قُلۡ یٰۤاَهْلَ الۡکِتٰبِ تَعَالَوۡا اِلٰی کَلِمَۃٍ سَوَآءٍۢ بَیۡنَنَا وَبَیۡنَکُمۡ اَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ اِلَّا اللّٰہَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِہٖ شَیۡئًا وَّلَا یَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا اَرۡبَابًا مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ
“Say, ‘O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you — that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for Lords beside Allah.’ But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we have submitted to God.’” (The Holy Quran, 3:65)
The Israel-Palestine conflict is not a new one. The hostility and bloodshed that we see today dates back even before the formation of the Jewish State of Israel in 1948. This formation of a separate state for the Jews became the vision of Zionists living in Europe in the early 1900s. This vision came to fruition through the the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which was proposed by the British, leading to hundreds of thousands of Jews migrating back to Palestine after World War II. This declaration is considered one of the main reasons that spurred the Nakba or the mass-displacement of Palestinians following the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 in which the new state of Israel defeated the Arab opposition. The following decades were riddled with persistent violence, oppression, and rancor between the two sides. With no solution in sight, long-lasting peace seems to have now been put far out of reach.
The Israel-Palestine crisis has been an intensely debated issue in recent years. However, after the October 7th attacks, this debate has exploded to another level. With the heavy media coverage and the plethora of public figures speaking out about the issue, it is difficult to uncover the truth at times. In a world where “fake news” is pervasive, it is important to set aside one’s biases and perceptions in order to analyze the issue with logic, facts, and sound judgment. In this regard, the view of the Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyya offers a very fair-minded perspective, encompassing both an insightful review of the root causes of the issue and a plea for true justice in the world.
Although this conflict did not begin in the time of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), the Zionist vision for a new Jewish homeland was gaining traction. As the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) was sent to fulfill the mission of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) (who was raised among the Arab nation), he also had great love and a desire for the guidance of all Arabs. He states in his book, Hamamatul-Bushra:
وإن ربي قد بشّرني في العرب، وألهمَني أن أمونهم وأُريهم طريقهم وأُصلح لھم شؤونهم، و ستجدوني في هذا الأمر إن شاء اللّٰه من الفائزين۔
“My Lord has given me the glad-tiding in relation to the Arabs and has revealed to me that I convey to them the truth, show them the right path, and correct their affairs, and Insha’Allah you will find me successful in this task.” (Hamamatul-Bushra, Ruhani Khazain Volume 7, p. 182)
It is evident how this divine prophecy has been fulfilled through both the works of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and his successors for both the guidance and betterment of the Arab world.
Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, Khalifatul-Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him), was foretold by God in a vision about a possible threat for the Muslim world in 1946, two years before the establishment of Israel. He published this vision in Al-Fazl under the title “Al-Inzar.” Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) urged unity among Muslims, stressing the need to set aside differences in order to confront the impending challenge. He specifically called on the Jamaat to pray for the Muslim world during his Friday Sermon on August 30, 1946.
When the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 broke out, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote “Al-Kufru Millatun Wahidah,” a detailed exposition explaining the political ties to the formation of Israel and calling for the unity of all Muslims. This article was published in Al-Fazl on May 21, 1948. Huzoor (may Allah be pleased with him) began the article by stating, “The day which was prophesied by the Holy Quran and the Ahadith hundreds of years ago; the day which was prophesied in the Torah and Gospels; the day which was told tbe painful and dangerous for the Muslims has seemingly arrived. Jews are being inhabited in Palestine.” He went on to explain how Russia and the United States have always been staunch enemies yet they are in agreement on the Palestine and Kashmir issues. It seems that they have united against Muslims due to their fear of the progress of Islam. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) then said, “While the issue of Kashmir is extremely important for Pakistan, the issue of Palestine is extremely important for all Muslims. Any injustice committed against Kashmir indirectly impacts the Muslims, but an injustice committed against Palestine has a direct impact.” Huzoor (may Allah be pleased with him) also delved into the history of the Jewish tribes in relation with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the Muslims. The Jews repeatedly broke their oaths and showed themselves to be treacherous, deceitful, and conniving. On the other hand, the Arab enemies of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) still showed honor and decency in spite of their disbelief. Highlighting the urgent need for the entire Muslim world to unite against the opposition of the western powers, Huzoor (may Allah be pleased with him) stated, “It is patently obvious both that the Arabs are not strong enough and that it does not affect only the Arabs. This is not a question of Palestine; it is a question of Madinah. This is not a question of Jerusalem; it is a question of Makkah itself. This is not a question of a Zaid or a Bakr but rather a question of the honour of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).” Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) then made an appeal for financial sacrifice from every Muslim for the cause of Islam so that enough funds may be raised to mediate the conflict. Towards the end of the article, Huzoor (may Allah be pleased with him) stated, “I draw the attention of the Muslims to understand the sensitivity of this time and remember that today, the saying of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘Al-Kufru Millatun Wahidah’ is being manifested to the letter.” This treatise had a tremendous impact on the entire Arab world as the Arabic translation was widely published in many different newspapers, including Al-Yaum, Al-Akhbar, Al-Nasr and Al-Urdan. Its summary was also aired in Syrian radio stations.
As the tensions between the Arabs and Israelis had escalated during the Khilafat of Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (may Allah have mercy upon him), he continued to echo the same message as his predecessor in calling for unity of the Muslim world. In his Friday Sermon on July 24, 1981, he prompted all Muslims to pray for the Muslim ummah with a prayer revealed to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). “Pray fervently for the reformation of the Muslim Ummah. Rabbi Aslih Ummata Muhammadin. ‘My Lord, reform the Ummah of Muhammadsa.’ So, pray a lot that Allah the Almighty takes away these worries from the Muslim Ummah, and that He makes such means by which the Muslim world can follow the paths of guidance revealed in the Quran, in order to attain the love of God; and that they are able to stop actions which displease God and incur his wrath.”
The fourth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (may Allah have mercy upon him) was elected on June 10, 1982. It is worthy of note that the first ever message he sent to his community was a heartfelt one in which he urged all Ahmadis to pray for the Palestinians being oppressed by the Israeli government. This message was published in Al-Fazl on June 13, 1982. He states: “There is such a wound in our hearts, which gets deeper and more painful by the day. Our hearts continue to bleed with every passing moment. Here, I am talking about the extremely inhumane atrocities being carried out against the Muslim world at the hands of Israel […] I would like to bring to the attention of every Ahmadi—man, woman, old and young—to supplicate with great fervor, that Allah may have mercy on every person who is associated with our Master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).”
Throughout his Khilafat, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (may Allah have mercy upon him) consistently spoke out against the injustices perpetrated by Israel against Palestine. In response to ongoing accusations labeling the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat as agents of Israel, he delivered two comprehensive sermons on March 8 and March 15, 1985, in which he refuted such claims by highlighting the Jamaat’s efforts in support of the Palestinian cause. Both sermons have been translated into English and published in book form. The sermon on March 8, 1985 is titled, “Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Independence of Kashmir and Palestine” and the sermon on March 15, 1985 is titled, “Ahmadiyyah Muslim Jamaat and the Palestinian Muslims”. In his sermon on March 8, 1985, Huzoor (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated, “As far as Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya’s loyalty to the interest of Islam and the Palestinian Muslims is concerned, it is not a hidden fact or a matter of recent times. By the Grace of Allah, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya had a deep connection with the Islamic interests of Palestine, even since the time when you did not sense the gravity of the issue and did not even know the true circumstances of Palestine […] Khulafa of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya cautioned the Muslims of Palestine from every danger, and kept them aware, and would present Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya for every possible help for them.”
In his Friday Sermon on January 11, 1991, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (may Allah have mercy upon him) directed Ahmadis to pray for the guidance of the Muslim world. He emphasized the importance of Muslim nations prioritizing the collective interests of the ummah over their own interests. He also warned that without resolving internal conflicts, peace in the region would remain elusive, allowing Israel to grow stronger and rendering the Arab Muslim powers incapable of opposing it.
The constant guidance and sincere warnings for the state of the world comprised in the sermons and addresses of Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper), cannot go unnoticed. Just as his predecessors did, the current Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has time and time again stressed the dire need for unity within the Muslim ummah. Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) has also openly condemned the injustices perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people on more than one occasion.
In his Friday Sermon on November 23, 2012, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) said, “[…] Israel’s attack on the Palestinians is due to the differences and disunity among the Muslims. There is no Islamic country where all moral values are not being violated due to the religious or political differences, or where horrific stories of oppression against each other are not being created. As a result, in one way or another, we are witnessing oppression against each other […] It is my desire that Muslims come to their senses and be united.”
On July 25, 2014, amidst escalating violence against Palestinians in Gaza, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) categorically denounced the oppression and provided a thorough analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He again spoke upon the lack of unity between Muslim countries, pointing out the turmoil between different nations on a larger scale and the discord between citizens and ruling governments on a smaller scale. Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) said that it was this lack of solidarity which emboldened the non-Muslim powers to carry out an array of different cruelties targeting the Palestinian people.
During his Eid-ul-Fitr Sermon of May 14, 2021, Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) once again advocated for the rights of the Palestinian people and enjoined all of his followers to pray for them, a stance that was significant and commendable given the silence of Muslim leadership around the world. He stated, “Certainly, Muslim countries should come together and play their role to protect the Palestinians and other Muslims who are being oppressed in the world. However, the Muslim world is divided and there is a complete lack of unity amongst the Muslim nations. Certainly, in this instance, the Muslim countries have failed to show the reaction they ought to have. They have given weak statements, whereas if they had all come together and given a united statement, it would have had a far greater impact and carried much more weight.”
As the conflict has intensified to extreme levels with the attacks on October 7, 2023, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) has made an appeal for prayers for Israel, Palestine, and the state of the world as a whole in nearly every sermon dating back to these attacks. In his sermon on October 13, 2023, he stated: “The world is saying, and certain evidence also shows, that Hamas initiated this war and is guilty of killing Israeli civilians indiscriminately. Despite the fact that the Israeli army has previously killed many innocent Palestinians in this manner, Muslims however must still act according to the teachings of Islam. The Israeli army is responsible for their own actions, and other methods could have been adopted to resolve the issue. If a war is warranted, then it can be fought between armies, not with women, children and the innocent. Thus, the actions of Hamas were wrong; it has caused far greater harm than any benefit. Nonetheless, the response to all that has happened and the war should have remained limited to Hamas and that, in reality, is what would constitute true bravery and courage. However, now the actions being taken by the Israeli government are also very dangerous. It seems as if there is no end to this situation. The innumerable amount of innocent lives of women and children that will be lost is unfathomable. The Israeli government claimed that they would completely raze Gaza to the ground, and for this they have dropped many bombs. They have reduced the city to rubble.”
Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) has continued to underline the major problems stemming from this global crisis. Aside from reiterating the same message addressing the lack of unity in the Muslim world, he has condemned the actions of Hamas and has also stated that retaliation on the part of Israel has exceeded all bounds as they justify killing scores of innocent Palestinian women and children by saying that they are targeting Hamas.
Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) has openly criticized the lack of true justice in the world as well as the inability of western powers like the United States to act in ending the violence. He has expressed great disappointment in the mere lip-service voiced by world organizations such as the United Nations and has made it clear that leaders of the western world who are calling for an end to the cruelties executed by Israel are doing so solely to benefit their own political interests or public relations. Furthermore, he has rebuked the absence of courage among the Muslim nations and has advised all Ahmadis to speak out against the ongoing oppression and inhumanity.
In essence, the Khulafa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have spoken out about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at great length. They have not only denounced the injustices perpetrated by Israel and the disregard of the western world in stopping these atrocities, but have also called out the dissension among Muslim nations. With the heated debates and polarizing narratives surrounding this crisis, the guidance offered by the Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyya stands out by both being a beacon of unity for the Muslim world and by showing unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people. From the visionary insights of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) to the stalwart leadership of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper), the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to accentuate the importance of justice, unity, and compassion in addressing the complexities of this conflict. These principles remain crucial as the world continues to grapple with finding a path towards enduring peace and reconciliation.
