According to the Public Relations report of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, on the occasion of the arrival of Quds Day, a meeting titled "The Place of the Holy Quds and the Responsibility of the Followers of Divine Religions in the Face of the Recent Crimes of the Zionist Regime in Gaza" was attended by a large number of researchers and influential cultural and religious figures and pro-Palestinian activists were held in the Cultural Center hall of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Manila.

 

The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran and then, Abdolmajid Abolghasemi, the Cultural Counselor of the Islamic Republic in Manila, stated: Quds or Jerusalem was the first Qiblah towards which Muslims prayed during the first fourteen years of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) mission. Also, this place is important because the Prophet of Islam visited it during his ascension to heaven.

He added:

"سبْحان الّذی أسْرى بعبْده لیْلاً مّن الْمسْجد الْحرام إلى الْمسْجد الأقْصى الّذی بارکْنا حوْله لنریه منْ آیاتنا إنّه هو السّمیع البصیر"

"In the Holy Quran, in Surah Al-Isra, verse 1, it is stated: 'Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.'"

 

Jerusalem; The city of the prophets

Abolghasemi continued: Quds is the place where God's prophets walked and the place where the angels descended, it is sacred for the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This land, which is precious to billions of people around the world, has been gruesomely exposed to Israeli evil since the 1940s, committing the worst unspeakable crimes against Palestinians with impunity and desecration.

Our country's Cultural Counselor in Manila stated: Imam Khomeini (RA), the leader of the Islamic Revolution and the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, considered the true nature of Israel and the dangers it poses to the surrounding Muslim countries as well as to all the people of the world. For this reason, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan was named Quds Day so that Muslims and people all over the world remember the hardships of the Palestinians on this day and unite to shorten the hand of the Israeli government and its supporters.

 

 

 

He emphasized that as followers of Abrahamic religions, it is obligatory for all of us to find ways to understand this issue and its impact on our beliefs. Providing a detailed understanding of the importance of this holy land in relation to the Abrahamic faith and awareness of the responsibility of the followers of these three religions in this matter.

 

Governments should hear the voice of oppression of the people of Gaza

Referring to the philosophy of fasting and the holy month of Ramadan, Esmaeil Zadeh, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Philippines, said: The Prophet of Islam called the month of Ramadan the Spring of the Qur'an and said that reading one verse of the Qur'an in this month is equivalent to finishing the entire Holy Qur'an in other months. God willing, all Muslims and brothers and sisters will pay a lot of attention to reciting the Quran in this holy month.

 

He continued: One of the philosophies of fasting in Ramadan is to pay attention to the oppressed people. The last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan is known as Quds Day. This international day is to draw the attention of the people of the world, especially Muslims, so that they do not forget that this land has been occupied by the Zionist occupation regime for more than 75 years.

 

 

Esmaeil Zadeh pointed out: In the recent developments in occupied Palestine, especially the Gaza Strip, unfortunately, the indifference and lack of attention of some Muslim governments, as well as the support of the oppressive Western powers to the Zionist regime, has caused the Israeli regime to ignore international law and ignore international calls for an end to the attacks on Gaza.

Professor Jolkipli Wadi, the head of UP University's Institute of Islamic Studies, was also one of the other speakers of the meeting, who discussed the fate of Palestine and the crimes of the Zionist regime.

 

He stated: Israel's actions include illegal settlement construction in Jerusalem (Al-Quds), West Bank and Gaza, which violates international laws and UN resolutions. The attempt to burn Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969 led to global Muslim outrage and the formation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Despite this, Israeli control continued in violation of more UN resolutions, including the controversial move of the US embassy to Jerusalem during the Trump presidency.

 

The head of the Institute of Islamic Studies of UP University said: The goal of the Zionist project is to encircle many areas of the Middle East with continuous military measures of the Islamic world. Criticisms are raised due to the overwhelming power of the supporter of Israel, which makes the attacks perilous.

 

 

 

Unity and solidarity; the most effective weapon against the Zionists.

Najib Tahir, Secretary General of the Philippine Ulama Council, pointed out the importance of celebrating World Quds Day and emphasized: This global day belongs to our brothers and sisters who suffer from Israel's injustice. The only way forward is unity. Unity is the only solution that can effectively end all the problems faced by Muslims around the world.

 

Nasser Abinal, head of the Manila Imamate Center, also mentioned the naming of Al-Quds Day by the great leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini (RA) and said: International Al-Quds Day is a day to show solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people and declare opposition to oppression and oppression is the Zionist regime. From a geopolitical point of view, Quds Day changed the Middle East region and the world for the benefit of all peace-loving people.

 

He expressed: The axis of resistance created by Quds Day includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ansar Allah in Yemen, the Hezbollah movement in Iraq and other resistance groups that are scattered throughout the Middle East, and now it has become a reality that the Islamic religion of peace, justice, it promotes kindness and coexistence with followers of other religions.

 

Abinal added: It is the duty of the people of this world, Muslim or non-Muslim, who believe in God's justice and the Day of Judgment, where all their deeds will be accounted for, to protest, sympathize, and even aid the oppressed Palestinians by calling for a ceasefire and stopping the mass killing of Palestinian women, children, and elderly who seek help. I believe that whatever the Islamic Republic of Iran does to avenge its recent martyrs in Syria will be proportionate to justice.

 

Reverend Eahvilla Maga Cabillas from the Independent Church of the Philippines also raised in this meeting: World Al-Quds Day is the annual protest day of the supporters of Palestine. Quds Day is an event that is held on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the initiative of the great leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979 to support the Palestinians and oppose the Zionist regime.

He said: Abrahamic religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism have common roots in historical Palestine, which is generally known as the holy land.

 

 

Carmen Alviar, director of the Institute of Spirituality in Asia, stated: Quds means the holy city. In Islam, Mecca is the holy city where believers pray five times a day. They believe that Jerusalem is the holiest place after Mecca due to the existence of the Dome of the Rock Mosque.

She emphasized that we are all aware of the recent crimes of the Zionist regime. Gaza, which comes from the Hebrew word "Aza" meaning "strong city", has been conquered many times over the centuries. This is the place where Samson was imprisoned and it was also run by King David. Israel has blockaded Gaza and blocked access to food, water, fuel, electricity, medical equipment and other goods. As a result, people die of hunger and disease.

Alviar continued: With the current situation in Gaza, the followers of divine religions are facing responsibilities and challenges. Their main responsibility is to seek God, communicate with God, and listen to God's message as much as possible. We support them for compassion, empathy and concern for the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, equality, fight against oppression, empowerment, making victims stronger, more self-confidence especially in controlling their lives and demanding their rights.

 

In addition, Mrs. Zainab Javier, a member of the Filipino-Iranian Women's Friendship Association, said about the necessity of establishing social justice of Imam Ali (a.s.) in the society: Palestinians intend to continue resisting the Zionist occupation, and all the resistance forces will come to their aid, because life love for God has destroyed the fear that Satan has created. Peace be upon them

A photo exhibition focusing on Gaza, video clips on the topic of Quds, and a speech by the Supreme Leader regarding the recent developments in Gaza were among the other programs of this meeting.