Al-Quds Day 2012 - Last Friday of Ramadan

"Al-Quds" means "Holy."  The reference is to the city of Jerusalem.    Presently under a very brutal occupation of the Zionist regime, Jerusalem has a long history with a very special place in the heart of every Muslim. 

Narrating about the night journey of Meraj, the first verse of the 17th Chapter (Surah Al-Isra) of the Glorious Quran mentions of our beloved Prophet Muhammed (sw) being carried from Mecca to Jerusalem.    Almighty Allah confirms the surroundings of Jerusalem as a "blessed" neighborhood.   

"Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far distant place of worship the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo!  He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer." (17:1) Al-Isra.

The Dome of the Rock and close to it, the Al-Aqsa Masjid, were built later within the "blessed" neighborhood .. the third most important site for us, after Mecca and Medina.

The fact that Palestine has been unjustly snatched from its indigenous citizens by the European Zions, makes the subject of Jerusalem a very sensitive one with piles of memories to reflect upon.  

Over the passage of time, Jerusalem became such a famous symbol for the struggle of freedom that today the expression "Al-Quds" is universally accepted as the representation of resistance against all acts of injustice, abuse and tyranny.   As the late Imam Khomeini expressed: “The Quds Day is a universal day. It is not an exclusive day for Quds itself. It is a day for the oppressed to rise and stand up against the arrogant.”

It's a day that fearlessly exposes the truth, and facing the truth is profoundly unpleasant for the oppressors.   No surprise that Al-Quds Day has often been an occasion for the ruthless to impose still greater injustice.  Numerous peaceful participants of the Al-Quds Day have been beaten, arrested and even killed by Zionist forces and other law enforcers around the world.   Yet, this constant intimidation has not stopped the truth-seekers and freedom lovers from raising their voices.

The last Friday of every Ramadan is generally commemorated by Muslims as the international Al-Quds Day to show their solidarity with Palestine.   In a battered Ummah torn apart by sectarian, political and racial strife, unity is a rare commodity.   Al-Quds Day provides us with the opportunity to unite for a common cause .. even if it's only for a single day, it's worth it!   Despite the differences, majority of the Muslims across the world agree that Palestine must be liberated, creating a common aspiration and a great opportunity to overlook petty differences.   Furthermore, Al-Quds Day of 2012 is a portrayal of  Muslims coming together for a common cause despite the ongoing political turbulence across the Middle-East.

Observing the Al-Quds Day is an outcome of decades of humiliation and murders by the Israeli occupying forces.   Human suffering has been so widespread and prolonged in the Holy Land that it's hard to pick which Palestinian family or individual suffered the most after being made stateless on their own land.   But for the sake of sharing, the story and image that never leaves my mind and heart is the incident that killed 12-year-old Muhammad al-Durra on September 30, 2000 .. the third day of the second Intifada.   The first Intifada began in 1987, and the second in 2000.  The cause of the second Intifada was Ariel Sharon's decision to attack, desecrate and kill several worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Masjid.  Muhammad al-Durra and his father were caught amidst Israeli snipers.  They hid behind a flimsy protection which wasn't good enough to keep them safe.   Soon after, young Muhammad died of gun shot wounds in his stomach and chest.  His father was seriously injured but miraculously survived after being shot twelve times. 



Let's pray and hope the large gatherings of Al-Quds day, this year and after, will have far-reaching affects for abolishing the scourge of imperialism along with the barbarism it carries.  Insh'Allah.

In the following link, do please watch and share the inspiring images of Al-Quds Day observed in the past years and the innocent victims of Zionist tyranny.
http://www.inminds.co.uk/qudsday2002.html

Also worth watching, Press TV video on Al-Quds Day:  'How important is the international Al-Quds Day for Muslim unity?'
http://www.presstv.ir/Program/255486.html