The Palestinian Authority-appointed grand mufti of Jerusalem, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, issued a religious ruling forbidding the sale of property in Jerusalem to Jews on April 12, which just so happened to be on Holocaust Memorial Day. This ruling is saturated with anti-Semitism and racism that has the makings of incitement to violence and murder.
The ruling stated that "it is forbidden under Shariah law to concede or facilitate the transfer of ownership of Palestine over to enemies, which includes Jerusalem as land allocated for Islamic endowment, because it is part and parcel of public Islamic assets. Giving ownership of Islamic territory or part of them to enemies is invalid and treasonous."
Furthermore, Hussein ruled that "whoever sells his land to our enemies or takes compensation for it is a sinner, as he helps them by removing Muslims from their homes. Allah, the most high, lumps together those who remove Muslims from their homes and those assisting in this with those who fight Muslims because of their faith."
Hussein referred to Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine, stressing that U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel is invalid and illegitimate. He stressed that "Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque are Islamic endowments until Judgment Day. It's impossible to sell, deliver or bequeath them because no one has the right to give them up."
"Relinquishing Jerusalem, part of it or part of Al-Aqsa mosque to the enemy is like relinquishing Mecca and its Great Mosque, or Medina and its Prophet's Mosque to our enemies." These cities and mosques are considered by Muslims to first and second in holiness, respectively, followed by Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.
The mufti did not say that the ban is specific to Jews but it was clear he was referring to us when he specified that Israel stole "Palestine," expelled its residents from their homes, looted their property and committed, he claimed, the most heinous crimes in the holy places.
The religious ruling is reminiscent of a previous religious ruling issued by another mufti before the State of Israel was even founded. This mufti was the war criminal Haj Amin al-Husseini, who collaborated with the Nazis before and during World War II. He tried, with much success, to inflame the Arabs in Palestine, incite them against the Jews and stop them from selling their properties and lands.
Al-Husseini ruled that giving ownership to Zionists over Palestinian soil would necessarily bring about the erasure of Islamic symbols and the extinguishing of the light of Islam and the Arabs in the Holy Land. He ruled that selling any portion of Palestinian land to Zionists was treason to Allah and his prophet and to all the Muslims, and helped evict Muslims from their homes. Selling one's lands, he said, was akin to selling parts of Al-Aqsa mosque. The person who did this should be ostracized religiously and deprived of burial rights in a Muslim cemetery.
"We must not befriend them," he said. "They are the enemy – beware of them, even if they are your parents, sons, brothers, husbands or wives. The sale of land, from just a little bit to much more than that, is aiding and abetting and sales speculation. Just speaking, providing agency or taking a neutral position on this issue is treason of the highest degree against Allah, his messenger and the believers."
Al-Husseini's reputation grew because he was perceived to be a protector of Arab lands against the Jews. These two people, Al-Husseini then and Hussein today, chose to use propaganda and fearmongering. Both determined that any seller of lands in Jerusalem to Jews deserved to die and not enjoy the afterlife. They based their rulings on the Quran and Hadiths, which are orally passed down records of the Prophet Muhammad's life. For believers, the religious authority the two muftis have adds legitimacy to their messages.
The question is why has the Palestinian Authority mufti's scandalous ruling not resonated in Israeli media? Additionally, why are people not working to expose Palestinian attempts to threaten and attack Jerusalem residents' economic freedom? Why does Israel not expose the true face of the Palestinians before the leaders of the world? Is it possible that we have become complacent to Palestinian anti-Semitism and racism against us?
