondly, I hope if you get shed light on the lessons the Palestinians and Muslims should learn from the nakba or the passage of 55 years on the occupation of Palestine?
Answer
Well, first of all, I would like to thank all brothers/sisters who are sharing us this chat, and I hope for all Muslims good will and may Allah be with us all, insha'Allah.
The lessons from Nakba are:
1. Muslims are facing conspiracy from the powers who struggle against Islam and they concentrated on Palestine because it is the core of the Muslim world;
2. The Palestinians who now pay the price of the Jewish suffering in Europe are not guilty of attacking Jews or holocaust, but they are now victims of the Jews holocaust against the Palestinians;
3. The long struggle of the Palestinians shows that there is increasing Palestinian determination to get back their right and to return their homeland, and if the Israelis are relying on the equation which says that "by the course of time the old men will be dead and the next generation will forget the land," this proved to be wrong because Palestinians are delivering the message to their generations not to forget and each one of us is keeping his memories and telling them to his child and grandchildren;
4. The Palestinian issue is the key for peace and war in the region. Stability in the region will not be achieved until the Palestinians return to their homeland;
5. The Palestinians are now more determined than before, and they are aware of the conspiracy around them and will insist on their demands for a Palestinian state and the right of return to their homeland.
Those are some of the lessons.
Name
Mido
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
As-Salamu `alaykum respected brother,
I have heard reports that the Israeli government is planning on letting Jews pray in al Aqsa compound. If this happens, what would the mujahidin of Hamas do? I have personally made the intention to die in protection of the holy Haram al Sharif if that happens.
Please make du`a' for me to become a martyr one day insha 'Allah, just like the countless brothers who have fallen in defense of our holy land.
Answer
First of all, I thank you brother and I pray for you and for all of us to do our duties towards God, our land, religion and ourselves. Martyrdom is the path of victory and the path of honor in this life and in the hereafter. All Muslims should wait and hope that they end their life by being shuhada' (martyrs).
Concerning the Israeli prayer in al Aqsa mosque, the Palestinians has considered intifada as al Aqsa intifada because it was erupted as a protest against Sharon's attempt to pray in the mosque and insisting to enter the mosque by thousands Israeli policemen to guard him. Palestinians demonstrated against this and the intifada continued since then up till now.
What we can do now is just to continue our struggle and react more strongly if this step happens. Since the Israelis are preventing Muslims from praying in the mosque and permitting only old men and women to reach the mosque, it might be difficult to have a big demonstration inside the mosque to prevent any act like this (I mean the Israelis praying in the mosque).
Name
Hasan
- Italy
Profession
Question
Dear distinguished brother, would Hamas ever agree to the relinquishing of the right of return of refugees? And also, how can Muslims living in the west have up-to-date information on the glorious work of Hamas?
Answer
1. First of all, the right of return for the Palestinians is legitimate. Palestinians who were expelled from their home in 1948 are living in very miserable conditions all over the world, especially in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and are waiting patiently for the day they return to their homes. They see the Israelis giving the right of return for the Jews from Russia, Europe, Ethiopia to come and settle in the Palestinian homes while they deny this right for the Palestinians. Thos Jews never got to know this land while Palestinians still keep the keys for their outdoors in Palestine. So the Palestinian people cannot relinquish this right because they suffered a lot and it is time for big effort to solve this problem. It is unfair to ask Palestinians to forget this issue and give it to the Israelis who have no right in this land.
2. Now on the internet there are many websites and pages that represent Hamas activities. You can find them on www.palestine-info.info. There are other links that you can find there.
Name
Hassan
-
Profession
Question
As-Salamu `Alaikum,
Regarding the Roadmap, what's in it for the Palestinians who still live in refugee camps? Do they have the right of return? Will they be able to have their stolen properties?
Jazaka Allahu Khayran.
Answer
Thank you brother Hassan from Morocco.
The Roadmap does not consist of any clear statement for the right of return, and the Palestinians who accepted the Roadmap - I mean the Palestinian authority – considered the Arab initiative which is mentioned in the roadmap enough for considering the issue and not canceling it. But Sharon's vision of the roadmap is that it should not mention the right of return for the Palestinians.
Name
Vocar
-
Profession
Question
How do you assess the last meeting between Hamas leaders and Abu Mazen? Does Hamas still have hope in Abu Mazen's government thought he clearly declared that he wants to put down the arms?
Answer
The meeting with Abu Mazen was very clear from both sides. Abu Mazen repeated in front of us all what he spoke about in many occasions. He raised the issue of having a chance for political effort to pressure on Israel and to convince the Americans and the international community that we want peace. For this sake, Abu Mazen proposed a ceasefire for a limited time and let the international community pressure Israel and convince them of our good will towards peace.
Abu Mazen talked to us that he is not going to take off the weapons from the mujahidin but he is proposing a full ceasefire and calmness. We answered him that the resistance is the reaction to the Israeli occupation, so it is a result and we do not initiate attack on a Israelis, but we defend ourselves against Israelis attacks, and as far the occupation continues, the Palestinians have the right for resistance. If Israelis are not attacking Palestinians civilians, we are ready stop attacking Israeli civilians.
Name
Thomas Pochari
- United States
Profession
publisher of World Affairs Monthly
Question
Hello Ismail, hope you are doing well.
I suspect that an increasing number of Palestinian refugees in the years ahead will want to return to live in Palestine. This is just my feeling....
Do you agree with this? And if so, what should the Palestinians do to make sure they will be able to obtain the same rights that all people of the West enjoy?
What practical steps should they take?
Answer
I share you your suspicion about the achievement of the return of all Palestinians, while we Palestinian consider this as a legitimate right for everybody and it is not for negotiations and compromise. So every Palestinian will continue to struggle until he achieves his right.
As for your second question, we are not offering the Palestinians all over the world anything less than their homeland, and it is up to them to come and share us building this new society or they stay where they are and enjoy the Palestinian identity. So we do not force anybody but it is an obligation for the Palestinians to work together to build their own country.
Name
Rizwan
- Germany
Profession
Student
Question
As-Salamu `Alaikum,
What would be Hamas' response if Mohammed Abbas of PA cracks down on Islamic groups, and what contribution can Muslims (apart from supplications and financial) around the world do for the Jihad for Palestine?
Answer
1. As for the first question, we rely on the consciousness of our people towards preventing any deterioration in the internal situation. But if M. Abbas chooses to crack down the resistance groups, he will fail to do so because the resistance is supported by the majority of Palestinians who will stop M. Abbas from doing so
2. Concerning the second question, Muslims all over the world, especially Palestinians can participate in supporting the Palestinian struggle by many activities more than prayers and donations. I suggest that they work inside their societies to develop a better image of the Palestinians' right and create a public opinion which understands the Palestinian suffering and reveal all masks from the Israeli propaganda. It is a very important mission and needs more work, because we face huge and tremendous media control by the Israelis who try to picture our struggle for freedom and liberty as terrorist activities and violence.
Name
Daud
-
Profession
Question
As-Salamu `Alaikum bother Shanab, may Allah grant you good health and prosperity.
What is the official view of Hamas with regards to the roadmap?
Is it true that Hamas would be willing to have a year long ceasefire, to allow the P.A to negotiate with the Zionist entity?
What is the view of Hamas regarding Yasser Arafat and Abu Mazen ?
Jazak Allahu khairan.
Answer
1. Roadmap is rejected by Hamas for many reasons, and we consider it as a trap for stopping the intifada and maintaining and enforcing Israeli occupation, expanding their settlements, and fighting the Islamic groups.
2. If Hamas thinks of the ceasefire, this decision will be judged as part of our administration of the struggle which needs to be flexible and tries to minimize the casualties and strengthen our positions. I want to assure brother Daud that until this moment, this did not happen. We told Abu Mazen that we insist on continuing the resistance against the occupation.
3. Arafat and Abu Mazen are part of the peace process. They may now have differences but they are still stuck in the trap of Oslo and cannot get out of it. We do not deny the history of Arafat as a leader for the Palestinian struggle while we now oppose his strategy and his plans like the roadmap and Oslo. Besides, we have much criticism to his administration on the internal level. Abu Mazen is on the beginning of the road and we cannot judge him until he got more time to prove his promises for the reform inside the Palestinian community.
Name
Zakarriyah
- Andorra
Profession
Question
Salam,
How does a Muslim brother get in contact with you or help your organization?
Answer
You could reach me at my e-mail almustaqbalrc@hotmail.com .
You could also contact any organization that supports Palestine for offering your help. You may also contact the www.palestinianinfo.info for more information.
Name
Eesa
- Ireland
Profession
Question
Bother Abu Shanab, what is the legal view in international law of HAMAS, as I know you are on the U.S's Terrorist list. I say this because Muslims in the west are unable to raise money for HAMAS due to this.
Has Hamas ever thought of legally challenging the prohibition of your blessed group, as you only work inside Palestine and Israel, and you only intentionally target the military, doesn't that make you freedom fighters under international law.
Inshallah, when I finish my law studies I will try my best to assist HAMAS in any way I can.
Answer
I thank you brother for your feeling and for your promises in the future. The legitimacy of Hamas struggle and the Palestinian struggle is justified in the international law in many articles, because we are under occupation and we are expelled from our homes. And the United Nations resolution 194 gives us the right of return. But the problem is not with the legality concerning international law; it is the power who does not listen to the international law.
It is very clear in the behavior of President Bush and his words when he divided the whole world into the world of evil and the world of good. All parties who are with President Bush will be in the good side even if it is Sharon whose history is stained with blood and crimes against humanity in many occasions, and the evil side will be those who oppose the strategy of President Bush. So we live now in an unjust world and there is no respect to any international legality because of the arrogance of power with Bush and Sharon.
Name
Muslimah
- Jordan
Profession
Question
As-Salamu `alaykum,
I am an American Muslimah married to a Palestinian. He has taught me so much about the atrocities of the Jews and the Israelis as well as opened my eyes to the fact that "Israel" would not exists without America. I am a supporter or Hamas and any other group resisting the occupation of Palestine. Could you please clarify for me form the Qur'an or hadith, the permissibility of martyr attacks that involve so called "civilian" targets? I am also wondering why there are not more attacks on military targets such as government ministries.
Answer
First of all, the verse in the Qura'n concerning this question is:
"Whoever transgresses against you, transgress against him in the same manner he transgressed against you."(Al-Baqarah: 194)
We understand that as far as the Israelis are killing civilians and are carrying out a war against Palestinians we are in the status of a war, and therefore we are allowed by the Qur'an to react to their atrocities in the same manner.
This rule is also written in the Bible, which states "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."
Secondly: martyrdom is a high rank sacrifice. People sacrifice their lives for the sake of self-defense when the enemies attack their country. In the Qur'an, there is a verse that says: " Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their property; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and kill and are killed." (At-Tawbah: 111)
So those are Islamic teachings which justify the Palestinian martyrdom operations against the Israelis inside Israel.
I want to add one more evidence that those Palestinian operations are justified. Israeli soldiers, who are killing the Palestinians in the occupied territories, are living in Israel, and the resistance is following them to their homes. Palestinian operations inside Israel target those soldiers while they are in a vacation or riding buses to go to the battlefield and to kill Palestinians. So Palestinians are targeting those military people. However, while doing this, collateral damages happen, and this is not intentionally done, while Israelis are killing Palestinian civilians intentionally.
Name
Khaldun
-
Profession
Question
Is there any hope in the peace negotiations coming up regarding the roadmap? Any true to be concluded? Or is it just Israel is buying time?
Answer
It is very clear that Sharon's acceptance of the Roadmap came as a tactic to send the ball back in the Palestinian yard. He is not serious about accepting the roadmap and this happened by the Israelis who declared that they accepted the roadmap to return the ball in the Palestinian side. So I do not think that there is a hope for any breakthrough because Sharon is not serious, and his government does not believe in peace.
Israel is trying to buy time for stopping the intifada, creating internal conflict among the Palestinians and presenting the Israeli government in the eyes of the American public opinion as if they are not opposing the American plan, while the first step of the plan should come from the Palestinian side, which is security arrangements to stop the intifada and take weapons from Palestinian hands and stop provocations. Those Israeli security demands are unlimited, and if Abu Mazen showed his seriousness of doing this, the Israelis will never be satisfied and will ask for more steps. That is their tactics to destroy the roadmap.
Name
Ma'min
-
Profession
Question
The possibility of having civil war among Palestinians if the new government led by Abu Mazen insists on disarmament is there. Did Hamas prepare themselves for confronting this? What measure you have taken to stop this to happen?
Answer
First of all, we will oppose any effort to disarm our mujahidin because they carry the weapons for self-defense, and in times of incursion, the Palestinian authority cannot protect people from Israeli attack.
Secondly, we have good relations with this new government to solve our differences and not by conflict.
Thirdly, the majority of the people will prevent any activity to disarm people to happen. We will insist on this issue and we will never allow any body to repeat the 1996's experience against mujahidin.
Name
Ekram
-
Profession
Question
I am sending my best regards to the heroes of Islam in the sacred land of Palestine. Stay firm on your stance, keep on performing martyr operations, and may Allah grant you victory.
Answer
Thank you sister and insha'Allah we will stay firm and continue our struggle until Allah gives us victory either in this life or in the hereafter.
Name
Ashraf
- Egypt
Profession
Question
How do you see the suggestion of Muhammad Dahlan of joining the mujahidin with the Palestinian authority?
Answer
There is not such suggestion.
Name
S.W
-
Profession
Question
How do you evaluate Hamas action nowadays? Does Hamas possess the tools of continuing its military actions and face the up-to-date and advanced weapons of Israel?
Answer
Concerning military balance, there is no comparison whatsoever between the heavily military equipment on the Israeli side if compared to small weapons in the hands of the Palestinians. However, we consider that with our deep belief in God our determination is challenging Israeli military forces and this determination, by God's help, will insha'Allah be victorious over those military forces and the history will prove what I am saying.
Name
Raziul
-
Profession
Student
Question
ðWhat is the road map? Ad is it unfair to Palestinians?
Answer
Editor:
The guest is no longer available due to the shortage of time.
The roadmap is the name given to the plan formulated by the Quartet: the U.S.A., UN, European Union and Russia and was released by the U.S.A. officially only after Abu Mazen was officially sworn in as the Prime Minister of Palestinian by the Palestinian Legislative Council. You could have more information about it in the recent sessions.
Name
Khuzayem
-
Profession
Question
What was the initiative suggested by Egypt that calls for a temporary halt for the suicide bombings? And how did you respond to?
Answer
This initiative was initiated before the war against Iraq and there is no room for it now.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
We would like to apologize for our viewers for not being able to answer all the questions within the time allotted to this session. We request our viewers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
