The Story of Palestine
Amal Hanif
The Israeli state claims that Muslims have always been enemies to Jews. Therefore, Israel justifies its own creation and the bombing of Palestine as an act of ‘self-defense’. They wish to erase Muslims.
How did Muslims historically treat Jews?
But here is the real story. A long time ago the Christian world was relentlessly persecuting the Jews, because they believed that the Jews had killed Jesus by crucifying him. At that time, the Muslims assisted the Jews and the Jews sought refuge in Muslim lands.
From the very beginning of Islam until the state of Israel was established in 1948, large numbers of Jews were granted protection by Muslim governments ranging from Morocco till India. Muslims governed Spain for 700 years, and during that period the Jews living under their protection flourished. Jews themselves consider it a golden age of their culture, as numerous significant rabbinical scholars, preachers, poets and philosophers rose in that period. Additionally, the Jews became economically powerful. The Islamic world classified Jews and Christians as ‘Dhimmis’ (protected non-Muslims) and allowed Jews to practice their religion more freely than they could in Christian Europe. History then proves that Muslims have treated Jews with mercy and tolerance.
What is Zionism?
Modern Zionism emerged in the late 19th century in Central and Eastern Europe as a national revival movement, in reaction to anti-Semitism and as a response to Jewish enlightenment. This political movement insists on the “historic right” of people of Hebrew descent to Palestine. Among the Jewish population of Europe, Zionism was championed by Theodor Herzl, who founded the Zionist organization. He promoted Jewish immigration to Palestine in an attempt to establish a Jewish state in 1948. It was also propelled by Chaim Weizmann, a British scientist and statesman, who later became the first president of the state of Israel.
However, it is crucial to distinguish Zionism from Judaism, which is a religion. Several Jews are not Zionists. Similarly, a large amount of Zionists are not Jews. Currently there are more Christian Zionists.
Why was Balfour Declaration important?
Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour wrote a letter to Britain’s most eminent Jewish citizen, Baron Lionel Walter Rothschild. He expressed the British government’s support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The letter ultimately came to be known as the Balfour Declaration. This declaration helped actualise the Zionist aim of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine when Britain publicly vowed to establish “a national home for the Jewish people” there.
This state was made during World War I, in 1917 and was included in the terms of the British Mandate for Palestine after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Back then, Palestine was an Ottoman region with a massive Muslim population, a minor Christian population and a minute Jew population. Between 1922 and 1935, the Jewish population increased from nine percent to nearly 27 percent of the total population.
Why is Palestine important for the Christians and Zionists?
The Zionists do not believe in Islam but they do believe that the prophecies of the Prophet Muhammad (sa) are true. They have studied Islam more closely than many Muslims. Forty Ahadeeth (prophetic traditions) clearly talk about the emergence of Dajjal (Anti-Christ) whom the Zionists consider to be their Messiah. Dajjal will enable them to take full control of the world as he will declare himself as Lord of the worlds. Hence the Zionists excavate Masjid ul Aqsa to recover the Prophet Sulaiman’s (as) temple where they believe the Dajjal will assume power.
The Evangelical Christians assists them in doing so because they want to hasten the arrival of Prophet Isa (as) who they believe shall kill the ‘Messiah’ of the Jews – the Anti-Christ – at Ludd (Israel). This belief of the Christians is common with Muslims. Yet, they want to hasten the rise of the Antichrist, while Muslims have been taught to pray to be saved from the trial of the Dajjal, which will be one of the worst worldly trials. Therefore, both Jews and Christains Zionists consider it imperative to remove the Muslims who they believe are obstructing the arrival of the Antichrist.
What can Muslims do?
Economic independence and a strong investment and presence in the media by Muslim governments to be able to tell the truth to the world are two essential steps to safeguarding Muslims. A united Muslim front is of course imperative and the only way that the Ummah can be protected. Finally, we must trust in Allah and try to obey His commands.
“…They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah.”
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