His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi, the Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, accompanied by a blessed group of scholars, issued a call to the Islamic Ummah, the people of Palestine, and the defenders of Al-Aqsa through an international scholars’ stand launched from the headquarters of the Union on Monday, entitled "The Call of the Scholars of the Ummah to Ward off the Danger from Al-Aqsa."

Al-Qaradaghi called for protecting Al-Aqsa from the occupying Zionists who seek to demolish and eliminate it and uproot the Palestinian people without acknowledging their existence.

Al-Qaradaghi affirmed that the scholars of the Ummah issue a fatwa (religious edict) that obliges defending Al-Aqsa by all legitimate and legal means available, such as "I’tikaf" (spiritual seclusion in the mosque) with the intention of guarding and engaging in Jihad in the cause of Allah, and confronting the aggression of the occupying Zionists with all possible means when they – God forbid – invade the Prophet’s sanctuary.

Al-Qaradaghi also pointed out that the scholars of the Ummah salute their brothers in the Palestinian people, especially the defenders of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The following is the text of Sheikh Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi’s speech:

We address this call on behalf of the scholars of the Ummah to our Islamic Ummah, our people in Palestine, and to the defenders of Al-Aqsa.

O our Islamic Ummah – leaders, peoples, scholars, and thinkers – we call upon you to protect Al-Aqsa, and you know that the occupying Zionists have left nothing. They want to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and eliminate it, and they also want to uproot the Palestinian people so that they do not acknowledge their existence. What remains for us to have room for bargaining?

Therefore:

Firstly, the scholars of the Ummah issue a fatwa that obliges defending and protecting Al-Aqsa by all legitimate and legal means available. One of the crucial means for our people is "I’tikaf," whereby anyone who is able should perform spiritual seclusion in Al-Aqsa Mosque to protect it 24/7 during this blessed month. This I’tikaf should be done with the intention of guarding and engaging in Jihad in the cause of Allah, and confronting the aggression of the occupying Zionists with all possible means if they – God forbid – invade the Prophet’s sanctuary.

While the scholars of the Ummah salute the defenders of Al-Aqsa Mosque, they also call on them to enforce I’tikaf by all available means if they are prevented from entering the Prophet’s sanctuary.

Secondly, we call upon our Islamic Ummah, all preachers, and all ministers of religious affairs in our Islamic world to make the upcoming Friday (the third Friday of Ramadan) "a day of support and a day of anger for Al-Aqsa Mosque" at the level of the Islamic Ummah. The whole world must witness this support and anger for the Prophet’s sanctuary through peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins, and all available means in every country according to its capabilities.

Thirdly, as we call upon our Ummah to protect Al-Aqsa, and we call upon our Palestinian people to protect it directly and enforce I’tikaf, we salute all of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, and we especially salute the defenders of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

May Allah guide and protect them from the schemes of these occupying Zionists, and may He grant us all success and honor in liberating Al-Aqsa. This is a matter that concerns all Muslims because it is related to our faith and identity. Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa are the identity of the Ummah and part of its faith.

Doha, Ramadan 12, 1444H

Corresponding to April 3, 2023