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Quds Day is a global reminder of the duty to defend justice, oppose oppression and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and the oppressed everywhere.
By REDERWAAN CRAAYENSTEIN
We observe Quds Day with gratitude to Allah for Ramadan and praise the Prophet and his family. We honour the martyrs who strive on the path of Allah and the oppressed. These martyrs carry out the Prophet’s mission to establish social justice for all, regardless of class, gender, ethnicity, religion, or national origin.
We believe in one human race without a hierarchy of human worth. Allah says in the Holy Quran: ‘O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.’ (Sura Al Hujurat, 49:13)
Our differences (for example skin colour and languages) are meant to help us understand one another; this is part of the essence of being human. Allah says: ‘And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and colours.’ (Sura Ar Rum, 30:22)
However, our differences are being weaponised and used against us to sow division.
Prophets were sent to establish social justice. Allah says: ‘We sent Our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance so that people may uphold justice.’ (Sura Al Hadid, 57:25)
This was the core of the Prophet’s mission in Makka for 13 years before any formal rituals were introduced. Where Muslims have been established, they must advocate for social justice wherever they are.
Quds Day was established by Imam Khomeini to remind Muslims that our first Qibla is under occupation and siege.
Muslims are called to be an Ummah wasatan: a community with a direction (Qibla) and a worldview (Tawhid). Allah says: ‘Thus We have made you a middle community so that you may be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger be a witness over you.’ (Sura Al Baqarah, 2:143)
This calling means the Ummah must actively bear witness over mankind, not remain indifferent, just as the Messenger bears witness over the Mo’mineen. Al-Aqsa was the original Qibla; when it changed to Makka, this shift became a distinguishing point for those who followed the Prophet. Today, there are some Muslims for whom al-Aqsa does not matter, and who do not see the urgency of its occupation and the pending destruction.
In history, Sayeduna Omar showed that al-Aqsa belongs to all humanity. This perspective remains relevant.
We commemorate the Day of Quds while war rages across 14 countries, with the primary aggressor being the same state occupying Palestine. The world stands by as this Zionist regime commits genocide. Muslim countries have the means to oppose genocide and the war on Iran, both of which violate international law.
The paralysis of Muslim countries is rooted in a key Quranic principle. Allah says: ‘O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and Christians as allies; they are allies of one another.’ (Sura Al Maidah, 5:51)
One cannot have Iman while allying with Zionists and Imperialists, who protect each other at Muslims’ expense. Alliances with such forces contradict Iman and politically, militarily and psychologically align Muslims with the oppressors, not the Ummah. This explains the inability to defend Palestine and Iran despite having the capacity to do so.
When Muslims are paralysed during the genocide in Gaza and the illegal war on Iran, Allah provides guidance on who should constitute the core of resistance: ‘And whoever takes Allah, His Messenger and those who believe as allies — indeed the party of Allah will be victorious.’ (Sura Al Maidah, 5:56)
The future for Muslims depends on centring the social justice project around Allah, the Prophet’s Sunnah and the Mo’mineen globally. True solidarity flows from this foundation and extends to anyone who supports social justice. No alliance with Zionists or imperialists aligns with true Iman.
The genocide in Gaza marks the death of international law and institutions, which proved powerless. Israel was not condemned for genocide; Palestinians were condemned for defending themselves. Palestinians are told to lay down their arms.
Again, Israel and the United States avoid condemnation for illegal war against Iran. Iran, like the Palestinian resistance, is instead condemned for self-defence. Allah says: ‘Permission to fight has been given to those who are being fought because they were wronged.’ (Sura Al Hajj, 22:39)
The Quran gives people the right to resist when they have been wronged. Allah says: ‘Whoever defends himself after having been wronged — there is no blame upon them.’ (Sura Ash Shura, 42:41)
Yet we have Muslims who demand that people who have been displaced, dispossessed, disinherited, assassinated, detained without trial, exiled and expelled must lay down their arms. We have sheikhs who give fatwas to disarm the resistance. Allah gives permission to resist.
Oppressed people and the resistance cannot and should not be blamed. Allah says: ‘The blame is only against those who oppress people and transgress in the land unjustly.’ (Sura Ash Shura, 42:42)
However, we have witnessed ambivalence in the global response — Zionism and Imperialism are often excused. Anyone who stands against their aggression faces condemnation from institutions, politicians, police and Zionist sympathisers, despite the right to self-defence.
Allah’s position is clear: Muslims must not passively accept oppression. Malcolm X warned that failing to defend leads to victimhood; history has proven this repeatedly.
All sense of beauty, sanctity and wonder is lost to occupiers and warmongers; for them, no lives or places are sacred. As a result, the earliest Christian churches have been destroyed by Zionists. Zionist Christians celebrate and encourage the destruction of these communities, including those tracing their origins to the first Christians — Palestinian Christians descended from Jews who built the first churches in Palestine.
Against this backdrop, Muslims increasingly see Iran as the last country prepared to defend the first Qiblah. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan have been warned of being next in line for destabilisation, which would serve Zionist interests. These countries are aware that the genocide in Gaza foreshadows further threats, yet they remain inactive.
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America’s support for Zionism stems from the fact that Zionist interests align with imperialist objectives. Israel serves as a strategic military base for controlling oil and gas — without it, the Euro-Atlantic powers would need a new base.
Iran’s resistance has exposed the vulnerability of such bases and brought an end to decades of dominance. Fayruz has sung of Al-Aqsa, sacred to all Abrahamic faiths.
Yet racist settlers claim Palestinian homes and abuse Christians, with Christian Zionists actively encouraging the displacement of Palestinians. Complicity from Muslim states contradicts foundational Islamic principles. Even during the Gaza massacre, they continued trading with Zionists.
Muslim countries provide resources to Zionists while Palestinians in Gaza are deprived. As Zionists exhaust their stockpiles, Muslim countries replenish them. Organisations like the Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Gulf Cooperation Council possess the power to halt the genocide and the destruction of Masjid al-Aqsa, but refrain from acting.
Palestinians are being annihilated, and Iran is attacked with the most lethal weapons in assaults aimed at securing Zionist and imperialist domination, regional subjugation and destabilisation.
This aggression extends beyond Palestinians and Iranians. Zionists and their allies have also targeted Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.
Appeasing Zionists for almost 40 years has not helped. Palestinians have suffered greater losses after the Oslo Accords than before. The Abraham Accords further tie the region into Zionist and imperialist hegemony.
Netanyahu openly states there will never be a Palestinian state, yet Muslim countries continue to advocate for one. Zionism and Imperialism oppose Palestinian self-determination, leaving resistance as the only way to secure Palestinian, Iraqi, Yemeni, Libyan, Syrian and Iranian rights.
Negotiation only gets you killed. Palestinians know that. Iran has seen that twice in under a year.
Always stand in solidarity with the oppressed and oppose the oppressor; resistance is the only way to achieve justice.
We honour Quds Day because we reject the dominance of Zionists and Imperialists. We honour Quds Day because we reject the dominance of Iblis.
The notions of superiority — whether based on race, religion or military power — are false ideas of honour. True honour derives from being just and good. Allah says: ‘Indeed the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.’ (Sura Al Hujurat, 49:13)
Allah also says: ‘Be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice.’ (Sura Al Maidah, 5:8)
Those who fled murder in Europe were hosted by Muslim and Christian Palestinians in their own land. Soon enough, the Zionists took their homes; they sought all the land, including the sacred places.
Palestinians resisting this displacement, dispossession, disinheritance and expulsion have a moral right that predates international law. International law has been buried in the graveyard of Gaza.
The only remaining right is the moral right to defend one’s dignity, honour and land. Allah says: ‘Permission to fight has been given to those who are being fought because they were wronged.’ (Sura Al Hajj, 22:39)
People have a God-given, inalienable right to resist when they are oppressed. Allah says: ‘Whoever defends himself after being wronged — there is no blame upon them.’ (Sura Ash Shura, 42:41)
They cannot and should not be blamed. Allah says: ‘The blame is only against those who oppress people.’ (Sura Ash Shura, 42:42)
Therefore, the resistance must stand firm regardless of propaganda, mainstream media pundits or the Zionist and imperialist military-industrial complex propaganda machinery. Just resist and fight back. It is the only way.
We observe that when Muslims take a stand, sectarians among Muslims join Christian Zionists to undermine the unity of the resistance. Since October 2023, it has become more urgent to defend the people in the region who support the creation of Greater Israel.
Labels such as Muslim, Christian, Sunni, Shia, Arab and Kurd are tools used to turn us against each other. Only through unity can we stand a chance against Iblis’s schemes.
We can only defend ourselves through unity and peace. We do not harbour hatred for anyone; our compassion is for oppressed peoples.
We are falsely accused of being terrorists. In the United Kingdom, people are prosecuted for using the word ‘Intifada’ because Zionists consider it anti-Semitic. Lawfare is another instrument of warfare.
Iran is being targeted for nuclear weapons that it does not have, in favour of a nuclear-armed Israel. Meanwhile, Israel retains strategic deterrence in West Asia, and Iran must abandon its ballistic weapons programme while Israel keeps its military advantage.
Allah says: ‘And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer.’ (Sura Al Qalam, 68:10)
Netanyahu boasts that he has spent 30 years opposing a settlement, even an unjust one with the Palestinians. He does everything possible to prevent the United States from reaching an agreement with Iran.
Negotiating with Zionists and imperialists is a waste of time.
Muslims are told to prepare all the means of power that we can. Allah says: ‘Prepare against them whatever forces you can.’ (Sura Al Anfal, 8:60)
Five hundred million Muslims in the region are not doing this. They are buying weapons to be used against Muslims in alliance with Zionists and Imperialists. We have Muslims who do the opposite of what Allah commands. The Muslim sectarian does exactly the same project.
We must resist by staying on the land, holding on to it and continuing as its custodians. Even as bombs fall and knees shake, Gerry and the Pacemakers sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. The Quran says we are never alone.
Badr was fought in Ramadan. Allah says: ‘You did not kill them, but Allah killed them.’ (Sura Al Anfal, 8:17)
There are always unseen forces that help. Take a stand and resist, and you earn their help. Stand your ground wherever you are.
Zionism and imperialism are wrong. We are not permitted to look the other way. We must do something, say something or pray. The latter is the weakest of faith.
If you are at work, take a stand for BDS. The economic and cultural isolation of the Zionist regime is part of the resistance.
A handful of Irish supermarket workers refused to handle South African goods. That was the beginning of the economic isolation of Apartheid South Africa, which was expelled from the United Nations for killing 60 people at Sharpeville.
Tens of thousands were genocidally slaughtered in Gaza. An illegal war is being inflicted on Iran, yet Israel remains a member of the United Nations and international sports and cultural bodies.
Students have paid a heavy price as their universities caved in to Zionist pressure.
The Palestinians in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Islamic resistance in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen and the brave, battered people of Iran are showing us that we must remain firm.
Strengthen your resolve wherever you are — at work, in colleges and universities and within communities. If you have any influence, raise awareness, organise and mobilise against the Zionists.
In the 1980s, more than 180 Labour Party-controlled local authorities and councils boycotted Apartheid South Africa.
We see the vicious nature of the Zionist and imperialist quest for dominance in West Asia. Do what you can, say what you can and pray for their downfall if that is all you can do.
But do not turn a blind eye to the criminality of their hegemonic ambitions.
Defend the resistance by taking a stand where you are. Only when there is resistance can there be peace.
The Zionist and imperialist disciples of Iblis will only make peace with those who can harm them. Everyone else will face humiliation and destruction.
Stand with the resistance for justice and peace.
No justice, no peace.
