Quds and Palestine from the Viewpoint of Imam Khomeini (RA) and Grand Ayatollah Khamenei | ||||
PDF (2944 K) | ||||
Introduction The aim of the conference on honoring Quds and the resistant and proud people of Palestine, which is held annually during the Hajj season at the Office of Representative of the Supreme Leader in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affair, and God’s help is sought for the victory and salvation of Quds from the vicious clutches of the child-killing Zionist regime, is to announce to the world that Palestine is alive and, God willing, will definitely return to its true owners, and the age of arrogance and a unipolar world is coming to an end. Revival of the Abrahamic Hajj and paying attention to the true philosophy of Hajj, which is called “”قیاما للناس (sustentation for mankind) in the Holy Qur’an and the emphasis on the retribution of infidels, which is an inseparable part of the spirit and rites of Hajj, is an example of the capabilities of the Islamic world in conveying the cry of the oppressed people and exposing the crimes of the claimants of human rights, especially the crime-prone America and the occupying Israeli regime. Undoubtedly, the World Hajj Congress is a complete manifestation and expression of the religious conduct and unity of Muslims in all fields. No rites and worship can mobilize the concentrated forces of the Islamic Ummah in the path of reviving Islamic values and fighting against the plagues and enemies like Hajj. On the other hand, it can definitely be said that the true heralds of Islamic unity and solidarity are those sincere believers who, in addition to performing acts of worship, have struggled and made sacrifices for the glory of Islam. This year’s Hajj has features that double its importance and sensitivity; The widespread presence of pilgrims in the House of God in Makkah and Madinah and the continuous victories of the resistance movement against the US and usurping Israel and the defeat of the oppressive pressures of arrogant powers on the Islamic Republic of Iran and their continued failures in bringing the nations of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen to their knees, and, on the other hand, the renewal of political relations between Muslim governments and its positive effects in creating hope in the region and the unity and solidarity in the greater Islamic Ummah promise a better future and the development of more cooperation between Muslim nations. This conference will focus on the issue of Quds and Palestine and the resistance movement from the perspective of the late Imam Khomeini (RA) and Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Quds and Palestine from the Viewpoint of Imam Khomeini (RA) Imam Khomeini’s first official stand on the Palestine issue was parallel to the beginning of his political campaign against the Pahlavi regime when it refused to stand by Islamic and Arab countries with regard to the oil embargo on Israel. Imam Khomeini exposed the secret relations between Shah’s regime and Israel and Israel’s danger to the Islamic world when Shah’s regime was in full power. The victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran led to the intensification of the anti-Zionist struggles of the Muslims and changed the course of the struggle of the Palestinians. Exposing Shah’s secret and open relations with Israel and opposing the Shah’s regime’s aid to the common enemy of Muslims was one of the motives of Imam Khomeini’s uprising. In his own words: “One of the reasons that has made us confront Shah is his help to Israel. I have always said in my notes and sayings that Shah has cooperated with Israel since the beginning of its existence, and when the war between Israel and Muslims reached its peak, Shah continued to usurp Muslim oil and give it to Israel.” (Sahifeh-ye Imam Vol. 5. P. 187) One of Imam’s strongest political statements against the Shah and Israel was his famous speech at the Great Mosque of Qom after his release from prison. In this speech, he warned the Shah against forming military and economic relations with Israel and stressed its harmfulness, and shouted: “O people of the world, know that our nation is against the agreement (with) Israel… Our religion requires us not to agree with the enemy of Islam, our Qur’an requires us to make a pact with the enemy of Islam against Muslims.” In this way, the late Imam declared Israel’s danger to Muslims in the form of a Shariah ruling and advised preachers to convey the danger of Israel and its agents to people everywhere. He also announced that silence on this matter helps the tyrannical system and the enemies of Islam. After being exiled and the Six-Day War, the Imam issued a notice and, while reminding the Islamic countries to root out the germ of corruption in the heart of the Islamic world, declared it haram to have any kind of political and commercial relationship and cooperation with Israel. He considered it to be against Islam and also considered the consumption of Israeli goods as haram for Muslims. During the 1970s and before the Islamic Revolution, the Imam kept this issue in mind in various declarations, by making Jihad and sacrifice obligatory on all Muslims, for the liberation of Palestine and support for the Palestinian militant groups. Especially with the Ramadan War of 1973, the leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran issued a message to the Islamic governments and nations, warning them against selling oil to Israel and asking them to put aside differences and stage an all-round Jihad against this regime. Simultaneously, and in a passionate message addressed to the Iranian nation while pointing to Shah’s 2500-year celebrations when Muslim nations and the Palestinians were engaged in a war with Israel, Imam Khomeini strongly criticized Shah’s support for Israel and providing it with Iranian oil. He obliged the great people of Iran to prevent and fight against the interests of America and Israel in Iran. And like in the past, he asked scholars and preachers to tell the people about Israel’s crimes in mosques and religious circles. In a letter addressed to the Islamic countries and nations on 7/11/1973 and on the occasion of the Ramadan War, Imam Khomeini wrote: “Governments of Islamic countries who are rich in oil should use their oil and other resources as a measure against Israel and the colonialists, and refrain from selling oil to those governments that help Israel”.(Sahifeh-ye Imam Vol. 3, P. 2) On 9/10/1978, the Imam called Israel a cancerous tumor and considered it necessary for every Muslim to prepare against Israel. In November of the same year in an interview with the Associated Press, the Imam considered the Camp David agreement a conspiracy against the Palestinians and Arabs and a basis for legitimizing Israel’s aggression. In another interview with the same news agency, he condemned Anwar Sadat’s stand with regard to Israel. Imam Khomeini considered the rule of a small number of Zionists over more than one billion Muslims in the world as a disgrace and said: “Why should the countries that have everything and have all kinds of resources be submissive to Israel? One billion Muslim population with all the resources they have at their disposal are sitting and watching Israel commit those crimes in Lebanon and Palestine”. (Sahifeh-ye Imam Vol. 10, P. 418) Emphasizing the unity of Muslims against Israel, the late Imam said: “If the Muslims were united and each of them would pour a bucket of water on Israel the flood would destroy this criminal regime. (Sahifeh-ye Imam Vol. 9, P. 274) Declaring the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as “World Quds Day” is an example of this conscious approach of Imam Khomeini. “I ask all the Muslims of the world and the Islamic states to join together to shorten the hand of this usurper and his supporters, and I invite all the Muslims of the world to commemorate the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, which is one of the days of Qadr, and can be decisive about the fate of Palestine, as Quds Day and declare the international solidarity of Muslims in supporting the legal rights of Muslims.” In another fatwa, the Imam said: It is absolutely appropriate and even obligatory that a sufficient amount of Islamic funds such as zakat and the Imam’s share be allocated to these Mujahidin in the path of God. To the Mujahidin who are fighting and making sacrifices in order to destroy the anti-human infidel Zionism. (Sahifeh-ye Imam Vol. 1, P. 172) Quds and Palestine from the Viewpoint of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei Defending Palestine and other oppressed nations by America and usurper Israel within the framework of Imam Khomeini’s policies, especially in the West Asian region under the direct guidance of the Supreme Leader and the powerful presence of the Martyr Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the field succeeded to turn the axis of resistance with the presence of jihadist groups into important and influential actors in the region to such an extent that today, everyone acknowledges that it is not possible to ignore the Resistance Movement. After the Islamic Revolution, resistance, as one of the elements of national and religious identity found a prominent role in the political discourse of the Islamic Republic. Within the framework of this discourse, an attempt was made to pursue resistance outside the borders of the country; both as a liberating element against the domination of arrogant powers and as a tool for deterring enemies and playing a role in establishing order in the region. The result of pursuing this approach in the past four decades has led to the formation of a group of government and non-government activists, referred to as the “Axis of Resistance”, which is now considered one of the poles of power in West Asia. Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, considers the Islamic Republic of Iran to be the axis and promoter of this resistance and believes that this is the reason for America’s enmity with Iran. What follows are excerpts from his statements about the issue of Palestine: • The Islamic Republic challenged the oppressive world system; this is the reason for opposing us. • The victory of Lebanon’s Hezbollah against the Zionist regime, the success of jihadist groups in Palestine, and the progress of the Islamic Republic of Iran in various fields are outstanding cases that are the fulfillment of God’s promise, which has increased hope and resilience in Muslims. • The land of Palestine is the geographical heart of the Islamic world, and the arrogant world intends to beat Islam from there, put pressure on the Muslim nations and hinder Islamic movements. The Zionist regime is the representative of the arrogant presence and provider of America’s interests in this part of the Islamic world, and their false and malicious propaganda will not be able to deceive the nations. • For us in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the issue of Palestine is not a tactical issue, nor a political strategy, it is an issue of belief, it is an issue of the heart, it is an issue of faith. • The people of Palestine, and the people of Gaza, have perpetuated their name as the most resistant nations in history. • The issue of Gaza is not the issue of a piece of land; The problem of Palestine is not only a problem of geography; It is the problem of humanity; It is a humanitarian issue. Today, the issue of Palestine is an indicator of adherence to human principles and opposition to human principles. Today, the first issue of the Islamic world is the issue of Gaza; Perhaps it can be said that the first issue of the world of humanity is the issue of Gaza. • The signs of the new world order are becoming more visible every day. Global arrogance seems to be in a hurry to disappear more and more quickly. Now the question is what is our responsibility in this new world order. Definitely, in this regard, there is a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of each one of us. One of the most important responsibilities is to avoid despair and passivity. The most important promising capacity is a talented and efficient human force with a deep and authentic foundation of faith and religion. • We Muslims, especially the oppressed people of Palestine, must nurture and strengthen the hope for the future in ourselves and others, and remove fear and despair from ourselves and others and rise towards a bright future. So let’s prepare ourselves to create a new world and regional order. The decline of the United States will cause the weakness and despair of the usurper Israel and will eventually become the source of internal discord and disintegration of this regime. On the other hand, the movement of resistance against Zionism has grown stronger and stronger than before, and with the support of Iran and Islamic countries, the fulfillment of the divine promise is close. God willing “إِنَّ الَّذِینَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَیْهِمُ الْمَلَائِکَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِی کُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ” “Indeed those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah!’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, (saying,) ‘Do not fear, nor be grieved! Receive the good news of the paradise, which you have been promised.” (Surah Fussilat: 30) Concluding Remarks Today, the world has also believed this Qur’anic truth: “Certainly We wrote in the Psalms after the Torah: ‘Indeed My righteous servants shall inherit the earth.” (Surah Al-Anbia’, Verse 105). The voices of the oppressed people of the world, especially Palestine, are no longer heard only in the Middle East. We see the support of Holy Quds Sharif even from non-Muslims in European and non-European countries. Muslims, more aware than before, observe the sound of breaking the bones of the unipolar system supporting the Zionist occupying government. By: Mohammad Shafieinia, Faculty Member of the Office of Representative of the Supreme Leader in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affair | ||||
Statistics View: 164 PDF Download: 57 |
||||