Al-Quds International Day means Freedom comes before Peace
On August 16, 1979, on the first Ramadan after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini declared the last Friday of the holy month as Al-Quds Day, a day for solidarity with the oppressed, in particular with the oppressed in Palestine.
© Mohamad Torokman © Reuters
Al-Quds is the Arabic name of Jerusalem, Islam’s third holiest city after Mecca and Medina. International Al-Quds Day is important for Palestinians and the whole world, as Jerusalem is a holy city, a city of three divine faiths.
Al-Quds International Day is held on the last Friday of Ramadan each year. It’s a day when people around the world, Muslims and non-Muslims come together to demonstrate their support for the oppressed in the world, in particular, the oppressed Palestinians who have been living under Israeli occupation for over 60 years. It has been exactly 43 years since the declaration of Al-Quds International Day. This day besides symbolizing the world’s support for the freedom of Palestine, it also contains important messages of Islamic unity, international solidarity, and global anti-imperialism.
On August 16, 1979, on the first Ramadan after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini declared the last Friday of the holy month as Al-Quds Day, a day for solidarity with the oppressed, in particular with the oppressed in Palestine. In an interview on 1st December 1978, two months before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, an American reporter asked Imam Khomeini about his support for the Palestinians. Imam Khomeini replied "We support the oppressed. We support whoever is oppressed wherever they may be, and the Palestinians are oppressed, the Israelis oppress them. For this reason, we support them."
The principal of Al-Quds Day is not to support the Palestinians because they are Muslims or they are Christians or Jews or anything else. The principal is to support those who are oppressed. By suggesting Al-Quds Day, Imam Khomeini awakened the conscience of humanity to the issue of Palestine and made people protest against Israeli oppression. Hence each year, the last Friday of Ramadan witnesses the participation of millions of individuals across the world in massive rallies.
Al-Quds International Day is held on the last Friday of Ramadan each year. It’s a day when people around the world, Muslims and non-Muslims come together to demonstrate their support for the oppressed in the world, in particular, the oppressed Palestinians who have been living under Israeli occupation for over 60 years. It has been exactly 43 years since the declaration of Al-Quds International Day. This day besides symbolizing the world’s support for the freedom of Palestine, it also contains important messages of Islamic unity, international solidarity, and global anti-imperialism.
On August 16, 1979, on the first Ramadan after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini declared the last Friday of the holy month as Al-Quds Day, a day for solidarity with the oppressed, in particular with the oppressed in Palestine. In an interview on 1st December 1978, two months before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, an American reporter asked Imam Khomeini about his support for the Palestinians. Imam Khomeini replied "We support the oppressed. We support whoever is oppressed wherever they may be, and the Palestinians are oppressed, the Israelis oppress them. For this reason, we support them."
The principal of Al-Quds Day is not to support the Palestinians because they are Muslims or they are Christians or Jews or anything else. The principal is to support those who are oppressed. By suggesting Al-Quds Day, Imam Khomeini awakened the conscience of humanity to the issue of Palestine and made people protest against Israeli oppression. Hence each year, the last Friday of Ramadan witnesses the participation of millions of individuals across the world in massive rallies.
