Al-Azhar International Declaration in Support of Jerusalem

 

In fain of Al-Azhar's intellectual and spiritual leadership in the Arab and Muslim worlds as well as the trust and appreciation Al-Azhar has by various Christian authorities and the free and wise people everywhere, and in deliver of the religious and human responsibility Al-Azhar has assumed since 11 centuries rich with glories and firm stands,  Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in cooperation with the Muslim Council of Elders under the auspices of the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and in the presence of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, held “Al-Azhar International Conference in Support of Jerusalem” at Al-Azhar Conference Center, Cairo. The Conference had discussions with intellectual, religious, and political leaders and advocates of peace from 86 countries from different continents worldwide to reach new techniques and mechanisms with a view to supporting of the identity of Jerusalem, keeping the dignity of Palestinians, protecting their land, preserving the Arab character of Jerusalem and its spiritual identity, and resisting the Zionist arrogance that challenges international decisions and  provokes  feelings of humanity worldwide, particularly the feelings of four billions of Muslim and Christian populations of the world. The Conference defies the decisions of the American administration after its assured bias to the usurping Zionist entity has become obvious.

Over the two-day Conference (Rabee‘ ul-ˀĀkhar 29-Jumada al-Ula 1, 1439 AH/January 17-18, 2018 CE) and after holding various sessions, discussions and workshops, the participants agreed to issue “Al-Azhar International Declaration in Support of Jerusalem” including the following points:   

First: The Conference affirms Al-Azhar Document issued on November 20, 2011 stressing the Arab Character of Jerusalem as an Islamic and Christian sacred place over history. 

Second: Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the independent Palestinian country. There should be a serious work for the official declaration and the international recognition of it and accepting its membership in all international organizations and bodies. Jerusalem is not just an occupied land or a national Palestinian cause, or even a national Arab cause, but much bigger than this—it is a sacred Islamic and Christian shrine and an Islamic and Christian religious cause. As Muslims and Christians work to liberate Jerusalem from the Zionist occupation, they aim at affirming its sacredness and call upon the human community to end this Zionist occupation.

Third: The Arab Character of Jerusalem is a stated historic and unchangeable fact over thousands of years. The international Zionist attempts to deny or ignore this fact, and remove it from the minds of Arabs and Muslims will never succeed. It is a fact that dates back 50 centuries ago the Jebusites built Jerusalem four thousand years before Christ, i.e. 27 centuries before the appearance of Judaism, which began with Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him). Also, the Hebrew presence in Jerusalem remained for only 415 years at the reign of Prophets David and Solomon in the tenth century before Christ. It was a passing, yet limited presence, after 30 centuries of the establishment of this Arab city. 

Fourth: The decisive rejection of the American Administration’ recent decisions, which all Arabs and Muslims along with all free people everywhere see them nothing but dead letters on a paper. These decisions are totally rejected; they lack legal, historical, and moral legitimacy which calls upon this usurping entity to end occupation according to the UN decisions in this regard. The Conference, with the support of all Arabs, Muslims, and free people worldwide, warns that this decision, if not withdrawn, will feed violent extremism and spread it around the world.

Fifth: The necessity of directing all official and public potentials whether Arabic or international (Muslim, Christian, and Jewish) to end this usurping Zionist occupation of the Arab land of Palestine.  

Sixth: The Conference calls upon governments of the Muslim world, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations, and civil society organizations to act quickly and seriously to stop the implementation of the American administration’s decision and to create a global public opinion against these unjust policies that go against human rights and freedoms.

Seventh: The Conference supports the Palestinian people in their steadfastness and supports their uprising against these unjust and arrogant decisions regarding the Palestinian cause, Jerusalem, and al-Aqsa Mosque. It also commends the public cohesion between Muslims and Christians of Jerusalem and their united stand against these unjust decisions and policies. Form this Conference, we assert that we stand with them and will not fail them till the liberation of Jerusalem.  

Eighth: The Conference praises the strong uprising of the Arab and Muslim peoples as well as the free people around the world against this decision, and invites those peoples to continue their action to force the American administration to withdraw its decision that opposes the international legitimacy. The Conference also commends the stand of the EU and the countries that refused the American decision and supported the Palestinian people.

Ninth: The Conference supports Al-Azhar initiative to develop a curriculum on Jerusalem for the University and Pre-University educational stages to keep the flame of Jerusalem cause in hearts of young people, and to enroot it in minds. It calls upon officials in the educational institutions in the Arab and Muslim countries and upon all countries of the world and the organizations and institutions to adopt such initiative. 

Tenth: The Conference calls upon wise Jews to take a lesson from history that witnessed the oppression they suffered everywhere except under the Muslim civilization. It calls upon them to expose the Zionist practices that contradict the teachings of Prophet Moses that never called for killing, displacement, usurping others’ rights, violating their sanctities, or taking their lands.

Eleventh: The Conference approves Al-Azhar proposal to make this year—2018, the Year of Jerusalem. It calls all peoples with their different authorities, institutions, and organizations to adopt this initiative to serve Jerusalem cause with its all dimensions. 

Twelfth: The Conference urges all international bodies and organizations to protect the legal status of Jerusalem, affirm its identity, and take all necessary measures to protect the Palestinian people, especially the steadfast Jerusalemites, support the development of their resources, and prevent all practices that deprive them of their basic human rights or prevent them from practicing their religious rites, in order to ensure the continuity of their existence in Jerusalem. The Conference urges political decision-makers in the Arab and Muslim worlds to support all the recommendations set out in this declaration, without taking any detrimental action to the Palestinian cause or helping normalization with the occupying usurping entity.

Thirtieth: Forming a joint committee from the most prominent figures and bodies participating in this Conference to follow up the implementation of these recommendations and continue efforts in support of the Palestinian cause, especially the Jerusalem cause and promote it in all regional and international forums.

Lastly, the Lord of Jerusalem will defend and support it, and will give it victory, Allah willing!

May Allah’s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be with you!

 

Al-Azhar Conference Center

Jumada I 28, 1439 AH/January 18, 2018

Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar