The Holy International Quds Day: the Day of Islam
The last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan is marked worldwide as the International Al-Quds Day. Every year, Muslims from across the world commemorate this day and stage rallies in support of Palestinians, calling for the liberation of Beit-ul-Moqaddas from the yoke of the Zionist regime.
Imam Khomeini, the architect of Islamic Revolution, raised the idea of observing the International Quds Day one year after the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Ever since, on this day, Muslims and even non-Muslims rally in defense of the rights of Palestinians. Since the early years of the occupation of Beit-ul-Moqaddas, Palestinians, other Muslims and the freedom-seeking people have joined the drive for confronting Israel and supporting Palestine.
Inception
With the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Muslim Iranian nation, especially after Imam Khomeini’s historical message about marking the International Quds Day, prioritized the issue of liberating Palestine from Zionist occupiers.
In his historical message, Imam Khomeini said, “Throughout the years, I have warned Muslims about the threats posed by the Israeli occupying regime … I want all Muslims of the world and Islamic governments to join hands to confront this occupier and its supporters. I hereby invite Muslims worldwide to observe the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, which is one of the grand nights and which can also determine the fate of Palestinians, as the International Quds Day and in a ceremony declare the global solidarity of Muslims in upholding the legitimate rights of Muslim people.”
By declaring the International Quds Day, Imam Khomeini cautioned all Muslims, irrespective of their sects, nationalities and languages, about confronting Israel and defending the rights of oppressed Palestinians as their Islamic duty.“Supporting the Zionist regime is tantamount to betraying Islam,” he said.
The International Quds Day also highlights the Islamic and spiritual aspects of the Palestinian dilemma. In other words, the Palestinian problem is not limited to the occupation of just land, but rather it is the symbolic confrontation of world arrogant powers with the Muslim world.
Imam Khomeini understood this issue and put forth the notion of International Quds Day to attract the attention of Muslim world vis-à-vis the significance of the Palestinian cause.
Muslim Duty
Before Imam Khomeini raised this issue, the entire Muslim world had distanced itself from the Palestinian issue and Imam Khomeini actually convinced Muslims worldwide to uphold this issue by proposing the concept of International Quds Day.
In fact, the participation of each and every Muslim in the International Quds Day rallies is indicative of the opposition of Muslims to the machinations of world arrogant powers and their support for the oppressed worldwide and those who struggle for the establishment of freedom and justice-seeking Islamic ideals.
It should not be doubted that Muslim unity, especially under the present circumstances, is an undeniable exigency. And the Palestinian cause is key to forging Muslim solidarity.
At present, the International Quds Day is viewed from a different angle, as every right-minded person believes the negligence of Palestinian liberation, at the heart of the Muslim world, can strike a strong blow to the Muslim Ummah. Hence, it is the duty of all Muslims worldwide to commemorate this great day, which today marks the global drive to confront all oppressors.
At a time when Israel threatens the entire Middle East and Muslim territories, unity over the Palestinian issue and confronting Israel’s aggressive and expansionist nature will enhance the glory of Islam and Muslims.
Today, the International Quds Day is more important than in the past, as waves of Islamic awakening are sweeping over the Middle East. All Muslims of the world are hopeful that in the wake of regional uprisings and the collapse of regional dictators, Beit-ul-Moqadas will soon be liberated from the occupation of Zionists and Palestinian refugees can return to their motherland.
