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In a Pashtu-language booklet, the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP) argues that Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as Jerusalem and its surrounding areas have a holy status according to Quranic teachings and, vowing to liberate Jerusalem, declares: "We are coming from Khurasan [i.e., Afghanistan]."
The 21-page booklet, titled "Palestine Is An Issue Of Faith For Muslims" and written by an unnamed author, is published by The Al-Azaim Media Foundation, a media outlet linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS).
The booklet's cover features a jihadi fighter, with his back to the camera, looking at Al-Aqsa Mosque, over which an ISIS flag flies. Arabic text on the cover reads: "We are coming from Khurasan." The booklet has no table of contents, and rather resembles a single speech or essay.
After a few customary religious words, it starts: "The issue of Palestine is not only an issue that the Palestinians will fight for – it is a religious issue for all Muslims, from which the apostates caught in the trap of secularism are turning away under one excuse and pretext or another, considering it an internal issue. And this issue cannot be resolved by Hamas and other similar apostate militias of the United States and Iran – this issue can only be resolved through jihad, which does not have a nation, homeland, or borders, but only faith of monotheism."
The booklet says Palestine is part of the Levant (i.e., Syria) and the Quran refers to it as a Holy land, and the land of prophets. It says that the offspring of those prophets will defend it and liberate it from Jews and Christians. The booklet says that the land of Palestine was the field of "Dawah [preaching, invitation]" for the Sahaba (Companions of Muhammad), who traveled there to preach Islam. It mentions the names of a dozen Sahaba and some prophets who went, lived, or died there.
The booklet quotes from Muhammad, who said that the Levant is a favored land of Allah and ordered his companions to go there to live. It cites Quranic verses about Al-Aqsa Mosque describing the virtues of this place, adding that Allah said in the Quran that He had blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding areas. There is a reference to the account of Miraj, also known as the Night Journey of Muhammad, during which Muslims believe he traveled in one night from Mecca to Al-Aqsa Mosque and from there to the heavens.
The author says: "Invading Al-Aqsa Mosque and the land of Syria, which the Jews and Christians have done repeatedly throughout the history, is trespassing on our religion and sanctuaries. And Al-Aqsa Mosque is still under the occupation of the Jews. Muslims fought bloody wars against Jews and Christians in history to free this holy land from the control of the unbelievers."
The writer also notes the conquering of Al-Quds by Umar ibn Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam and also for the second time by Saladdin. He adds: "More recently, based on a joint conspiracy between the Jews and the Christians, Palestine was divided between the Arabs and the Jews in 1947 AD, and then in 1948 the Jews announced the rise of Israel and the war between the Arabs and the Israelis started. As a result, Israel occupied about 70 percent of the land of Palestine, and in 1967, it captured the City of Jerusalem, which is still in the hands of the Jews."
As final words, the author says: "What a pity it is for the so-called rulers of Islam today! It is a pity that today the Islamic Emirate is claiming that it defeated the United States and 42 countries!" In reference to the Israeli attacks in Gaza, he laments that "today the children of Muslims are drowned in their own blood" while the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) are engaged in sports and leisure. It tells them: "You also know that you have officially confessed and signed the belief of blasphemy of patriotism with the Americans. All these are the winds of secularism, which are running in the Islamic Emirate."
In the last sentence, while addressing the people of Palestine, the booklet declares: "Your voice will be heard only by the mujahideen of the Islamic State, and they will carry out attacks in the hearts of Israel just for your revenge, Allah willing."
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