Jerusalem, Trump and Deliberate Deceptions

  As Donald Trump won the American presidential elections, Heiko Maas, the German Federal minister of Justice and Consumer Protection noted: “Die Welt wird nicht untergehen, sie wird nur noch verrückter” (The world is not going to vanish, but it will get crazier). As Trump’s administration acknowledged Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6, 2017, one could easily discern that there is profound wisdom in Maas’ evaluation, at least in the long run.

The world will get crazier as this announcement deliberately and grossly distorts history.  Some refer to ‘the natural, historic right of the Israelis in Palestine’ as a justification for the occupation of Palestine, the expulsion of thousands of Palestinian people, the destruction and depopulations of hundreds of villages and the ongoing establishment of settlements since 1948, the year which marks the Palestinian Nakbah or Catastrophe. In the reference work All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948, edited by Walid Khalidi, you find a detailed description of more than 400 Palestinian villages that were destroyed or depopulated by Israel in 1948. Names of these villages are removed from contemporary Israeli maps, yet, these names are engraved in the hearts of those Palestinian refugees and their families as their real homes that once they were evicted from due to the massacres, fear and panic incited by the Zionists. For instance, the Israeli historian Shlomo Sand admits that Tel Aviv University lies on part of what was once known as the village of Shaykh Muwannis.[1] Furthermore, immigration waves of European Jews who own no inch in Palestine were subsequently facilitated to replace the Palestinians and to change the demography of the country by force.

Currently, many Israeli historians dare to speak out, refuting and exposing many of the myths of Zionism, such as Ilan Pappé in his The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Ilan Pappé belongs to the movement of New Historians who challenge the traditional versions of Israeli history. This movement includes Benny Morris, Avi Shlaim , Tom Segev, Simha Flapan, and Shlomo Sand. Many American Jewish leaders spoke against Zionism; such as Alfred M. Lilienthal and Elmer Berger, the executive director of the American Council for Judaism (1942:1955), and professor Norman Gary Finkelstein.

Historically, the existence of Palestine is pre-biblical. The Jews were not the original inhabitants of Palestine. “The early inhabitants were semi-nomadic tribes, but about the 20th century B.C. the Canaanites began to settle in the plains and on the coast. They built villages and towns and developed their own culture. In the Bible the country is called ‘the land of Canaan’ (Numbers 34:1, 35:10) or the ‘the country of the Canaanites’ (Exodus 3:17).”[2] So the city was founded around two thousand years before Abraham. That is why Genesis 23 explains that when Sarah, Abraham’s wife, died at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven in the land of Canaan, Abraham addressed the people of Canaan: “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead” (Genesis 23:4) NIV.

So the Israelis were not the original inhabitants of Palestine and would be later invaders, for a relatively small period, in a long list of other invaders. “The Hebrew period of rule started only in 1020 B.C. and lasted until 587 B.C. The Israelites were then overrun by Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Egyptians, and Syrians until the Hebrew Maccabeans regained partial rule in 164 B.C. However, in 63 B.C. the Roman Empire conquered Jerusalem and in 70 A.D. destroyed the Second Temple and scattered the Jews into other lands. In sum, ancient Jews controlled Palestine or some major parts of it for less than six hundred years in the five-thousand-year period of Palestine’s recorded history—less than Canaanites, Egyptians, Muslims, or Romans. The U.S. King-Crane Commission concluded in 1919 that a claim “based on an occupation of two thousand years ago can hardly be seriously considered.”[3]

Politically speaking, to single out the Israelis, who ruled for a relatively small period of time, and say they are the real inhabitants of the land is nothing but religious fundamentalism. Historically, Muslims ruled the land for more than 1000 years. Worse still, the expulsion of the native Palestinians and the destruction and depopulations of their villages, based on Zionistic claims, is nothing but a heinous form of extremism. Bringing in religious claims of ownership does not help either, since Muslims have firm religious beliefs regarding Jerusalem.

Religiously speaking, Islam belongs to the Abrahamic tradition, and Muslims honor Abraham as their forefather and believe in all of God’s prophets as belonging to a long line of one same primordial Islam. Furthermore, Islam considers Jerusalem as a sacred sanctuary, with its Aqsa Mosque as the third holiest place after the two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina. That is why Umar ibn al-Khattab (d. 644) recognized this fact and liberated this sacred place from the Roman Empire. In The Pilgrimage of Arculfus in the Holy Land (around the year 670 A.D.), Arculfus described Muslims’ place of worship as four-sided house of worship that can accommodate three thousand men at once.[4] So the Muslim place of worship was constructed long before Abd al-Malik Ibn Marwan (d. 705) of the Umayyad period. Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together since then. At that time, the city had predominant Christian population, however “[m]any of the indigenous inhabitants were converted to Islam and, as a result, ‘the predominantly Christian population became predominantly Muslim.”[5]

Socially speaking, as illustrated by Richard W. Bulliet in his Conversion to Islam in the Medieval Period, conversion to Islam was a social process. As a matter of fact, it took several centuries for Muslims to be the majority in lands like Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Interestingly, Muslims remained as a minority in other places, like India, in spite of ruling it for around 1000 years. Compare that with the Spanish Inquisition that expelled all Jews and Muslims from their homes. In Palestine, Muslims did not expel people from their homes or allow immigration waves to change the demography of the land. Muslims in Palestine are mainly the descendants of the native Palestinians. The Jewish population has always been there, getting along with their Arab and Muslim neighbors.

So it is a myth that there had always been an Arab-Jewish conflict in the region. After their expulsion from Spain by virtue of the Alhambra Decree issued by King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain in1492, many Jews were lucky to immigrate to Turkey, and they were welcomed by Sultan Bayezid II who ridiculed the idea of the Spanish expulsion and under whose reign the Jews enjoyed complete peace. Other Jews immigrated to Egypt as in the case of Moses Maimonides who is considered to be the greatest Jewish philosopher of all times and his genius is a witness for the golden age of the Muslim civilization that held high the torch of knowledge for all. Some other Jews immigrated to North Africa and Italy. The Alhambra Decree was officially overturned on December 16, 1968, at the Second Vatican Council!

However, relations started to change with the Balfour Declaration that will eventually lead to the creation of Israel to help the Jewish minority unjustly control most of the country. “At the time of the Balfour Declaration (1917) the Jews represented less than 10 per cent of the total population of Palestine. After the end of the First World War and following the Balfour Declaration, there was a wave of Zionist Jewish immigration into Palestine. The Palestine census in 1922 gave their number as 83,794 out of a total population of 757,182.”[6]

The world will get crazier as we see many evangelicals and Zionist zealots praising Trump to the hilt and celebrating his decision as a fulfillment of a biblical prophecy, an attitude that changes the whole issue from its political realm into a religious fanatic conflict. Trump’s use of the phrase ‘Israel and the Palestinians’ in his announcement is very alarming. If this is to be read literally, it goes in line with a very dark religious ideology that considers the Palestinians as foreign to their own land and Palestine as non-existent. Are contemporary political rights determined by biblical promises? This question is left for Trump’s administration and advisors to answer if the impetus behind the Jerusalem decision is a religious one, and especially when it is very hard for political analysts to identify any US national interest in this sensitive issue in an already embattled region.

It is important to remember that many Orthodox Jews do not believe in Zionism at all as part of their belief system. For instance, Neturei Karta (Lit. the Guardians of the City) was founded in 1938 with their motto Jews United Against Zionism. This organization sees itself as representing the real Jews (Haredi Jews) and opposes Zionism as they believe that the Jews are forbidden to have their own state until the coming of the Jewish Messiah. Similarly, Moshe Menuhin (1893–1983) gave a thought-provoking reassessment of Zionist history in his The Decadence of Judaism in Our Time. Discussing the Jewish arguments against Zionism goes beyond the scope of this brief article.

The world will get crazier as this announcement could be clearly interpreted as a change in the US role in the peace process from ‘an honest broker’ into a partner in inflecting more sufferings on the Palestinian people. The world sees Trump’s decision as counterproductive and a clear violation of the international law that considers at least East Jerusalem as corpus separatum or an occupied territory with a special status that rejects Israel’s attempts to settle its citizens there. Acknowledging Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and then expressing a willingness to be committed to the peace process is nothing but a provocative statement.

It goes without saying that the Muslim world is now suffering from weak, divided regimes and that most of these regimes do not actually represent their people; therefore, Trump’s decision is not about courage since he estimates that some of the official backlash may be containable, no matter how dire and worldwide it appears. Accordingly, Trump’s incendiary decision is unethically founded on the financial threats to cut off foreign aids to his opponents and the political divisions and domestic conflicts in the Arab world. In the long run, however, the decision seems to be delusional in establishing permanent peace and stability since it fails to take into consideration the power of the masses whose opinion is highly critical yet despairingly ignored. If Trump’s administration sees the occupation as a reality, the Reality is that Jerusalem resides in the hearts of 1.8 billion Muslims.

A picture known as ‘Jamal al-Mahamel’ that became an icon which symbolizes the Palestinian struggle, painted by Sulayman Mansur, a renowned Palestinian artist

The world will get crazier because states are not to be founded by ‘announcements’ that distort history and deny people their basic human rights as free citizens. If power makes injustice right in the world of politics, history reveals that, in the world of truth, justice will always prevail, no matter how many decades or centuries it may take. History shows that this same Jerusalem was attacked and occupied by the medieval European crusaders for around two hundred years and eventually gained its freedom at the hands of Saladin who revived the weak, divided Ummah of his time. History shows that the Muslim Ummah could get sick, but it never dies. Many Muslim countries were destroyed by the Mongols in 1258, and in around thirty seven years the grandson of Hulegu became a Muslim named ‘Mahmud Ghazan’ in 1295. History is to be measured by centuries, not just the few years we are witnessing.

The purpose of evoking history here is two-fold. First, I want to emphasize that lasting and real peace, which we all aspire, can never be achieved by unilateral, unjust decision like that of Trump. Second, one of the greatest weapons Muslims, Arabs and free people worldwide have now is to keep having great hope for freedom, to keep denying Trump’s decision as meaningless and unjust and to keep telling the Palestinian story.

Politics aside, al-Quds has always been in the heart of each Muslim and will always remain as such. We pray that God would cleanse all hearts from ignorance, envy, and hatred and that justice would prevail, and peace would spread. Ameen.

[1] Shlomo Sand, The Invention of the Land of Israel, Verso, 2012, p. 260

[2] Henry Cattan, Palestine, The Arabs & Israel, p. 3

[3] Paul Findley, Deliberate Deceptions, p. 4

[4] See The Pilgrimage of Arculfus in the Holy Land, London: [publisher not identified], 1895. pp. 4-5,

[5] Henry Cattan, Palestine, The Arabs & Israel, p. 4

[6] Ibid., p. 7

By Sh. Ahmed Arafat

How to Revive Your Prayer, Part Five

Improve Your Mental Preparation

What is the part that, if missed, will turn your prayer into a series of mumbled words and machine-like movements? Definitely, it is Munajah (intimate conversation with Allah U) that I covered in the first part of this series on reviving our prayers. For this Munajah to be present and effective, a Muslim must be mentally ready for Salah. Just remember the last important interview you had. You must have prepared yourself well by conducting basic interview research: the dress code, direction to the office, learning about the institution on line …etc. Of course, Allah Uis beyond all comparison. So, if you really think of Salah as a great blessing to communicate with Allah U, you should be gratefully prepared.  

            In his al-Fawaid, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim observes: “There are two times when a servant stands before Allah: in Salah and on the Day of Judgment. Whoever takes care of the first standing, the second will be easy for him; whoever neglects the first standing, the second will be hard for him.” Here are quick tips that will help us improve our mental preparation. 

1-      Start with an Undivided Mind.

            Afterpreparing some food for the family members, one of my relatives said “Let us pray first and then eat without any interruptions!” She did not want any Salah thoughts while eating. She wanted to enjoy eating with a clear mind. In response, I said: “Let us eat first and then pray without any interruptions!” To be less distracted during Salah and to strengthen our focus on Salah, the prophet rtaught us to start our prayer with an undivided mind.

            Ibn Umar tnarrated that the prophet rsaid: “When the dinner is being served, and the time for a prayer becomes due, start with the dinner and do not be hasty” (Bukhari & Muslim). That is why, whenever he feels hungry and the food is ready, Ibn Umar tused to start with eating even if he can hear the Imam’s recitation. We should also note that if a person is a little hungry and knows that hunger will not be a distraction, he or she should start with the prayer. ‘Amr ibn Umayyah tnarrated that he saw the prophet using a knife to cut a piece of meat from a cooked sheep shoulder. As the prayer was called, the prophet rput down the meat and the knife and went for offering the prayer” (Bukhari & Muslim).

            Similarly, the prophet rtaught us not to start Salah while we feel that we need to use the bathroom. Instead of praying while you resist the urge to urinate or defecate, you should relieve yourself first. ‘Aiesha said that she heard the prophet rsaying: “No ritual prayer is to be offered when the food is being served or when a person resists “al-akhbathayn” the urge to urinate or defecate.”

2-      Dress Well

Wearing clean and neat clothes indicates that Salah is a special meeting and that you are taking it seriously. This is not a prerequisite for the prayer; however, dressing well is a great mental preparation for Salah. The Quran commands: “O Children of Adam, wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters” (7:31). In accordance with this verse, Tamim al-Dari tbought an expensive garment for Salah

3-      Smell Nice and Subtle

            Smelling well could influence your brain activity. Many scents refresh the mind, create a sense of alertness, boost attentiveness, produce a sense of optimism, fight mental fatigue, improve focus and stimulate clear thinking. It is interesting to note that smelling nice was part of traits of the prophet’s personality. Anas ibn Malik tnarrated: “I have never smelt any musk or amber better than the fragrance of the prophet r” (Reported by Muslim). Umm Salamah also narrated that the prophet rused to wear musk and apply it to the face and hands whenever he performs the wudu. The Sahabah followed this Sunnah very closely. Ibn Mas’ud twas known for his nice smell, and before his prayers he liked two things: “good fragrance and neat clothes.” Similarly, people used to figure out if Ibn Abbas twalked through a street on account of his good smell!

            It is equally important to avoid wearing anything with an overpowering smell since that could be a distraction in Salah. Obviously, one must stay away from anything that produces bad smell. In a clear-cut direction, the prophet rinstructed us: “Let those who ate onions or garlic keep away from our mosque since the angels are harmed by whatever harms humans” (Bukhari & Muslim).

4-      Avoid the Causes of the Hardness of the Heart

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim observed: “Four things, when excessively done, will lead to the hardness of the heart: eating, sleeping, talking and mingling with others.” Have you ever prayed after you overate or overslept? Have you ever prayed after having a long “unnecessary” conversation with somebody? No doubt, this was not the best Salah. Let us discuss the negative effects of overeating, oversleeping and excessive, unnecessary conversations before Salah.

A)    For good focus on Salah, do not eat till you are 100% full. The prophet rsuggested that you may be 66% full! Al-Miqdad ibn Ma’d Yakrib tsaid: I heard the prophet saying: “There is no vessel which the son of Adam can fill that is more evil than his stomach, for it is enough for him to take a few bites in order to straighten his back. Yet if he is overcome by appetite, then he may fill it with a third of food, a third of drink, and a third of breath.”

B)    Besides the medical problems of oversleeping, those who oversleep may feel more tired. This feeling is not a good preparation for Salah.

C)    Try to avoid long conversations before Salah as much as you can. If necessary before Salah, limit your conversations to good causes or important matters. The Quran reads: “In most of their secret talks there is no good except for one who exhorts [others] to a deed of charity or justice or conciliation between people. Whoever does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give a reward of the highest (value)” (4:114). Generally speaking, the prophet rtaught us: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him or her say good or be silent.”

5-      Have few moments of contemplation before the first Takbirah.

Some people may start their Salah after a long conversation with others or even laughing or shouting, and suddenly they find themselves praying! Always have at least few moments of silence to prepare your heart and mind. To bring in Khushu’ before you start your prayer, have few seconds to think of one of the following:

A)    Remember a sin you committed and a blessing Allah Ubestowed on you. This will generate a sense of haya’ and humility that makes you look down humbly.

B)    Imagine that this prayer might be the last one for you to offer. In this way, you will try your best to perfect it.

C)    Imagine the glory and greatness of Allah’s creation (e.g. we have more than 150 billion galaxies!) and how small you are. In spite of how small we look, Allah Uhonored us; therefore, feel proud that you are one of His servants.

D)    Think about how short this life is and how eternal the afterlife is. Just 100 years ago, no one alive now was there, and in 100 years, no one who is alive now will be there. This is how short this life is.

6-      Do not start your prayer with a lie!

One of the most effective ways to maintain your focus in Salah is to recognize the meaning of Allahu Akbar through which we start our prayer. Allahu Akbar literally means “God is greater.” Greater than what? Greater than anything you can imagine. Therefore, when you start your prayer with Allahu Akbar, you are basically saying Allah is greater than my money, my school, my work …etc. That is why, Imam al-Ghazali warned: “Make sure that you do not start your prayer with a lie!” It is also interesting to notice that the sentence Allahu Akbar signals most of the movements during the Salah. In other words, “Allah is Greater” serves as a constant reminder that it is shameful to think of anything other than Allah while you are in His presence. In this way, the frequently repeated Allahu Akbar can help us regain our focus if we lost it.

7-      Prepare your Quranic recitations.

Instead of reciting the same exact short Surahs in every prayer, try to memorize a variety of Surahs, short Quranic passages or even single verses. If you can only memorize one verse, here are some suggestions for inspiring verses: (2:186), (2:281), (3:8), (4:135), (16:277), (16:281), (17:23), (24:30), (29:69), (39:53), (41:30), (41:34), (49:10), (49:12), (49:13), and (50:16). 

8–      Prepare personal Du’aas.

When you include personal prayers in your Salah for yourself, your family and your Ummah, your Salah will be transformed from being a dead format into a real personal relation. The best part in Salah for personal prayers is during Sujud (prostration). The prophet rtaught us: “Nothing brings the servant closer to Allah more than Sujud; so, offer frequent prayers or supplications” (Reported by Muslim). Practically speaking, prepare your Du’aas and pray earnestly and sincerely.

9-      Allow Enough Time.

When you pray on time, you have a better chance for concentration. Think of the last time you offered a prayer few minutes before the next prayer was due? Think of the last time you had to combine two prayers without a valid excuse? So, for better focus during Salah, allow enough time. Of course, the best option, in this regard, is join the Jama’ah or congregation prayer in the masjid.

10-  Observe the Sunnah Dhikr during the day.

The more you focus on Allah Uoutside Salah, the easier you can focus on Him during Salah. Observing the many Dhikr the prophet taught us throughout the day will help a Muslim develop an undivided heart that is set on Allah Uis willing to surrender to Him completely. Wallahu A’lam

By Sh. Ahmed Arafat