The last Friday of the Month of Ramadan is the day that was meant to be the day all Muslims all over the world remember Jerusalem... But it is not merely a festival in which people feel that they have fulfilled their duty by the end of the day... What Imam Khomeini had in mind when he chose this day is to ensure that Jerusalem stays in the conscience of the Muslims, since it represents a spiritual meaning that opens up on all the history of messengers and the evolvement of the messages.
This day also represents a political meaning, since it recalls the historical injustice that befell on the Holy City since the time of the Crusades.
The issue of Jerusalem should remain the main concern of Muslims, and the Palestinians in particular, so that they will not be distracted by details such as the separating wall or settlements…etc. The Americans and Israelis aim to postpone the issue of Jerusalem until the final status; that is, until the Zionists create new facts on the ground that will leave nothing to negotiate about.
The Night Journey
The Messenger's miraculous night journey to Jerusalem suggests, as it is mentioned in the Glorious Quran: "Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs" (17:01) that the Prophet was sent to all humans, since to live the history of all heavenly messages is a clear indication that Islam contains all these messages. That is why the Quran stresses the belief in all messengers - we do not differentiate between any of His Messengers.
Thus, the journey from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem indicates that there is an interrelation between what is revealed in both mosques, especially that the Sacred Mosque was built by Ibrahim (a.s.), while the prophets of Al-Aqsa Mosque are his grandsons… Thus, it is Ibrahim who constitutes the link between both mosques, by means of Allah's Message.
In addition to the Islamic teachings that suggest that all Muslims should be united and refer any dispute among them to Allah and His Messenger, the following Ayats suggest that we should also resort to dialogue with all people irrespective of their religion, for Allah says: "Do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly," (29:46), and: "Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him)." (03:64).Thus, as Muslims, we should open up on all those who adhere to other religions, even if we differ with them on certain doctrines of faith or historical accounts, and resort to dialogue to reach mutual understandings, and continue to discuss what we differ on.
Why was Jerusalem lost?
In the political sphere which is also a matter of faith, since Islam calls for the freedom of man in all respects, when we think about Jerusalem we, especially the research centers, have to think about why and how we lost the Holy City…
What were the circumstances that led to the state of political and military weakness that contributed to this outcome? What were the circumstances that led to the loss of Jerusalem in1967?
Were the Arabs that took part in this war prepared? Did they plan ahead? What about the international conditions and plots that were masterminded by the US, and which even the Soviets took part in?
Then there are the emotions and excitement with which the war was looked forward to. Did they play a part in the Arab’s defeat, since they lacked any planning?
We have to study all this, as well as the current Arab and Muslim state of the nation, in addition to the international environment that made the Palestinian cause a part of the war against terrorism and no longer a fight for freedom… The nation has to understand the reasons of their defeats to be able to achieve more victories, for we live in a world that no longer respects principles and values in its political or security relations.
We have to step out of the state of indifference and end the attitude some of us have sunk into by saying: "What is happening in Palestine and Jerusalem has nothing to do with us."
Our arrogant enemies consider us to be united, and that if they defeat us in one front they will impose defeat on all of us, and if we achieve victory in one front, they will turn this victory into a defeat like they did in the 1973 war.
Jerusalem: The road to unity
Allah wants us to be one nation for no one could feel free and dignified, if his nation is not free or dignified… The first condition to hold the Jerusalem day is to be unified under the cause of Jerusalem… for it is not merely a mosque or a city; rather, it represents every cause that is associated with Islam, whether religiously or politically.
The division of the Jews into various sects does not deter their unity against us. So why do not we stand united to defend ourselves and isolate all those who wish to preoccupy us with marginal disputes for they represent the fifth column for Zionism and international arrogance?!
An excerpt from the sermon delivered by His Eminence, the Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah (ra) on the last Friday of the month of Ramadan 1423 H. on the quds Day
The last Friday of the Month of Ramadan is the day that was meant to be the day all Muslims all over the world remember Jerusalem... But it is not merely a festival in which people feel that they have fulfilled their duty by the end of the day... What Imam Khomeini had in mind when he chose this day is to ensure that Jerusalem stays in the conscience of the Muslims, since it represents a spiritual meaning that opens up on all the history of messengers and the evolvement of the messages.
This day also represents a political meaning, since it recalls the historical injustice that befell on the Holy City since the time of the Crusades.
The issue of Jerusalem should remain the main concern of Muslims, and the Palestinians in particular, so that they will not be distracted by details such as the separating wall or settlements…etc. The Americans and Israelis aim to postpone the issue of Jerusalem until the final status; that is, until the Zionists create new facts on the ground that will leave nothing to negotiate about.
The Night Journey
The Messenger's miraculous night journey to Jerusalem suggests, as it is mentioned in the Glorious Quran: "Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs" (17:01) that the Prophet was sent to all humans, since to live the history of all heavenly messages is a clear indication that Islam contains all these messages. That is why the Quran stresses the belief in all messengers - we do not differentiate between any of His Messengers.
Thus, the journey from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem indicates that there is an interrelation between what is revealed in both mosques, especially that the Sacred Mosque was built by Ibrahim (a.s.), while the prophets of Al-Aqsa Mosque are his grandsons… Thus, it is Ibrahim who constitutes the link between both mosques, by means of Allah's Message.
In addition to the Islamic teachings that suggest that all Muslims should be united and refer any dispute among them to Allah and His Messenger, the following Ayats suggest that we should also resort to dialogue with all people irrespective of their religion, for Allah says: "Do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly," (29:46), and: "Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him)." (03:64).Thus, as Muslims, we should open up on all those who adhere to other religions, even if we differ with them on certain doctrines of faith or historical accounts, and resort to dialogue to reach mutual understandings, and continue to discuss what we differ on.
Why was Jerusalem lost?
In the political sphere which is also a matter of faith, since Islam calls for the freedom of man in all respects, when we think about Jerusalem we, especially the research centers, have to think about why and how we lost the Holy City…
What were the circumstances that led to the state of political and military weakness that contributed to this outcome? What were the circumstances that led to the loss of Jerusalem in1967?
Were the Arabs that took part in this war prepared? Did they plan ahead? What about the international conditions and plots that were masterminded by the US, and which even the Soviets took part in?
Then there are the emotions and excitement with which the war was looked forward to. Did they play a part in the Arab’s defeat, since they lacked any planning?
We have to study all this, as well as the current Arab and Muslim state of the nation, in addition to the international environment that made the Palestinian cause a part of the war against terrorism and no longer a fight for freedom… The nation has to understand the reasons of their defeats to be able to achieve more victories, for we live in a world that no longer respects principles and values in its political or security relations.
We have to step out of the state of indifference and end the attitude some of us have sunk into by saying: "What is happening in Palestine and Jerusalem has nothing to do with us."
Our arrogant enemies consider us to be united, and that if they defeat us in one front they will impose defeat on all of us, and if we achieve victory in one front, they will turn this victory into a defeat like they did in the 1973 war.
Jerusalem: The road to unity
Allah wants us to be one nation for no one could feel free and dignified, if his nation is not free or dignified… The first condition to hold the Jerusalem day is to be unified under the cause of Jerusalem… for it is not merely a mosque or a city; rather, it represents every cause that is associated with Islam, whether religiously or politically.
The division of the Jews into various sects does not deter their unity against us. So why do not we stand united to defend ourselves and isolate all those who wish to preoccupy us with marginal disputes for they represent the fifth column for Zionism and international arrogance?!
An excerpt from the sermon delivered by His Eminence, the Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah (ra) on the last Friday of the month of Ramadan 1423 H. on the quds Day