Clerics at a gathering in Turkey say defending Al-Aqsa and standing with Gaza is a religious obligation, not a political choice

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Prominent Islamic scholars, religious leaders, and hundreds of worshippers have called on Muslims worldwide to break their silence over the suffering in Gaza and the continued occupation of Jerusalem, stressing that the issue goes beyond politics and strikes at the heart of Islam itself.

The call was made during a large gathering in Diyarbakır, held as part of Global Al-Quds Week, where scholars condemned Israel’s actions in Jerusalem and Gaza, describing them as systematic oppression and occupation rather than a mutual conflict. The rally, organised by the Union of Scholars and Madrasas (İTTİHADUL ULEMA), took place outside the historic Grand Mosque after Friday prayers.

Speakers reminded the crowd that Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis) holds a central place in Islam. They described Al-Aqsa Mosque as Islam’s first qibla and the site of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi‘raj). Any violation of the mosque, they said, is an attack on the collective faith and conscience of the Muslim Ummah.

In a statement read at the event, the organisers said Jerusalem is a sacred trust passed down through the prophets—from Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all). They warned that remaining silent while Al-Aqsa is threatened amounts to abandoning a divine responsibility.

“The hand that touches Al-Aqsa touches the heart of the Ummah,” the statement declared. “Today, that heart bleeds under occupation, humiliation, and silence.”

Addressing the gathering, İTTİHADUL ULEMA spokesperson Molla Remzi Uçar said the crisis in Gaza and Jerusalem is a test of Muslim faith and unity. He warned that silence in the face of injustice contradicts Islamic teachings and makes the Ummah morally complicit.

Drawing from Islamic history, Uçar urged Muslims to remain steadfast, saying true liberation comes through faith, unity, sacrifice, and commitment to justice—not empty slogans. He added that Muslims must hold firmly to the way of the Prophet if they hope to see Jerusalem freed.

Another senior scholar, Molla Nazım Şimşek, described Jerusalem as a moral compass for humanity and not just a disputed territory. He rejected narratives that frame the situation as a balanced conflict, pointing instead to illegal settlements, forced evictions, restrictions on worship at Al-Aqsa, and violence against civilians as clear signs of occupation.

Turning to Gaza, Şimşek described the enclave as an open-air prison where millions face hunger, destroyed hospitals, lack of medicine, and constant bombardment. He said the suffering of Gaza and the threats to Al-Aqsa are inseparable, both representing a single injustice against Islam and humanity.

Quoting the Qur’an and prophetic teachings, he reminded the audience that oppression is never permanent and that Allah is Just. He criticised Muslim-majority governments for failing to move beyond words to concrete action, urging sustained political, economic, and moral pressure to end the occupation.

The rally ended with prayers for Palestine and a renewed call for Muslims worldwide to keep Gaza and Jerusalem at the centre of their religious, moral, and political consciousness.

Source: Ilkah