Palestinian Authority Mufti Of Jerusalem Sheikh Muhammad Hussein In Event Honoring The 'Martyrs' Of Gaza And Jerusalem: Martyrdom Is A Badge Of Honor That Allah Bestows Upon Those He Chooses

Palestinian Authority Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Muhammad Hussein said that martyrdom is a badge of honor that Allah bestows upon those whom He has chosen. Sheikh Hussein made these remarks in a speech he delivered in a Ramallah event in honor of the "martyrs" of Gaza and Jerusalem, which aired on Palestine TV on May 25, 2021. Mufti Hussein quoted verses from the Quran extolling martyrdom and said that martyrs receive a life of honor in the Hereafter and an enormous legacy in this world. On May 21, Mufti Hussein's Friday sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque was interrupted by angry worshippers, who chanted: "The dogs of the PA get out!" and accused him of being a spy (see MEMRI TV clip no 8864).

Muhammad Hussein: "A man is proud of a badge of honor bestowed upon him by a head of state or the head of an organization. He is proud and he says: 'a badge of honor was bestowed upon me by this or that leader, or by this or that commander or by this or that organization.' This man, who was honored by people – regardless of how high the status or rank of those people – does not know that there is One who bestows an exceptional badge of honor, a special badge of honor – a badge of honor from the Lord of humanity in its entirety. This badge of honor is praised and respected in this world, and those upon whom it was bestowed are honored in the Hereafter as well. I am talking about the badge of honor of martyrdom, martyrdom for the sake of Truth, for the sake of Allah, for the sake of rights, and for the sake of defending the homeland and honor from the attacks of attackers and the oppression of oppressors. It is the badge of honor of martyrdom that Allah bestows upon those whom He chose from among his righteous creatures. Martyrs are chosen by the Lord, and they merit this divine badge of honor.

"Therefore, Allah said [in the Quran] about them and about this badge of honor: 'do not say about those who were killed for the sake of Allah that they are dead. Rather, they are alive, but you do not perceive.' In another verse [Allah] said, 'think not of those who were killed for the sake of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord and they are well-provided.' This is a life of honor in the hereafter and an enormous legacy in this world."