A critical World Qods Day

Due to his comprehensive political approach and deep understanding of the Islamic world’s issues, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the late Imam Khomeini, who was aware of the importance of Bait-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem) for Muslims, designated the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as World Qods Day in 1979.

Most of the world’s Muslims promptly responded to his call because they felt that the Bait-ul-Moqaddas issue, which had been a bone of contention among Muslims, Christians, and Jews for over 14 centuries, had once again been placed in the spotlight.

During the historical ups and downs of the Middle East, the holy site has witnessed numerous religious disputes, including the Crusades.

To Muslims, Bait-ul-Moqaddas is where Prophet Muhammad (S) ascended to the heavens.

It was the Muslims’ first qibla (direction of prayer) and is the third holy city of Islam after Mecca and Medina.

Qubbat-as-Sakhrah (the Dome of the Rock), which is located in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, was built in 691 CE by the Umayyad caliph Abd-al-Malik ibn Marwan. The green dome of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a symbol of the Islamic world’s unity.

Bethlehem, which is close to Bait-ul-Moqaddas, is the birthplace of Jesus Christ (AS), and thus especially respected by Christians.

Bait-ul-Moqaddas is a crossroad where all divine religions converge, and it should not be turned into a center of religious disputes.

When Bait-ul-Moqaddas became the center of peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Christians, the Zionists attempted to sow discord between them.

The Zionists occupied western Bait-ul-Moqaddas in 1948, and in the 1967 Six–Day War they occupied the eastern part of the historical and religious city, expelling tens of thousands of Muslim and Christian residents.

From then on, the Zionists began efforts to gradually destroy the mosque by conducting excavations beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the pretext that the Temple of Solomon (AS) was located there.

A Zionist fanatic set the mosque on fire in 1969. In response, the Islamic states founded the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) that year to defend the holy city and established the Qods Committee.

Due to recent developments in Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan, more Muslims will participate in this year’s Qods Day rallies.

Through their massive demonstrations, the Muslims aim to show their animosity toward the terrorist actions committed by the Zionist regime against the Palestinian nation and to draw the attention of the White House to the Palestinians’ problems.

Palestinians are currently suffering from the difficult situation of an economic embargo, and the international community has turned a blind eye to the Israeli army’s crimes.

Dozens of Palestinian women and children are shot point-blank by Israeli soldiers every day, and the Hamas government is also facing political plots hatched by the United States and Israel. This has given rise to a dangerous crisis in Palestine.

If the U.S. and the European Union continue the economic embargo of Palestine and refuse to honor their financial commitments, the occupied territories will undoubtedly experience a mounting crisis and violence will reign in the Middle East once again.

However, an escalation of violence is not in the interests of the Zionist regime or the West because the volatile Middle East region can not withstand any more crises. If the situation is not addressed, violence will certainly spill over into other regions and no power will be able to control it.

RMN/HG

END

MNA