All posts filed under: Palestine

400 years of peace: Palestine under Ottoman rule

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This has been reproduced from the Daily Sabah. Ruling the Palestine region for more than 400 years, the Ottomans fought fiercely to keep the ancient lands during World War I but eventually lost them to the British Palestine, which has witnessed many conflicts throughout history, came under Ottoman rule in the 16th century. When Yavuz Sultan Selim defeated the Mamluk ruler Kansu Gavri in the Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516, Syria and Palestine joined the Ottoman lands. Yavuz Sultan Selim entered Jerusalem on Dec. 29, 1516. Under Ottoman rule, the Palestinian territory was organized into three states, Jerusalem, Gaza and Nablus, all linked to the Damascus Province. Palestine, in the last period of the Ottoman Empire, was first linked to the state of Sidon, later to Syria and then to Beirut, which was founded in the last period. The Ottomans ruled in Palestine for 401 years. Palestine was and still is a region of great importance for Muslims, Christians and Jews. In particular, the sacred places in Jerusalem could not be shared. Even the …

Liberation of Jerusalem: Salahudeen’s mercy towards the Crusaders

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Salahudin Ayubi liberated Jerusalem (Al-Quds) on Friday 27 Rajab 583 AH/12 October 1187 CE after Lord Balian of Ibelin, the crusader commander in charge of Jerusalem, surrendered the city. This marked an end to nearly 100 years of crusader occupation and the liberation of Masjid Al-Aqsa. When the crusaders first entered Jerusalem in 1099, they massacred the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants, yet Salahudin on retaking the city never enacted revenge on them for this, nor the subsequent atrocities they had committed over the past century. He followed in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who on entering Makkah did not enact revenge on Quraish who had persecuted him and the Muslims for over 20 years. This was the because the character of the Prophet ﷺ was the Qur’an.[1] Allah ta’ala says, يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let …

Gaza: Cruel Zionism, Past and Present with Professor Avi Shlaim

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This has been reproduced from The Thinking Muslim. Today, we are confronting nothing short of a campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians of Gaza, not seen since the Nakba or Catastrophe of 1948. Yet many in the Western world are silent about the suffering. Much of what justifies Israel and its actions in the West is premised on history, and many European and American historians have been ready to present a compelling argument for Zionism and the case for Israel in the heart of the Middle East. This historical justification, based on persecution and antisemitism, gives the story of Israel a potency that has for many years served to find acceptance in the West – of impunity to act without restraint – that is not offered to any other state. At the same time, the Palestinian story has been undermined by these same historians. They were a Bedouin community, readily able to vacate their land – it is said. Palestinians, according to leading Israeli politicians, are a mythical people. Today, we are honoured to have …

‘Comfort after Calamity’, a poem by Imam Ali

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الْفَرَجُ بَعْدَ الشدَّة ‘Comfort after Calamity’ Many a times, especially in the current Muslim world, we find ourselves in situations which render the soul helpless, and leave no hope in sight. It is in such moments that the faith of a Muslim is tested. One should always remember that the night is always darkest before the dawn, and after hardship there always comes ease. If the believers choose to pass these moments complaining and without faith, then they shall be questionable before Allāh. However, if these moments are passed with patience and prayer, then these very moments will pave the path for spiritual elevation and success for the believers.[1] 1- When calamities reach their final extent That their intensity causes the soul to melt 2- When adversities take root, and solace bids farewell then in dire and hard times, comes comfort and rest[2] Notes [1] Abdullah Ayaz Mullanee, ‘The Poetic works of Sayyiduna Ali,’ a translation of Diwan Ali, p.73 [2] Ibid

Do not think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do

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Allah ta’ala says,  وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍۢ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌۭ Do not think ˹O Prophet˺ that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them until a Day when ˹their˺ eyes will stare in horror—rushing forth, heads raised, never blinking, hearts void.[1]

Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹always˺ near.

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Allah ta’ala says, أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ ٢١٤ Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, “When will Allah’s help come?” Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹always˺ near.[1] Sayyid Qutb comments on this ayah, “With these poignant and profound words, and in this direct manner, Allah addresses the founding community of Islam, drawing their attention to the experiences of their fellow believers before them who were entrusted with the same task of establishing the divine code of living on earth. Nevertheless, the message in these words is timeless. It is directed to all human groups to whom Allah assigns that honourable task. It is an awesome experience that drives Allah’s own Messenger and those who have accepted …

10 Points on the Gaza Crisis

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This has been reproduced from stand4palestine.com 1- Palestine is home to Masjid al-Aqsa, the second house of worship to be built on Earth, following Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. It is also the first qibla of the beloved Prophet ﷺ and the destination of his miraculous night journey. Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian cause is firmly connected to our deen. It is not just a political struggle, or a nationalist struggle; it is an Islamic concern and struggle. Allah (swt) declares the sacredness of al-Aqsa: سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Al-Isra’, 1) 2- Three generations across seven decades of the Palestinian people have endured Israeli oppression: mass forced expulsion, dispossession of land (including through targeted terror), killings, random …

UK Muslim Scholars: “Jerusalem will be the capital of the Islamic Caliphate when it returns, Allah willing.”

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This has been reproduced from 5PILLARS. A group of Muslim scholars from the UK have issued a powerful statement slamming Israel as an illegitimate state and calling for all Palestinian lands to be returned. The statement which was spearheaded by Shaykh Asrar Rashid from Birmingham has also called for an end to Israeli occupation of the entirety of Palestine.

Does the Qur’an Prophesise the establishment and the future fate of Israel?

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BY NABEEL ALKHALIDY. THIS HAS BEEN REPRODUCED FROM THE SIBAWAY INSTITUTE. This is an interesting tafseer which seems to prophesise the establishment of the Zionist state of Israel, that many orthodox Jews believe is an illegitimate state and goes against their own scripture. Once established it will commit attrocities as we witness today with the Gaza Genocide, open rapes of prisoners and crimes so abhorent that any decent human being regardless of their religion would be horrified by. These crimes will be exposed for the world to see and then the entity will seek to exist. As some former Israeli generals and officials have warned this may not be due to a military defeat but simply that the state is not a viable entity anymore with millions leaving to flee the dire economic conditions. Allah knows best. Allah Most High says: ​فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا الْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَالدَّارُ …

Ramadan in Ottoman Jerusalem vs Occupied Jerusalem

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The Ottoman Caliphate ruling Jerusalem in the late 19th century, would announce the beginning of Ramadan by firing a canon. Today Israel and its western backers occupying Jerusalem announce the beginning of Ramadan by murdering Muslim babies. وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِثْمًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ “Those who are kafir should not imagine that the extra time We grant to them is good for them. We only allow them more time so they will increase in evildoing. They will have a humiliating punishment.” (Al-Imran, 3:178) فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ “Do not let their wealth and children impress you. Allah merely wants to punish them by them during their life in this world and for them to expire while they are kuffar.” (At-Tawba, 9:55)