Egyptian scholar Dr. 'Atiyya 'Adlan, a member of the International Union of Muslim Clerics (IUMS), which is backed by Qatar and Turkey, published an article on the union's website in which he praised Kahairi 'Alqam, the perpetrator of the January 27, 2023 shooting in Jerusalem in which seven Israeli civilians were killed. 'Adlan, who was the head of the Egyptian Salafi party Al-Islah during the Muslim Brotherhood rule in Egypt, congratulated 'Alqam for becoming a martyr and congratulated the 72 virgins who would marry him in Paradise. 'Alqam is not a terrorist but "a hero who presented a model of Palestinian resistance and of resistance against any occupation," he stated, and added that the Islamic nation needs many more like him.
'Adlan also slammed the Arab and Muslim countries that had condemned the shooting and called it an act of terror against civilians. The Israeli "settlers", he wrote, "who came from all over the world to settle on Muslim land under the protection of an army," are not innocent civilians, and neither their lives nor their property are protected according to the Islamic shari'a. He concluded by stressing that the Quran explicitly calls to wage jihad for the sake of Allah and by urging the Muslims to support the jihad fighters.
'Atiyya 'Adlan (image: Iumsonline.org)
The following are translated excerpts from his article: [1]
"Who are the terrorists and who are the innocent civilians?... The media mouthpieces and the loud political mouths of the Zionist entity howled and moaned, as usual, and started applying cheap [terms] with abandon, calling the Palestinian resistance 'terrorism'! Since political whoring is one of their entrenched characteristics, they defined the usurping settlers as innocent civilians… The truth is that I am not surprised by this impudence or by [the conduct of] the pro-Zionist politicians in the West, which is hostile to Islam and the Muslims. But I was bewildered by the Arab and Islamic countries that condemned [the shooting], calling it terrorism and describing it as cruel aggression against civilians.
"Is this terror? Are these civilians?! What innocent civilians are you talking about? Those who were brought from all over the world to settle on Muslim land under the protection of an army – are they innocent civilians? Are those who stole the land and expelled its residents innocent civilians? [Are you claiming that] the usurping occupiers who are attacking the sanctities [of Islam] are innocent civilians, while those who are justly defending their rights are terrorists and extremists? What yardstick are you applying? Have you forgotten that [even] getting the Israelis to withdraw to the 1967 borders is an unattainable dream, although a return to the 1948 borders is the very least [the Palestinians] are entitled to, and a basic principle of justice? Have you forgotten that every settlement is built upon the ruins of Palestinian ancestral homes[?]…
"The residents of the settlements are not civilians, for they came to our country to occupy the land and the holy places, and without them the occupation could not advance even a single step. They did not come as asylum seekers… fleeing oppression, poverty or perdition. They were motivated by faith in the Zionists' state and support for their enterprise. They are combatants, even if they are unarmed and have never killed so much as a goat. They are soldiers even if they are not in uniform. They are soldiers and officers even if they wear no ranks or ribbons on their shoulders. Therefore, according to the Islamic shari'a, none of them are protected from being killed or having their property damaged, and there is no big difference between targeting them and targeting an Israeli soldier.
"It is not our custom to kill civilians. We are Muslims, and [killing civilians] is the way of the jahili [i.e., infidel] cultures, including the modern ones. The civilians killed by the armies of the Western cultures number in the tens of millions. As for Islam and the Muslims, they certainly do not [behave in this manner]. However, Islam – which urges [the believers] to wage jihad for the sake of Allah… and sternly warns against killing non-combatants – does not ascribe importance to civilians who, without a doubt, are [actually] combatants…
"Khairi 'Alqam [who carried out the Jerusalem shooting] was no terrorist. He was a hero who presented a model of Palestinian resistance and of resistance to any occupation and aggression against Muslim land. This 'lone wolf' entered the history of glorious victories by its widest gate, and the Islamic nations sorely need many like him who will teach the occupiers a deterring lesson and cause them defeat and bereavement…
"Bless [Khairi 'Alqam] for his martyrdom; bless the 70 members of his family for whom he will advocate on Judgement Day; and bless the 72 virgins who will have the honor of marrying him in Paradise…
"The most serious problem facing the Palestinian cause is the present situation, in which many Muslims are losing their awareness to the point of getting things backwards. We must make an effort and adhere to the explicit [Quranic verses] in order to strengthen the basic principles… Oh Muslims, the Book of Allah is before us, and it calls – explicitly, loudly and resoundingly – to wage jihad for the sake of Allah in order to make Allah's Word supreme. If we have not yet understood the vital importance of jihad in defense of the world's holiest land, what will we do about Allah's words [in Quran 9:29]: 'Fight against those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islam] from those who were given the Scripture [i.e., the Jews and Christians] - [fight them] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.'
"By Allah, we shall fulfill our duty of [endorsing] the right of our brothers, the jihad fighters, to defend their lives and property by supporting them, praying for them and helping them. Otherwise, where is our loyalty to [our fellow] believers?..."
[1] Iumsonline.org, February 2, 2023.
