gaza – Hybrid Learning https://hybridlearning.pk Online Learning Thu, 04 Jul 2024 08:32:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6 The Israeli-Palestinian conflict https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/#respond Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:43:54 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/ The Impact of the Conflict on Children At least 2,172 Palestinian children and 134 Israeli children have been killed by someone from the other side since 2000. “The majority of […]

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The Impact of the Conflict on Children

At least 2,172 Palestinian children and 134 Israeli children have been killed by someone from the other side since 2000.

“The majority of these [Palestinian] children were killed and injured while going about normal daily activities, such as going to school, playing, shopping, or simply being in their homes. Sixty-four percent of children killed during the first six months of 2003 died as a result of Israeli air and ground attacks, or from indiscriminate fire from Israeli soldiers.”

Catherine Cook
Data Sources: Remember These Children, a coalition of groups calling for an end to the killing of children and a fair resolution of the conflict.
We refer to B’Tselem (last updated January 31, 2018) and IMEMC as our current sources for children’s deaths since Remember These Children has not been updated since July 21, 2014.
To see names, photos and more information for the Israeli and Palestinian children who have been killed, please visit our website Israel-Palestine Timeline.
Remember These Children’s list of victims does not yet mention all of the 527 children killed by Israel in during its 2014 assault on Gaza in the summer.)
It also appears that the site has not documented a number of the Palestinian children killed during Israel’s Dec 27, 2008 – Jan 18, 2009 assault on Gaza. They report only 269 of the Palestinian children killed during that time (and an additional 9 who later died from wounds inflicted during that time period). B’Tselem has documented that Israel killed 318 Palestinian children in Gaza during this time. We do not doubt the validity of this higher number as they are extremely careful in their documentation.
Note: A child is a person aged 17 or younger.

Protect Palestinian Children

The State of Israel uses American aid money to detain and prosecute approximately 700 Palestinian children every year. This is no way to treat a child – and we are complicit in this practice. We need to put a stop to this.

Israelis and Palestinians Killed in the Current Violence

At least 10,002 Palestinians and 1,270 Israelis have been killed by someone from the other side since 2000.

Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org
 

American news reports repeatedly describe Israeli military attacks against the Palestinian population as “retaliation.” However, when one looks into the chronology of death in this conflict, the reality turns out to be quite different.


Source: B’Tselem, The Israeli Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. (Visit their statistics page, last updated January 31, 2018.) We refer to IMEMC and other Palestinian news outlets for deaths that have not yet been recorded by B’Tselem.
To see names, photos and more information for the Israeli and Palestinian victims of this conflict, please visit our new website Israel-Palestine Timeline.
See also the UN OCHA report that records the 2,220 victims (67% of them civilians) of Israel’s summer 2014 massacre in Gaza. 71 Israelis were killed during the same period (9% of them civilians).
The numbers in this chart include civilians and combatants killed by members of the opposing nationality (and therefore, do not include Palestinians killed by an explosive device that they set or was on their person, Israelis killed in ‘friendly fire’ incidents, etc.). The numbers also do not include the sizable number of Palestinians who died as a result of inability to reach medical care due to Israeli road closures, curfews, the Israeli closure of border crossing from Gaza, etc.
The figure for Palestinian deaths is extremely conservative, since it is difficult for B’Tselem to report on deaths in the Palestinian territories. The Palestine Red Crescent Society, internationally respected for its statistical rigor, reports significantly higher numbers of Palestinian deaths. We do not doubt the reliability of their data, and only use B’Tselem’s more conservative numbers because they collect data on both populations.
In the past we used the statistics provided by Israel’s military for the number of Israelis killed, but they have not updated their statistics page since early in 2006. In addition, there is reason to believe that their numbers may have been somewhat inflated.

Breakdown of Deaths

Israelis Palestinians
Children Killed
(More on the impact on children.)
129
Remember These Children
1,523
Remember These Children
Civilians* Killed 731
B’Tselem
3,535 – 4,226
B’Tselem
People killed in the course of a targeted killing 1 408 or more
B’Tselem
People who were the object of a targeted killing 1 238
B’Tselem
People killed on own land 596 (53.8%)
B’Tselem
6,756 (98.9%)
B’Tselem
People killed on others’ land 508 (46.2%)
B’Tselem
73 (1.1%)
B’Tselem


* The Palestinian people do not have a military, so the usual classification of civilian is not being used. Instead B’Tselem provides data on the number of Palestinians who did not participate in hostilities, a significantly more stringent qualification than the one used to identify Israeli civilians. We do not know how many of the Israelis listed as civilians participated in the hostilities. Many settlers who illegally have taken over parts of the West Bank (and used to live in parts of the Gaza Strip) are heavily armed and there have been numerous reports of their brutal attacks on their Palestinian neighbors.

Causes of Deaths of Israeli Soldiers
2005

Committed Suicide 30
Illness 14
Accidents 26
Terror Incidents 6

Source: Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv, Oct. 10, 2005, p. 6.
Note: The paper also reported that since 1992, 459 Israeli soldiers have committed suicide.

Air attacks: Gazan rockets and Israeli airstrikes

Approximately 30 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian rockets
while about 5,851 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Source: B’Tselem Statistics

The media frequently report that “thousands of rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza.” This is correct.
Media reports, however, contain little additional information. Here we will examine when the rockets began, how many Israelis they have killed, and the nature of the rockets.
Gazan rockets have killed a total of 30 Israelis (listed below). During the same period, Israeli air strikes have killed more than 5,800 Gazans.
According to the Israeli military, the first rocket by Gazan resistance groups was fired on April 16, 2001. This came after Israeli forces had shelled and invaded Gaza (photos here), killing 570+ Palestinians in the previous six months.

The Tufah area of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, February 2001. The area had been shelled by Israeli forces. Not a single rocket had yet been fired from Gaza. (Photo by Alison Weir)
A Palestinian boy who had been shot by Israeli forces, Gaza Strip, February 2001. Not a single rocket had yet been fired from Gaza. Israeli forces had killed dozens of Palestinian children in the previous four months, many of them through gunfire to the head; no Israeli children had been killed. (Photo by Alison Weir)

According to Global Security, the production of rockets began in September 2001.
in 2001 Palestinian groups fired a total of 4 rockets. (according to the Jewish Policy Center and Jewish Virtual Library.
The first rocket to land in Israel was in 2002. (Jewish Policy Center)
[sources]

Israelis killed by Palestinian rockets

Date of attack Location Name Age Status
2004.06.28 Sderot Mordechai Yosephov 49 civilian
2004.06.28 Sderot Afik Ohion Zehavi 4 civilian
2004.09.29 Sderot Yuval Abebeh 4 civilian
2004.09.29 Sderot Dorit (Masarat) Benisian 2 civilian
2005.01.15 Sderot Ayala-Haya Abukasis 17 civilian
2005.07.15 Moshav Nativ Ha‘asara Dana Gelkowitz 22 civilian
2006.11.15 Sderot Faina Slutzker 57 civilian
2006.11.21 Sderot Yaakov Yaakobov 43 civilian
2007.05.21 Sderot Shirel Friedman 32 civilian
2007.05.27 Sderot Oshri Oz 36 civilian
2008.02.27 Sderot Roni Yihye 47 civilian
2008.05.12 Moshav Yesha Shuli Katz 70 civilian
2008.12.27 Netivot Beber Vaknin 58 civilian
2008.12.29 Ashdod Irit Sheetrit 39 civilian
2008.12.29 Ashkelon Hani al Mahdi* 27 soldier
2010.03.18 Moshav Nativ Ha‘asara Manee Singueanphon* 30 soldier
2011.04.07 Kraf Aza Daniel Viflic 16 civilian
2011.08.20 Be’er sheva Yossi Shushan 38 civilian
2011.10.29 Ashkelon Moshe Ami 56 civilian
2012.11.15 Kiryat Malachi Yitzchak Amsalem 24 civilian
2012.11.15 Kiryat Malachi Mira Sharf 25 civilian
2012.11.15 Kiryat Malachi Aharon Smadja 49 civilian
2012.11.21 Eshkol Regional Council Boris Yarmolnik† 28 soldier
2014.07.19 village near Dimona Ouda Lafi al-Waj* 32 civilian
2014.08.22 Gan Yavne Netanel Maman† 22 soldier
2018.11.12 Ashkelon Nina Ginisdanova 74 civilian
2019.05.05 Ashkelon Moshe Agadi 58 civilian
2019.05.05 Ashkelon Ziad al-Hamamdah 49 civilian
2019.05.05 Ashkelon Moshe Feder 67 civilian
2019.05.05 Ashkelon Pinhas Menahem Prezuazman 21 civilian

 

Palestinian airstrike weaponry
and Israeli airstrike weaponry

Like the death toll, the firepower on the two sides of this conflict is vastly uneven. Here, we’ll examine some of the weaponry used by each side. First we will look at Palestinian weapons and below that Israeli weapons.

Palestinian weaponry

Palestine has no aircraft of any kind, therefore its “airstrikes” actually consist of various types of land-based weapons:

Qassam Rockets

The Qassam series of home made rockets are designed and manufactured in the Gaza Strip.
According to Wikipedia:

The rocket consists of a steel cylinder, containing a rectangular block of the propellant. A steel plate which forms and supports the nozzles is then spot-welded to the base of the cylinder. The warhead consists of a simple metal shell surrounding the explosives, and is triggered by a fuse constructed using a simple firearm cartridge, a spring and a nail.

Simple metal A-frames used to launch Qassam rockets (Wikimedia Commons)

This rudimentary design is propelled by a mixture of sugar and amonium nitrate (common fertilizer), launched from a simple metal frame, and has no guidance system, making it highly inaccurate.

BM-21 Grad

Another unguided rocket used in Palestine is the BM-21 Grad. Produced in China and Iran, this Soviet designed weapon has a farther range than the Qassam and is often fired from the back of a truck.

Member of Al-Quds Brigade carrying Grad missile (PalToday)

9M133 Kornet

The most sophisticated weapon Hamas has used against their Israeli occupiers is the Russian made Kornet laser guided anti-tank missile. The number of these in Hamas’s possesion is unknown but to date they are only responsible for two Israeli deaths.

A Russian soldier fires a Kornet missile, 2017 (Wikimedia Commons)

Other rockets

According to the Israeli Military, Hamas has used various other types of missiles including the home made M-75 and Al Quds rockets as well as the Chinese M-302 and the Iranian Fajr-5. Although some of these weapons reportedly have longer ranges and larger warheads than the BM-21 Grad, there has not been a single incidence where one of these rockets fired from the occupied territories has caused an Israeli death.

Mortars

Hamas rebels fire a mortar shell in Gaza (Reuters)

Aside from self propelled rockets, Palestinian rebels have fired morters at Israeli military personnel. Mortars can be easily carried by one person and consist of an explosive shell launched from a short metal tube. According to B’Tselem, Palestinian mortars have killed 20 Israelis including 13 soldiers. See the table below for details.

Balloons & Kites

Masked Palestinians prepare to attach a gas canister to a bunch of balloons on Feb. 10 before releasing them along the Israel-Gaza border fence. (Getty Images)

Beginning in 2018, some Gaza groups in desperation began using incendiary balloons and kites. As of March 26, 2020 these have caused no deaths or injuries.
 


Israeli airstrikes

Israel often launches airstrikes on Gaza that destroy residential neighborhoods, hospitals, churches, mosques, day care centers, historical sites, and more. Thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children have lost their lives in these attacks.
While Palestinian rebels attempt to retaliate against these attacks by launching primitive, home made rockets, the Israeli military is firing sophisticated, laser guided bombs and missiles from US made fighter jets and attack helicopters.

Fighter jets from the IAF’s second F-35 squadron, the Lions of the South, fly over southern Israel (Times of Israel)
Modified Israeli F-15Ds known as F-15 Baz (Breaking Defense)
Israeli F-16I “Sufa” in flight (Wikimedia Commons)
Israeli Air Force Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter, June 8, 2012 (Ofer Zidon/Flash90)

Below are just a few of the many types of bombs and missiles used by Israeli forces against their much more poorly equipped neighbors.

AGM-114 Hellfire self guided air-to-surface missile developed by Lockhead Martine (Israeli Firepower Ltd.)
Israeli manufacterer Rafael Systems’ Gil 2 antitank missile (Rafael Systems)
Israeli F-16 with BLU-109 forged steel point tip, and a BLU109 JDAM, 2000lb bunker buster penetration bomb (Wikimedia Commons)
Designed by Rockwell International, the GBU 15 (Guided Bomb Unit) is an unpowered, glide weapon used to destroy high-value enemy targets. (Wikimedia Commons)
US designed GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bomb (Wikimedia Commons)
The GBU-28 is a 5,000-pound (2,268 kg) laser-guided “bunker busting” bomb manufactured by Raytheon(Wikimedia Commons)

In addition to these, Israel also employs a number of unmanned aerial drones. Among these are what are known as “loitering munitions”, drones which circle in a given vicinity for some time until they aquire a target and attack.

The IAI Harpy is an expendable, unmanned autonomous aircraft produced by Israel Aerospace Industries. It is designed to attack radar systems and carries a high explosive warhead. (The Drive/IAI)

Iron Dome

An anti-rocket defense system was put in place in Israel in April 2011. A collaboration between Israel’s Raphael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Raytheon, it’s purpose is to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells before they can reach populated areas of Israel.

Iron Dome missile test (Israeli Defense Ministry)

The United States initially contributed $1.3 billion to the project, and has since given several hundred million more. Despite this, after purchasing two Iron Dome batteries from Raphael for use at home, US Army officials requested the source code and were denied.
While Israel touts the project as an ironclad success, others raise questions about its effectiveness.


Israelis killed by Palestinian mortars

Date of attack Location Name Age Status
2008.05.09 Kibbutz Kfar Aza Jimmy Kedoshim 48 civilian
2008.06.05 Kibbutz Nir-Oz Amnon Rosenberg 51 civilian
2008.12.29 IDF base near Nahal Oz Lutfi Nasraladin*† 38 soldier
2012.11.20 Eshkol Regional Council Eliyan Salem el-Nabari*† 33 civilian
2012.11.20 Eshkol Regional Council Yosef Nachman Partok† 18 soldier
2014.07.15 Erez Crossing Dror Khenin† 37 civilian
2014.07.23 Ashkelon Coast RC Narakorn Kittiyangkul* 36 civilian
2014.07.27? Sdot Negev RC Barak Refael Degorker† 27 soldier
2014.07.28 Eshkol RC Eliav Kahlon† 22 soldier
2014.07.28 Eshkol RC Meidan Maymon Biton† 20 soldier
2014.07.28 Eshkol RC Niran Cohen† 20 soldier
2014.07.28 Eshkol RC Adi Briga† 23 soldier
2014.07.31 Eshkol RC Daniel Marsh† 22 soldier
2014.07.31 Eshkol RC Omri Tai† 22 soldier
2014.07.31 Eshkol RC Shai Kushner† 20 soldier
2014.07.31 Eshkol RC Noam Rosenthal† 20 soldier
2014.07.31 Eshkol RC Liran Adir† 31 soldier
2014.08.22 Sha‘ar HaNegev RC Daniel Tregerman 4 civilian
2014.08.26 Kibbutz Nirim Ze’evik Etzion 55 civilian
2014.08.26 Kibbutz Nirim Shahar Melamed 43 civilian

 
For a list of deaths from all types of weaponry, see our Israel Palestine Timeline website.
This page is a work in progress. We will continue to add more information as time permits.

Last updated: 04/25/2020

 


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Things you can do for Gaza https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/things-you-can-do-for-gaza/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/things-you-can-do-for-gaza/#respond Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:23:04 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/things-you-can-do-for-gaza/ Lots of us watch in shock, horror and anger at the ongoing attacks on Gaza and the Palestinian territories. The killing of any civilian, Palestinian or Israeli, […]

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Lots of us watch in shock, horror and anger at the ongoing attacks on Gaza and the Palestinian territories. The killing of any civilian, Palestinian or Israeli, is wrong. It is condemned and must be stopped immediately. This is something made clear in Islam as well as international law
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, once noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it and he asked him, “Why don’t you tie down your camel?” The Bedouin answered, “I put my trust in Allah.” The Prophet then said, “Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah” (Tirmidhi). This is a reminder of how turning to Allah in times of distress must be coupled with personal responsibility in all things. Here are a couple of things we can all do to help Gaza.

1. Make Dua

Do this on as many occasions as possible: when it rains; when it snows; after each of the five daily prayers; when you’re sick; whenever you remember. Dua helps all of us connect to Allah in a very personal way and reminds us that He is in control. It also connects us psychologically to those we are praying for, despite distance.

2. Become informed

Not just about what’s going on, the death toll, and how the conflict started, who’s involved, etc. Also find out about Islam’s principled stance condemning the murder of civilians, be they Muslim or not. Knowledge and the right information are key to action. Without it, you are liable to hurt, not help the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. For more information about the crisis,

3. Write to your government representatives

Don’t think that their voice doesn’t matter or won’t count. All it takes is one congressman or congresswoman who is well-informed and passionate enough about an issue to start a movement that successfully results in statements and legislation that can turn the tide in favor of justice. This was the case with the issue of America’s stance on the genocide in Bosnia in the 1990s. The same can be done for the current situation in Gaza. Find your congressman here (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt).

4. Keep the issue in the public eye

Protests have already been held across the nation and the world. But these must not stop. Neither should the press releases, op-ed pieces, letters to the editor and more to keep fellow Americans informed about and interested in the situation in Gaza, something which directly involves their tax money and? more importantly, the integrity and respect of their nation on the world stage. A December 31, 2008 Rasmussen Reports poll, found that Americans Democrats voters overwhelmingly oppose the Israeli offensive — by a 24-point margin (55%-31%).

5. Invest in your political empowerment

While American public opinion largely opposes the attack on Gaza, large segments of our leadership do not. The Senate and the House continue to pass one-sided resolutions in support of Israel while 71 percent American surveyed like the US to be neutral in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
This indicates the great power wielded by lobbies in the United States to shape our nation’s course in all affairs. Common Cause among others are trying to reduce the role of money in politics. Among Muslims two groups are focusing on the political arena,

6. Discuss the issue calmly if called to do so

For many Americans, the Middle East crisis is something not to discuss in polite company because of the passionate and emotional responses usually elicited when either side of the crisis talks about it. Knowledge, balance in perspective and calmness are key in discussing it with those not familiar with the territory. If you choose to bring it up or are asked about it by classmates, neighbors or co-workers, speak as calmly as possible. Condemn the killing of all civilians as unIslamic and unethical, as they are. And present your perspective without becoming angry.

7. Never, ever lose hope

This is the ?trust in Allah? part of the situation. After you’ve done your part to help the cause of justice in Gaza, always remember that Allah is the best of planners, the most Wise, and indeed the most Merciful. We must never lose hope in His Mercy towards all human beings, displayed daily in countless ways. We must also remember that all power ultimately lies with Him, and He can turn a seemingly hopeless situation around in incredible ways.
 

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The Islamic perspective of Jerusalem https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/the-islamic-perspective-of-jerusalem/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/the-islamic-perspective-of-jerusalem/#respond Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:18:04 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2020/04/25/the-islamic-perspective-of-jerusalem/ Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi The city of Jerusalem is very sacred to Muslims. It is one of the three most sacred cities in Islam. Jerusalem […]

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Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

The city of Jerusalem is very sacred to Muslims. It is one of the three most sacred cities in Islam. Jerusalem is called al-Quds al-Sharif (the Noble Sacred Place). In order to understand the sacredness of this city in Islam, one has to understand the faith structure of Islam. There are three basic principles of faith in Islam:

1. Belief in the oneness of Allah (Tawhid).
2. Belief in the divine guidance through His chosen Prophets and Messengers (Risalah).
3. Belief in the life after death, divine judgment and heaven and hell (Akhirah).

It is the second principle of faith in Islam in Islam that is directly related to our love and devotion to Jerusalem.

Place of Jerusalem in the Islamic Faith

Islam recognizes all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah. The Quran has mentioned many Prophets by name. Their stories and teachings are told at varying length throughout the Quran. Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Zechariah, John the Baptist (Yahya) and Jesus – peace be upon them all – are among the honored Prophets and Messengers of Allah according to Islam.

Jews and Christians also recognize Prophets David and Solomon as great kings and patriarchs of ancient Israel.

However, in Islam they are honored as Allah’s great Prophets. The Quran not only narrated their stories, but also restored their honor by removing some of the charges and allegations that were made against their characters by earlier communities.

Prophet David (peace be upon him) was accused in the Bible o f committing adultery (2 Samuel 11 – 12) and Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) was accused of idolatry. (1 Kings 11). The Quran absolved them from all these charges. (28:21 – 25; 38:30). This shows that David and Solomon (peace be upon them) are more revered and respected in Islam than in Jewish and Christian traditions.

Since the city of Jerusalem is historically associated with these Prophets of Allah, it naturally becomes a city sacred to Muslims.

Islam considers itself a continuation of the same spiritual and ethical movement that began with the earlier Prophets.

Historically and theologically it believes itself to be the true inheritor of the earlier traditions of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah. It is for this reason that the Quran called for Palestine – the land associated with the lives of many of God’s Prophets – al-ard al-Muqaddasah (the Sacred Land; 5:21) and called its surroundings barakna hawlaha (God’s Blessed Precincts; 17:1).

The sacredness of the city of Jerusalem, according to Islam, is in its historical religious reality. This is the city that witnessed the life and works of the greatest Prophets and Messengers of Allah. Here the Divine Grace touched the earth repeatedly. Allah’s great Prophets and Messengers lived and moved in its valleys and its streets. Makkah and Madinah are blessed cities in Islam because of their association with the Prophets Abraham, Ishmael and Mohammed. In a similar way Jerusalem is blessed and important in Islam because of its association with other Prophets of Allah, namely David, Solomon and Jesus.

Jews and Christians do not recognize Ishmael and Mohammad as God’s Prophets and Messengers, so they do not consider Makkah and Madinah as sacred cities.

However, Muslims believe in Prophets Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, and so they must recognize the sacredness and importance of Jerusalem in Islam.

Jerusalem in the life of Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him)

Due to its theological and religious status, Jerusalem had a very important place in the life of the Prophet Mohammad himself.

In the year 620 almost one-and-a-half years before his Hijra (migration) from Makkah to Madinah the famous event of Isra and Miraj (Night Journey and Ascension) occurred. One night, in a miraculous way, the Prophet was taken on a momentous journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and then from there to the heavenly celestial abodes.

The Night Journey was a great miracle that Muslims believe was given to Prophet Mohammad as an honor and as a confirmation of Makkah’s spiritual link with Jerusalem.

Both of these events took place on the same night. The angel Gabriel took the Prophet from Makkah to Jerusalem. There it is reported that the Prophet stood at the Sacred Rock (al-Sakhrah al-Musharrafah), went to the heavens, returned to Jerusalem and met with many Prophets and Messengers who were gathered together for him on that occasion and he led them in prayers.

After these experiences the Prophet was taken back to Makkah. The story of Isra and Miraj is full of wonderful signs and symbols. Muslim thinkers, mystics and poets have interpreted it in deep an meaningful ways. There is, however, one essential point and that is it serves as an example of every Muslim’s deep devotion and spiritual connection with Jerusalem.

During the Miraj, the Prophet is reported to have received from Allah the command of five daily prayers (Salah) that all Muslims must perform. Upon his return to Makkah, the Prophet instituted these prayers. It is significant to note that he made Jerusalem the direction (al-Qiblah) which Muslims must face while doing their prayers. Jerusalem is thus called Ula al-Qiblatain (the First Qiblah).

The Prophet and the early community of Islam worshipped towards the direction of Jerusalem during their stay in Makkah. After the Hijra (migration), Muslims in Madinah also continued to pray facing Jerusalem for almost seventeen months. Then came Allah?s command to change the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Makkah (2:142 – 150).

Muslim commentators of the Quran and historians have explained the meaning and purpose of this change.

It is a lengthy subject that we cannot discuss in detail here. Suffice it to say that the change of the Qiblah in no way diminished the status of Jerusalem in Islam.

The Kaba in Makkah was meant to be the Qiblah from the beginning, because the Quran said that it was the First House (Awwal Bait 3:96) established for mankind to worship the One God.

The Kaba, however, was full of idols when the Prophet Mohammad began preaching his message to Tawhid (the Oneness and Transcendence of Allah).

A separation had to be made between the people and the pagan worship that they used to perform at the Kaba. Jerusalem served that purpose very well by distancing the people from their pagan and idolatrous associations.

Once monotheism was fully established in the minds and hearts of the believers and once the Kaba’s position with Abraham and with monotheism was made clear, the way was open to restore the Kaba as the direction of prayers.

There are many instances of this type of change or abrogation (“naskh”) in Islamic legislation. As one example, visiting graves was forbidden in the beginning of Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him)’s messengership.

Later it was permitted because Muslims had learned the difference between a grave visit and ancestor worship. At first, the Prophet forbade his people to write down his words except when he told them that what he was saying was revelation – the Quran, the Word of Allah.

Later when people learned the difference between the Quran and Hadith (sayings and deeds of the Prophet), he gave them permission to write Hadith as well.

It is interesting to note that the Kaba in Makkah was the original direction of prayers for all the Prophets of Allah.

According to a Hadith, the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad) had been in Makkah at the place of Kaba since the time of Adam. It was the Prophets Abraham and Ishmael who built the Kaba under Allah’s command and direction (2:125 – 127).

The city of Jerusalem was established as a religious center for the Israelite people by the Prophets David and Solomon around the year 900 BC.

This was almost 1,000 years after the time of Prophet Abraham and the building of the Kaba. Thus one can say that the Kaba had a historical primacy over Jerusalem.

Furthermore, it is important to note that the Bible says that the early Israelites in Jerusalem used to turn to the southern direction when making their most sacred prayers and offerings (Exodus 27:9; 40:24). The Kaba is in the southern direction of Jerusalem. Thus we can say that the Kaba was also a Qiblah for the earlier Israelite communities as well.

Jerusalem in the early history of Islam

Jerusalem came under Islamic rule during the reign of the second Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in the year 638.

It was a peaceful conquest. The ruling patriarch of the city, whose name was Sophronius, offered the keys of the city to the Caliph himself.

Upon entering the blessed city, the Caliph asked about the location of the mosque of David (al-Masjid al-Aqsa) and the blessed Rock from where the Prophet went in Miraj.

The site was a desolate place at that time. Romans had destroyed the so-called Second Temple in the year 70 CE and no non-Christian or Christian ruler of that city after that ever tried to build any place of worship there.

According to historians, it was a garbage dump, a dunghill for the people of Jerusalem. Umar, upon learning this was the site of the Masjid of Jerusalem and the place from where the Miraj took place, cleaned the place with his own hands and put his forehead in payer on that ground.

The Masjid al-Aqsa was later built in that area.

In 691 CE the Dome of Rock and a more elaborate mosque were constructed. Those were, perhaps, the first most expensive and expansive sacred monuments built in the history of Islam.

Jerusalem was always held in great esteem by Muslims. The Prophet said, “Journeys should not be taken (with the intention of worship) except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, my Mosque in Madinah and Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.”

On the basis of this Hadith, Muslims always considered it as a religious deed to visit the city of Jerusalem, its mosque and its sacred and blessed precincts. Often pilgrims made it a point to visit Jerusalem on their way to Makkah and Madinah.

Muslim rulers and philanthropists built many hospitals, schools, and religious centers in and around the city. They purchased land in and around the city and dedicated it as a Waqf (endowment) for religious purposes. The whole city is virtually Waqf land that is non-salable and nontransferable.

Many Muslim scholars also migrated and settled in the city. The Al-Aqsa Masjid was a great seat of learning. Thousands of pious people and scholars included provisions in their wills to be buried in Jerusalem. There are thousands, perhaps millions of Muslims’ graves in the city of Jerusalem.

Muslims also recognized the rights of Christians and Jews who hold the city dear to their hearts and sacred in their faiths.

Under Islamic rule they were given permission to settle there. When the Caliph Umar made the treaty with the Christian Patriarch Sophronius it was agreed, at the request of the Christian patriarch, that “No Jews will live with them in Aelia (Jerusalem).”

But later, due to Muslim tolerance, this rule was relaxed and Jews were allowed to come and settle in the city.

After the re-conquest of Jerusalem by Salahuddin in the time of the Crusades, Jews were again permitted by Muslims to come back and live in the city. The Crusaders during their 90-year rule (1099 – 1187) had banned both Jews and Muslims from that city.

Conclusion

The city of Jerusalem is very important to Muslims. Muslims have a right to this city religiously, historically and legally. I have mentioned only the religious aspects in this paper. There are three important points to remember about Islam and the city of Jerusalem:

1. In the whole history of Jerusalem, form the time of Prophet David until now, the longest rule of this city belonged to Muslims.

2. Muslims maintained the sacredness of this city in the full sense of the word.

3. Muslims established and practiced the most tolerant multi-religious and multi-faith character of Jerusalem.

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This was a talk presented at the first meeting of American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) in Washington, DC on April 17, 1999. Sound Vision has reprinted it with the permission of AMJ. Dr.. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the former President of Islamic Society of North America

 

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GAZA https://hybridlearning.pk/2013/06/08/gaza/ https://hybridlearning.pk/2013/06/08/gaza/#respond Sat, 08 Jun 2013 07:52:53 +0000 https://hybridlearning.pk/2013/06/08/gaza/ GAZA. See West Bank and Gaza.

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GAZA. See West Bank and Gaza.

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