Opinion Editorials, October 2007
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Al-Quds Day:
Freedom for Jerusalem
By Mohammed Khako
ccun.org,
October 5, 2007
About a million messages
and e-mails
have to be sent to newspaper and mass media around the world to highlight
the occupation of Palestine.
“Why go to
marches when they change nothing, why write letters when no body reads
them?
I do because when Imam Mahdi comes I can
say I tried to inform the Muslim Ummah of the atrocities of the Zionist
regime in Palestine. Remember the success is with Allah Subhana Wata'ala
(praise to Him), not with me or with you. But I discharge by
responsibility and I stand every night in front of Allah and say Ya Allah
today I thought about my oppressed brothers and sisters in Palestine.
The last Friday of Ramadan each year is
marked around the world as Yaum al-Quds (Jerusalem Day). Imam Khomeini
began this tradition shortly after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, as an
annual affirmation of the Ummah’s solidarity with Muslims of Palestine
in their struggle for the liberation of al-Quds. Ramadan is the month of
struggle (Jehad) and it was in Ramadan that Muslims fought their first
battle, Badr, culminating in a resounding victory. It was also in Ramadan
that Makkah was liberated from the clutches of idol worshipers (Mushrikeen).
It was therefore highly appropriate that Imam Khomeini should place the
symbol of the struggle for liberation of Palestine and al Quds
(Jerusalem). Imam Khomeini said “I invite
Muslims all over the globe to consecrate the last Friday of the Holy month
of Ramadan as “Quds Day” and to proclaim the international solidarity
of Muslims in support of the legitimate rights of the Muslims of
Palestine” (Ramadan/ 1399 AH/Aug 1979). Imam
Khomeini did not appeal to the Palestinians to rise up on the basis of
Arab or Palestinian nationalism; nor did he call the regimes in the Muslim
world to liberate al-Quds. Imam Khomeini located the struggle of Muslim
masses in the very roots of Islam, in the month of Ramadan when Muslims
worldwide fast together from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is also
significant as the month of the Quran. It was in this month that the first
verses of Quran were revealed to the noble messenger of God (Allah) in the
cave of Hira. Since Yaum al-Quds was first proclaimed, Muslims worldwide
have observed this day, drawing attention to the sacrilege of Zionist and
desecration of Islam’s third holiest Mosque, as well as their continued
occupation of Palestine and their repression of the Palestinian people.
For last twenty-seven years last Friday is marked around the world as Yam
al-Quds with processions and speeches reminding Muslim Ummah (communities)
about the plight of Masjid al-Aqsa and the land of Palestine. Wake
up oh! Muslim Ummah. We as Muslims cannot afford to be unaware of
the continuing threat to the city of al-Quds and the Mosque itself. The
major strategy of Christian Zionist and Zionist State against the Mosque
has been to undermine it by opening tunnels running below it in the name
of archaeology and science. Opening tunnels is having the effect of
weakening the structure of the Mosque. There is now serious concern about
the Mosque’s structural integrity. The tunnels could be used to plant
bombs which could destroy the Mosque, and which the Zionist state could
blame on individual zealot.
Al-Quds (Jerusalem) lies at the heart of
Islam and Islamic movement. Mosque of Al-Aqsa was the first direction of
prayers (Qibla) before changed to Mecca during the first year of the Hijra
(migration). It is also significant because it was from Masjid al-Aqsa
that the Prophet went on to heaven (Mi’raj). Hence, by observing the day
of al-Quds, Muslims not only begin to fulfill a political obligation, they
also acknowledge a religious obligation. The protection of Islam’s third
holiest place is a duty that is incumbent upon Muslims. As long as al-Quds
remain occupied, his duty remains unfulfilled, and mobilizing the Muslim
Ummah towards this objective becomes a religious obligation. However, Ben
Gurion once referred to the Arab states as “Israel’s first line of
defense”. The implication is clear; the Arab states are not enemies of
Zionist state, they will not fight for the sake of Lebanon, nor Gaza or
west Bank not even for the sake of al-Quds. They will not use oil and
their foreign exchange as weapon. They won’t allow people to demonstrate
in the streets or during Haj. They want even allow resistance group in
Palestine to arm or provide funds. To reach Palestine we must first
reclaim the holy land surrounding Palestine. The Arab States, Israel’s
first line of defense, must be claimed before Al-Quds could be liberated.
There is no power anywhere in the world
capable of extinguishing the aspirations of the Palestinians – or indeed
those of the Muslims of the world as whole – to achieve freedom for
Palestine. Peace can never be achieved on the basis of the subjugation of
the entire people. The question of Jerusalem is the core issue of a peace
settlement. A lasting settlement in Palestine has to
include a complete withdrawal from all occupied territories including
Jerusalem (Al Quds), the acknowledgement of the right of return for the
Palestinians who were forced to leave their land since 1948, adequate
compensation for the losses of the land and property. Building of
settlements and confiscation of Palestinian land has to be stopped
immediately and all existing settlements have to be evacuated. These are
not unjustified or unreasonable demand but necessary requirement for peace
that is clearly derived from United Nations resolutions and general
principles of international law.
The message of al-Quds day should be loud, clear, and eloquent with well-chosen slogans such as below
“Zionist
spokesmen do not represent world Jewry”
“Stop
the Zionist massacres and persecution of Palestinians”
“Give
back to the Palestinians their land, homes and property”
“End
of Zionism = End of War of Terror”
“Al-Quds
Day is the day for the weak and oppressed people”
“Yamul
Quds – the day for restoring peace and justice to Palestine”
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