Facts on Palestine

1. Where is Palestine?
Palestine covers [covered] what we now call Israel, plus the Occupied Territories. It borders Lebanon in the North. Syria and Jordan in the West. Touches Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the South and the Mediterranean Sea in the East.

2. When was the Land of Palestine inhabited?
The city of Jericho was built by Arabs around 10,000 years ago.

3. Who are the Palestinians?
People who can trace their roots, over many centuries, to the land of Palestine – often referred to as the Holy Land.

4. Historical Chronology
3,000 BC – Canaanites were the People of Palestine
2,500 BC – Canaanites around Jerusalem. Jerusalem established by Jebusites a Canaanite tribe.
2,000 BC – Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham [as] migrates to the land of Palestine/Jerusalem.
1842 BC – First mention of Jerusalem discovered in a text [Egyptian].
1,700 – 1,500 BC – The rulers of Egypt called Hyksos invade Jerusalem.
1,350 BC – First mention of Jerusalem as a city state discovered in an Egyptian letter called the Tel Amarna letter.
1,250 BC – Prophet Mussa/Mosses [as] leads his people out of Egypt.
1,200 – A people from Greece called the Philistines occupy the Land of Canaan and most probably Jerusalem and ruled it for only 40 years.
1,200 – 1,020 – Jebusites rule the city of Jerusalem.
1,020 BC – Prophet Daud/David [as] fought a battle with the Philistines, destroyed them and established the Ancient Israel.
965 BC – Prophet Sulayman/Soloman [as] succeds Daud [as] as the King of Israel. 922 BC – After Sulayman's [as] death the Kingdom of Israel was split. Judea with Jerusalem as its capital and Israel destroyed by Babylonians.
926 BC – Egyptian forces occupy Jerusalem. However, the house of David was allowed to flourish under Egyptian rule!
701 BC – Assyrians capture Jerusalem and make the whole of Judea a tributary state.
587 BC – Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon destroys Jerusalem including Sulayman's [as] Temple. All Jews are either killed, exiled or taken prisoners. END OF ISRAEL! Only after 400 years!
538 BC – Persian King Cyrus captures Jerusalem from Babylonians and allows Jews to return as his 'citizens'. The Jews re-built the Temple.
332 BC – Alexandra the Great captures Jerusalem.
301 BC – Break up of Alexandra's kingdom, the Ptolemics of Egypt rule Palestine. 200 BC – Greek/Syrian Seleucids capture and rule Jerusalem.
169 BC – Seleucid King Antochius destroys forbids the practice of Judaism.
167 BC – Macabbean [Jewish] revolt. Hasmonean dynasty founded, Temple restored. 134 BC – Syrians siege Jerusalem. 63 BC – Pompey head of Roman Army captures Jerusalem.
70 AD – Titus the roman General destroys the Temple. Jews totally banished from Jerusalem.
135 AD – Emperor Hadrian captures Jerusalem, re-name it Aelia Capitolina and expels the remaining Jews.
326 AD – Constantine the Roman Emperor became Christian. Christianity became the official religion of the Empire thus began the Christian era of Jerusalem.
614 AD – Persians under Khusroes occupy Jerusalem.
628 AD – Heraclius the Roman Emperor re-occupies Jerusalem.
638 AD – The great Caliph Umar liberates Jerusalem.
1099 – Christian Crusades occupy Jerusalem.
1187 – Sal'lahudeen re-occupies Jerusalem from the Christians.
1229 – Jerusalem ceded by treaty for ten years to Crusaders.
1239 – Muslims regain control.
1243 – Mongols invade Jerusalem.
1517 – Under Muslim Ottoman rule.
9 Dec 1917 – Ottoman surrender to British. Jerusalem & Palestine become British Mandate. 1948 – Al Nakba [The Catastrophe] Britain evacuates and Jews destroy Palestinian villages and the State of Israel is founded.
1948 –1967 – Between 1948 & 1967 Israel controls West Jerusalem and Jordan control East Jerusalem.
1967 – Israel occupies East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

5. How many years did The United Kingdom of Israel last?
For only 98 Years [from 1020 BC to 922 BC]. In 922 it was split into two. Israel, the Northern Kingdom lasted 200 years [922BC to 722BC]. Judea, the Southern Kingdom lasted 336 years [922BC to 586BC].

6. Population of Palestine in 1917?
When the Palestine Problem was created by Britain in 1917, more than 90% of the population of Palestine were Arabs. There were at that time no more than 56,000 Jews in Palestine?

7. Where did the Jews come from?
More than half of the Jews living in Palestine at that time were recent immigrants, who had come to Palestine in the preceding decades in order to escape persecution in Europe. And that less than 5% of the population of Palestine were native Palestinian Jews.

8. Who owned the land?
The Arabs of Palestine at that time owned 97.5% of the land, while Jews (native Palestinians and recent immigrants together) owned only 2.5% of the land?

9. Who sold Jews the land?
During the thirty years of British occupation and rule, the Zionists were able to purchase only 3.5% of the land of Palestine, in spite of the encouragement of the British Government?... And that much of this land was transferred to Zionist bodies by the British Government directly, and was not sold by Arab owners?

10. What was the land ownership in 1947?
When British passed the Palestine Problem to the United Nations in 1947, Zionists owned no more then 6% of the total land area of Palestine?

11. Why did Palestinians reject UN Partition Plan?
Besides the above facts, the General Assembly of the United Nations recommended that a "Jewish State" be established in Palestine. They proposed the Jews should have about 54% of the total area of the country while they only owned 6%.

12. On whose land is Israel established?
Israel illegally occupied (and still occupies) 80.48% of the total land area of Palestinians.

13. When did Israel occupy the Palestinian land?
The territorial expansion took place, for the most part, before 15 May 1948: i.e., before the formal end of the British forces from Palestine, before the entry of Arab armies to protect Palestinian Arabs, and before the Arab-Israeli war? In 1948, 13 towns, 419 villages, and 99 tribal lands were depopulated in order to declare the State of Israel, occupying 78% of Palestine. 85% of Palestinian population "ethnically-cleansed"!

14. The question of refugees?
In 1948, the number of refugees was estimated (by the Conciliation Committee) to be 804,676. In 2000, out of a total (worldwide) Palestinian population of c.8M, some 5M are refugees – the largest number of refugees in the World! Many still live in overcrowded, squalid camps, not only in occupied Israel, but also in neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

15. What is Zionism?
Zionism is claimed to be political expression of Jewish nationalism. Before first World War most Jews were against Zionism and today not all Jews are Zionist. Zionism has become a form of racism and the UN in 1975 ruled "Zionism is a form of racism and radical discrimination," which wants to create Palestine [now Israel] into an exclusive Jewish country.

17. Is Anti Zionism a form of Anti Semitism?
Zionist propaganda likes to equate Anti-Zionism as Anti-Semitism. This is to frighten people to campaign for justice in Palestine. Remember opposition to Zionism is not oppostion to a people [Jews] but to a political philosophy which claims it is impossible for Jews to be integrated into non-Jewish society.

18. What is Intifada?
It literally means "shaking off", and in this context it means to set free from the Israeli oppression. The first intifada started on 8th Dec 1987 when four Palestinian men queuing at a checkpoint into Gaza were crushed to death by an Israeli army transporter. The second Intifada started on 28th Sept 2000 when Sharon with over 2,000 Israeli soldiers desecrated the Al Aqsa Mosque and killed 4 people.

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The talks sparked interest in several topics:
The importance of our 3rd Haram, Masjidul Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock
The lineage of the Prophets (SAW)
Islam after our Nabi (SAW)
Signs of Qiyamah 

Why is Palestine important to Muslims?

From: about.com

The city of Jerusalem is known in Arabic as "Al-Quds" or "Baitul-Maqdis" ("The Noble, Sacred Place").  Jerusalem is perhaps the only city in the world that is considered historically and spiritually significant to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.  Perhaps you are wondering why Jerusalem is considered a holy city in Islam?  Why is this place so important to Muslims?

Jerusalem is known as the land of many prophets, peace be upon them all.   Muslims revere all of the "Biblical" prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus - peace be upon them all.  They all taught the Oneness of God.  One writer describes that "the sanctification of the connection between Mecca and Jerusalem is like a blessed tree, watered by the strivings and yearnings and self-sacrifice of Prophets, saints, soldiers, artisans, women, and people of all walks of life and nationalities who revered Jerusalem as the Holy City of God and as a symbol of human submission to the One Creator" (Nusseibeh, "Monotheism in Two Sacred Sanctuaries").

Jerusalem was the first "Qibla" for Muslims - the place toward which Muslims turned in prayer.  It was many years into the Islamic mission (16 months after the Hijrah), that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was instructed to change the Qibla from Jerusalem to Mecca (Qur'an 2:142-144).  It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad said, "There are only three mosques to which you should embark on a journey: the sacred mosque (Mecca, Saudi Arabia), this mosque of mine (Madinah, Saudi Arabia), and the mosque of Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem)."

It is Jerusalem that Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited during his night journey and ascension (called "Israa and Miraaj").  In one evening, the angel Gabriel miraculously took the Prophet from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to the Furthest Mosque (Al-Aqsa) in Jerusalem.  He was then taken up to the heavens to be shown the signs of God.  The Prophet met with previous prophets and led them in prayer.  He was then taken back to Mecca.  The whole experience (which Muslim commentators take literally and Muslims believe as a miracle) lasted a few hours of a night.  The event of Israa and Miraaj is mentioned in the Qur’an, in the first verse of Chapter 17 entitled 'The Children of Israel.’

"Glory to Allah, Who did take His servant for a journey by night, from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless - in order that We might show him some of Our signs.  For He is the One who hears and knows all things." (17:1)

This night journey further reinforced the link between Mecca and Jerusalem as holy cities, and serves as an example of every Muslim's deep devotion and spiritual connection with Jerusalem.

It is the hope of every Muslim that the Holy Land will be restored to a land of peace.

 

Interesting site: Our Aqsa 

 

Image courtesy of: http://members.tripod.com/islamickids/

Unrest in the Middle East 

BBC News 

The appearance of dajjaal

At present, spy satellites can zoom in on any part of the earth.
Almost everyone carries a mobile, almost all of these have camera's. It is possible for an entity to therefore hear and see what you see and know exactly where you are.
Your IMSE, IMEI, Credit Card numbers and passsport numbers link you to everything you do.
Your websites, search history, web posts, blogs can be mined for information that described you better than you can.

Is all of this a coincidence, or is it part of a plan? Allah is the ultimate planner could it be that this "information age/revolution" is simply leading up to something that we've been warned about? Will dajjaal be handed the seat at the top of the pyramid by his followers?

Some interesting finds:

The name of this is the Information Awareness Office. And the fellow in charge of all this is John Poindexter, one of the convicted felons of the Iran Contra scandal under Ronald Reagan and George Bush the Elder, the then Director of the CIA.

By the way, they have removed the logo/seal of the IAO from the website.

http://web.archive.org/web/20021017111910/http://www.darpa.mil/iao/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Contra_Affair
 

Music in the Masjid

The idea of Music in the masjid would have shocked people just 15 years ago. Sadly, since then, with the advent of mobile phones, this foretold sign has been realized by our generation.

Surah Fatiha

 

"He has let free the two sees meeting together: Between is a Barrier which they do not transgress. Then which of the favors of your lord will you deny." [Al-Rahman 55:19-21]

The reason for nature as it exists is as a reminder and sign to humans of the greatness of its Creator. The study of science can lead you closer to Allah if you remember that fact and if you put remember thank and credit Allah for the amazing  wonders there are for us to discover. Even with all these signs, there will be those whose eyes have been veiled. For them, life is the result of coincidences and a product of chance, may Allah open there eyes.

Here are some of the signs that I've discovered in nature through science:
Solar Eclipses: 
Did you ever wonder why the sun and moon appear to be the same size in the sky even though we know that the sun is orders of magnitude larger than the earth, which in turn is larger than the moon by orders of magnitude. The reason is that the Earth's distance from the Sun is about 400 times the Moon's distance from the Earth. The Sun's diameter is about 400 times the diameter of the Moon. Because these ratios are approximately the same, the sizes of the Sun and the Moon as seen from Earth appear to be approximately the same.

The dark side of the moon:
Why is it that we always see one side of the moon? Is it by coincidence that it takes exactly 29.5 days for the moon to orbit the earth and the same amount of time for it to complete a rotation about its own axis? Or is it like that by Design?

"And He has made subject to you the sun and the moon. Both diligently pursuing their courses. And the night and the day has He also made subject to you." [Al-Ibrahim 14:33]

"It is He who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light of beauty, and measured out stages for it, that you might know the number of years and count of time. Nowise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. Thus does He explain His Signs in detail for those who know." [Al-Yunus 10:5]

"It's not permitted to the sun to catch up the moon nor can night outstrip the day each just swims around in its own orbit." [Al-Yasin 36:40]

Extracts taken from: http://www.albalagh.net/education/Ayat5.shtml

 

"He has let free the two sees meeting together: Between is a Barrier which they do not transgress. Then which of the favors of your lord will you deny." [Al-Rahman 55:19-21]

 
Non-believers call them coincidences, I call them signs...
Solar Eclipses: Did you ever wonder why the sun and moon appear to be the same size in the sky even though we know that the sun is orders of magnitude larger than the earth, which in turn is larger than the moon by orders of magnitude. The reason is that the ratio between the size of the sun relative to the earth to the size of the moon relative to the earth is indirectly proportional to the distance between the sun and the earth relative to the distance between the moon and the earth. It is for this reason that a total eclipse of the sun is possible.

Origin of the Croissaint

"Croissant...This delicious pastry originated in Budapest in 1686, when the Turks were besieging the city. To reach the centre of the town, they dug underground passages. Bakers, working during the night, heard the noise made by the Turks and gave the alarm. The assailants were repulsed and the bakers who had saved the city were granted the privilege of making a special pastry which had to take the form of a crescent in memory of the emblem on the Ottoman flag."
---Larousse Gastronomique, Jenifer Harvey Lang, editor [Crown:New York] 1988 (p. 338) 

From:
http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodbreads.html#croissants

Also see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croissant

Crescent Moon: Symbol of Islam?
The crescent moon and star is an internationally-recognized symbol of the faith of Islam.  The symbol is featured on the flags of several Muslim countries, and is even part of the official emblem for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.  The Christians have the cross, the Jews have the star of David, and the Muslims have the crescent moon, right? What is the history behind the crescent moon symbol?  What does it symbolize or mean?  How and when did it become associated with the faith of Islam?  Is it a valid symbol for the faith?
Courtesy of Tracy Pearson
The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years.  Information on the origins of the symbol are difficult to ascertain, but most sources agree that these ancient celestial symbols were in use by the peoples of Central Asia and Siberia in their worship of sun, moon, and sky gods.  There are also reports that the crescent moon and star were used to represent the Carthaginian goddess Tanit or the Greek goddess Diana. The city of Byzantium (later known as Constantinople and Istanbul) adopted the crescent moon symbol.  According to some reports, they chose it in honor of the goddess Diana.  Others indicate that it dates back to a battle in which the Romans defeated the Goths on the first day of a lunar month.  In any event, the crescent moon was featured on the city's flag even before the birth of Christ. The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol.  During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic armies and caravans flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes.  In later generations, the Muslim leaders continued to use a simple black, white, or green flag with no markings, writing, or symbolism on it. It wasn't until the Ottoman Empire that the crescent moon and star became affiliated with the Muslim world.  When the Turks conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, they adopted the city's existing flag and symbol.  Legend holds that the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman, had a dream in which the crescent moon stretched from one end of the earth to the other.  Taking this as a good omen, he chose to keep the crescent and make it the symbol of his dynasty.  There is speculation that the five points on the star represent the five pillars of Islam, but this is pure conjecture.  The five points were not standard on the Ottoman flags, and as you will see on the following page, it is still not standard on flags used in the Muslim world today. For hundreds of years, the Ottoman Empire ruled over the Muslim world.  After centuries of battle with Christian Europe, it is understandable how the symbols of this empire became linked in people's minds with the faith of Islam as a whole. Based on this history, many Muslims reject using the crescent moon as a symbol of Islam.  The faith of Islam has historically had no symbol, and many refuse to accept what is essentially an ancient pagan icon.  It is certainly not in uniform use among Muslims. from: http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa060401a.htm