At the begging of his speech, Ali Qaradaghi thanked İTTİHADÜL ULUMA for organizing the meeting that brought together Islamic Scholars from all parts of the Islamic World.

“Today, Masjid al-Aqsa needs the support of Islamic scholars more than it needs politicians’ support,” Qaradaghi underlined.

Stating that it is not possible to liberate Al Aqsa Mosque just by talking about it, Qaradaghi said: “We firstly need to liberate the Ummah as Saladin did.”

“Today, the war that was launched against Islam and Muslims are not targeting only a group or ethnicity. The war in Palestine is not only against a nation or a party but also against all Islamic World. The wars in East Turkistan, India and other corners of the world are against Islam. There are important responsibilities that fallen on our shoulders in the face of cultural and military occupations. Islamic scholars have to take the lead of the Ummah. Islamic Scholars are covered in this command of Allah ‘Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you’.  That is to say, Islamic Scholars are among ‘those charged with authority among you’. We, as Islamic scholars, are the leader of the Ummah. We have to be their leaders. The Ummah have to obey Islamic scholars and to follow in their footsteps. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said that “the scholars are my heirs”. This heirship is not a worldly one. To be an heir for the prophet is to lead the Ummah both in jihad and in the act of inviting or calling people to embrace Islam. Divine revelation was completed but Islamic scholars continue to follow the path of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). Because only Islamic Scholars can properly comprehend what Allah has revealed,” Qaradaghi said.

“We, as Islamic Scholars, should have solutions and projects”

Noting that there are few scholars that embrace the genuine Islamic perspectives, Ali Qaradaghi went on to say: “That's why we have responsibilities. We have to find a remedy for the problems of Muslims. Scholars have duties in terms of ijtihad and innovations. We cannot be content with taking political steps. Today, I think there are deficiencies in the science of Mizan. The science that we call the science of Mizan covers the economic and intellectual fields. We should be able to have an opinion in this area and put forward new ideas. As scholars, we need to have solutions and projects on these issues. We need to have a say in political and economic matters. It should not be left only to the politicians."

Palestine territories and Al Aqsa Mosque

Qaradaghi continued his remarks as follows: “As for Palestinian issue, Islamic Scholars have a great responsibility on the Palestinian issue. Everyone knows the efforts of scholars during the period of Saladin and Nûreddin Mahmud Zengî. Scholars made important contributions to the conquest of Masjid al-Aqsa at that time. Islamic scholars did not use to be financially dependent on politicians then. This is what we need today; The ulama must be independent. There should be independent scholars, not acting under the control of politicians. This was the case during the reign of Saladin and Nûreddin Mahmud Zengî. This was the project that was envisioned in the Nizamiye madrasah. They should be able to lead political issues and produce solutions. We need to come up with steps and solutions for Palestine. It is a responsibility that falls on our shoulders today. We always take steps to liberate Jerusalem from the occupation. Saladin Ayyubi said that ‘We need to remove all illicit hands from mosques. Alhamdulillah, our masjids have been liberated from the occupation today. They are not crushed under the feet of the invaders. Only Masjid al-Aqsa is under occupation. We have to liberate Masjid al-Aqsa. Saladin saved the Masjid al-Aqsa and raised the ummah to its feet. Allah Almighty says, 'If you help the religion of Allah, Allah will help you.’

“We have to fight for Masjid al-Aqsa”

Qaradaghi called on Islamic scholars to be pioneers for Masjid al-Aqsa and Palestine, and attach great importance to the liberation of Jerusalem from the zionist occupation. “Today, Masjid al-Aqsa needs the support of Islamic Scholars more than it needs politicians’ support,” he added.

He concluded his speech as follows: “As Islamic scholars, we need to be in the press sector and direct the press. We are the pioneers of the ummah. I hope the second victory comes again today. Again, we have to fight for Masjid al-Aqsa. We need to dominate the media industry. If the press is with us, we can prevent distortions and lies. We must take action on this matter. it is not possible to liberate Al Aqsa Mosque just by talking about it. In order to free Jerusalem from Zionist occupation, we firstly should liberate the Ummah. If Muslim nations become free, we will be closer to the freedom of Masjid al-Aqsa. Getting closer to something, uniting in one goal brings us closer to the bigger goal. Today, fighting for Palestine is not possible in Syria, Egypt, or Iraq. The wicked plans were hatched against these countries. The foreign actors are against the unification of the Ummah. That's why we need to unite Muslim nations. If something is wajib (an obligatory act, with failure to perform it being sinful in Islamic jurisprudence), the steps to be taken are also wajib. May God bless the organizers of the program.” (ILKHA)