Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

assalaamu’alaykum.

Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makkah) to the farther Mosque (Masjidil Aqsa)(in Jerusalem) whose surroundings We have blessed that We might show him some of Our Signs. Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. [17:1]

I’ve just returned from an Eid dinner, organized by Interpal (www.interpal.org.). Brother Ibrahim Hewitt and (I believe, his son) Brother Ismail Hewitt gave really inspiring talks. Although the elderly Hewitt delivered his message in a more light-hearted manner, the latter was vociferous and passionate, both have similar message: The Palestinians are in need, suffering in the truest sense of the word, and isn’t it a crying shame that we are all sitting in luxury, doing nothing? What would we say to Allah when He asks us on the Day of Judgment, what did we do to help?

Well, come to think of it. Why Palestine? What’s so significant about Palestine and Masjidil Aqsa? True, Muslims are also oppressed in various parts of the world. Bosnia, Kosovo, Takbai, Chechen,Somalia, name it (and according to Bro Ismail, 80% of the world’s refugees are Muslims). But why does Palestine stand in the limelight above others?

Yes, Palestine is not just the land of Palestinians. Those who fought for Palestine, those who made du’aa for Palestine, those who donated money for Palestine are not merely doing so for a piece of land. Islamic brotherhood and humanity are valid reasons, but there is a stronger justification for Muslims to fight, make du’aa and donate for Palestine. Palestine, to be exact Baitulmaqdis (Jerusalem) is one of the Muslim’s sacred land. The land housed one of the holy mosques in Islam. Masjid-al-Aqsa.

The significance of Masjidil Aqsa equates that of Masjidil Haraam and Masjid Nabawi. Hence, in one respect, the land of Baitulmaqdis is just as significant to the Muslim ummah as the land of Mecca and Medina.

Baitulmaqdis is also a Muslim sacred land. Tanah Suci Palestin.

http://ttuyup.wordpress.com/2006/11/27/isu-palestin-adalah-masalah-utama-dunia-islam/

Insults to the land of Palestine should be felt just as intensely as insults to the lands Mecca and Medina (na’uzubillahiminzaalik).

The Palestinians are chosen to defend the land with their blood and lives. They’re given the gift of syahid. For them, it’s either die fighting or die running, and alhamdulillah, masyaAllah, they chose to die fighting. Look at their children throwing stones. If I’m not mistaken, Dr Azzam Tamimi (http://www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/english/Guestcv.asp?hGuestID=747eOu) once said something to this effect,

“The Palestinians do not need your money. Your donations. We’re the chosen people, chosen by Allah to defend the Muslim holy land of Palestine. We’re chosen to get syahid. The only thing that we ask from you is your prayers. Your du’aa. “ 

Now don’t take this as an excuse to not donate. Take this as a challenge. They’re so courageous and proud, living their ordeal with true ‘izzah. And we, the Muslims who sit on the laps of luxury can’t even allot five minutes - no, one minute - of our time each day to pray for them? Let alone making donations, joining demonstrations, speaking up to let the issue be known to public, or going there to help.

Non-Muslims are much better than us in this matter. Brother Ismail claimed that he had been to 14 demonstrations in London about Palestine occupation, and he dared to say that 95% of the demonstrators are non-Muslims. Major donors to charities are non-Muslims. Human’s rights activists are mostly non-Muslims. Where are Muslims, when we make up more than one fifths of the world’s population, when we make up the most of the suffering peoples. Where are Muslims? Am I allowed to say that Muslims are a bunch of cowards?

Let’s not talk about the leaders of Middle East  countries. Look at the map. It’s perplexing to see how Palestine is surrounded by her brothers who all fail to help. It’s more perplexing to see Israel like a dot of cowdung in a massive field, unable to be gotten rid of by the so many farmers who tended the field, laughing its stinking head off.

Let’s talk about we ourselves. Why aren’t we acting? Are we too lazy? Are we afraid of losing the ni’mat that Allah has given us - time, money, family, comfort, security? Does this selfish cowardice reflect the spirit of Eid?

Eid-ul-Adha commemorates the sacrifices made by Ibrahim a.s. and his son Ismail a.s. Ibrahim left his wife Hajar and their newborn son Ismail a.s. on a barren desert, upon Allah’s command. Upon Allah’s command, he was willing to sacrifice his son’s life, and his son willingly consented. Theirs are acts of sacrifice to seek Allah’s pleasure, mardhaatillah.

Know well that your belongings and your children are but a trial, and that there lies a mighty reward from Allah. [8:28]

Wealth and children are an adornment of the life in the world. But the deeds of lasting righteousness are the best in the sight of your Lord in reward, and far better a source of hope. [18:46]

The Palestinians are dying as Muslims, as syuhadaa, insyaAllah. Though now we’re living as Muslims, how sure are we that we’re going to die as such? Are we going to not do anything and give excuses to Allah on Yaumil-Mahsyar?

Palestine is not just the land of those who lived on it. Palestine is the land of Muslims. So, let’s proudly exclaim, in Brother Ibrahim’s words, I’m A Palestinian! And we’re responsible to it just as any Palestinian is, and let’s execute the responsibility with the best of our means.  

and Allah knows best.

meoww~~