Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The issue of visiting Jerusalem started two years ago when Dr. Muhammad Sayyid Tantāwī, former Grand Imām, called Muslims to go to Jerusalem and visit al-Aqsá in order to support Palestinians. This fatwá aroused many debates among religious and political circles who insisted that such a visit is considered a sort of neutralization of Israel and an admission of the Israeli state. The same idea is beginning again. However, it is Dr. Taysīr al-Tamīmī, Supreme Judge of Palestine and preacher of al-Aqsá, who renewed it. He called all Muslims to go to Jerusalem in an attempt to support Palestinians and face the Israeli scheme of “Judiazing” Palestine. Al-Tamīmī differentiated between visiting Jerusalem to pray in al-Aqsá and visiting it with an Israeli visa in order to do business deals. He added that the later is what is considered neutralization with Israel.

 

Muslim scholars differ in their opinions concerning this issue. Some of them think that visiting Jerusalem stresses Muslims' rights in Jerusalem and that by going to Palestine, Muslims would manage to provide the psychological support to Palestinians and the connection between Muslims and Jerusalem before the entire world. Others, like Dr. Yūsuf al-Qaradāwī, Dr. Ahmad ‘Umar Hāshim and Dr. Aminah Nusayr believe that visiting Jerusalem is admitting the supremacy of the Israeli occupation and a call for neutralization.

 

In addition, Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyib, the Grand Imām, totally rejected the idea of going to Jerusalem especially because it requires an Israeli visa. However, Dr. Mahmūd Hamdī Zaqzūq, Minister of Islamic Awqāf, continues to call all Muslims to go to Jerusalem. Dr. ‘Alī Jumu‘ah concluded that all Muslims should follow al-Tayyib’s opinion, asserting that it is not a suitable time to visit Jerusalem since it would be considered as supporting Israeli occupation.

 

 Pope Shenouda issued a decision to prevent Christians in Egypt from visiting Jerusalem for pilgrimage before the Palestinian issue is solved.