The
International Union of Muslim Scholars has urged the esteemed Grand Imam of
Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, to intensify efforts to put an end to the ongoing
genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, which has persisted for a full year without
any signs of abatement or cessation and has now expanded to Lebanon in an
unprecedented conflict.
In a special
statement to "Arabi21" on the anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza,
Dr. Ali Muhammad Al-Sallabi, the Union's Secretary-General, confirmed that this
ongoing aggressive war is leaving devastating humanitarian consequences and
contradicts all divine laws and international regulations.
He pointed
out that the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation have crossed all limits
and red lines, with no firm stance from the international community to put an
end to this aggression.
Al-Sallabi
emphasized that the lack of political will from global powers, particularly the
United States, which fully supports Israel, necessitates that the peoples of
the Arab and Islamic worlds turn to their religious institutions to fulfill
their roles in protecting human lives, which Islam honors with a status greater
than that of the Holy Kaaba.
A Global
Alliance for the Support of Palestine and Lebanon
Al-Sallabi
stated that what is needed today is an alliance of the scholars and leaders of
the ummah with free peoples and nations that stand for truth and justice,
aiming to persuade the International Court of Justice and the International
Criminal Court to criminalize the Israeli occupation and demand an end to its
genocidal war against the Palestinian people, holding its leaders accountable
as war criminals.
He added
that expanding the alliance of Arabs, Muslims, and advocates of freedom and
justice worldwide is essential to achieve justice for the Palestinian and
Lebanese peoples, who are suffering from criminal aggression by an occupying
force that has exceeded all red lines.
Al-Sallabi
confirmed that Al-Azhar remains an important Islamic beacon, not only for
uniting Muslims around common ground but also for leading a global effort to
end the genocide against Palestinians.
He
referenced Al-Azhar’s history of defending justice, citing the words of the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the people of Egypt and their role
in fighting the Tartars, led by scholars such as Ibn Abdul Salam in the Battle
of Ain Jalut.
He also
mentioned Al-Azhar’s role in resisting the French occupation led by Napoleon
Bonaparte, as well as the sacrifices of the Egyptian people in revolutions
against British colonialism in 1806, 1882, 1919, and 1952, contributing to the
defense of the Islamic homeland and their struggle for the sake of Allah.
Al-Azhar's
Stance in Support of Palestine
Dr. Ali
Muhammad Al-Sallabi praised the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar’s position in supporting
Palestine, affirming that Al-Azhar and its scholars have played a significant
role in confronting Zionists since the early days of the settlement project
during British colonial rule.
He noted the
protests of 1929 led by Al-Azhar’s Sheikh Mustafa Al-Maraghi (may Allah have
mercy on him), alongside scholars and students of Al-Azhar, who condemned
Jewish gatherings in Tel Aviv demanding, "The Western Wall is ours,"
events that continue to resonate through generations.
He referred
to the massive popular rallies that erupted from the courtyards of Al-Azhar in
protest against the British Royal Commission's partition of Palestine in 1937,
reflecting their responsibility and loyalty to the nation.
Al-Sallabi
added that Al-Azhar has consistently demonstrated its honorable positions
against the struggle against the Zionists, recalling the late Sheikh Abdul
Halim Mahmoud’s (may Allah have mercy on him) pivotal role in mobilizing
national spirit among Egyptians and supporting the political leadership in
Egypt during the October War of 1973.
Al-Azhar
as a Beacon of Hope for the Oppressed in Palestine
Dr. Ali
Muhammad Al-Sallabi affirmed that Allah has prepared the necessary conditions
for Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, to assume the
responsibility of leading Al-Azhar, which holds a significant status in the
conscience of the Egyptian people and the Islamic nation.
He expressed
confidence in the Grand Imam's ability to fulfill his role in defending the
values and principles of the Egyptian people and the Islamic nation, and in
calling for an end to the criminal aggression against the Palestinians.
Al-Sallabi
stated, "The hopes of the oppressed in Palestine, and the hopes of the
free in this nation, are firmly placed upon your courageous stances, the noble
spirit of the Egyptian people, and the pivotal role of Egypt in addressing
injustices and supporting the oppressed, which future generations of Muslims
and free peoples will never forget, with great rewards from Allah."
He added,
"O esteemed Sheikh of Al-Azhar, your fatwas and statements regarding the
recent events in Gaza have had a profound impact on the free people of the
world, the Islamic nation, and the Palestinian people. Your address was one of
the strongest speeches, and your voice one of the loudest in support of the
Palestinian victims, as your words touched hearts and ignited hope in souls,
reflecting the scale of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza."
Al-Azhar's
Support to Confront Aggression
Dr. Ali
Muhammad Al-Sallabi, the Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim
Scholars, clarified that Egypt, with its people and political, military, and
security institutions, is in urgent need of a powerful humanitarian discourse
derived from spiritual and moral values. He emphasized the importance of
supporting Al-Azhar in unleashing the spiritual and moral energies to assist
the oppressed in Gaza.
He stressed
that this support should encompass scientific, spiritual, and moral backing
based on the jurisprudence of calamities to alleviate the collective punishment
of the vulnerable.
On the
ground, Israel has expanded its genocidal campaign since September 23, 2023, to
include most areas of Lebanon, including the capital, Beirut. It has launched
unprecedented airstrikes in terms of intensity and brutality, alongside
initiating a ground incursion in southern Lebanon, ignoring international
warnings and UN resolutions.
Israel
Continues Bombing in Lebanon and Gaza
According to
official figures, Israeli airstrikes since the beginning of mutual shelling
with Hezbollah on October 8, 2023, have resulted in the deaths of 2,044
individuals and injuries to 9,678 others, including 1,212 fatalities and 3,427
injuries, with a significant number of casualties among children and women.
The number
of displaced persons has exceeded 1.2 million since the onset of the extensive
war on Lebanon on September 23 until Sunday evening.
At the same
time, today marks the first anniversary of the start of the Israeli war,
supported by the U.S., in Gaza, which has thus far resulted in over 139,000
Palestinian casualties, in addition to more than 10,000 missing persons, amidst
immense destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of dozens of children
and the elderly.
Tel Aviv
continues to carry out its genocidal campaign, disregarding the UN Security
Council's resolution to end it immediately and the International Court of
Justice's orders to take measures to curb acts of "genocide" and
improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Source:
Arabi21