Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Islamic Society of Boston has claimed, rather lamely I might add, to have severed all ties to Sheik Yusuf Al-Qaradawi (Qaradhawi), the local Al Huda Society -- a group with ties to the Muslim American Society and thus the ISB -- seems to have no such qualms. They sent a link out to their email list to an important lecture by the Sheik on the occasion of Muhammed's night journey: Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj: Everlasting Lessons.
Miss Kelly points out some of the salient parts of the lecture, noting that in Qaradhawi's view, the one the Al Huda Society is propagating, "Jerusalem should be controlled by Muslims, not Jews":
Allah Almighty wanted to establish and emphasize the significance and sacredness of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Muslims' hearts so that they do not cede it for anything. They are to hold it as sacred as both Allah's Sacred House and His Prophet's Mosque."
"...Allah Almighty wills that we remember the importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque when we celebrate the anniversary of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj."
"This is to remind us of the gravity of the circumstances in which Al-Aqsa Mosque is in this age. We must not give up our responsibility in defending Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. This is a sacred issue to fight for. We should not, under any circumstances, give up our role in that regard."
"The Jews dreamed of establishing a state (in the land of Palestine) and managed to achieve that dream. That being so, we at least must not give up hope that one day we will again have Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem under our control. We should not lose hope of that at all, even if we see surrender embodied everywhere in our status quo."
Of course, astute observers will notice that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is under Muslim control, and with that responsibility Muslims have barred other religions from sharing any part of the Temple Mount. They have also not only denied Jewish history there but done their best to destroy the archaeological record there.
In fact, Jerusalem isn't mentioned in the Koran, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque wasn't built until Muhammed was long gone. Qaradhawi's interpretation (the conventional interpretation it should be pointed out) is a political one, dictated by Islam's expansionist political proclivities.
Nevertheless, whether based on strictly true history or not, Muslim spiritual beliefs should be respected. It would be nice if they reciprocated.
Miss Kelly comments:
Is this really a spiritual issue for American Muslims, who controls Jerusalem? Imagine where Palestinians could be if they spent one-tenth of the energy that they spend on trying to destroy Israel and spent it on building a civil society? They might get somewhere. But, no, they'd rather that their kids learn about Scud missiles and blowing themselves up. With encouragement from Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi and the Muslim American Society.
