The Importance of Palestine (1)

The Canary hummed,

Sayyeed al-Ra'ees
we are al-Hariboon
we are al-Mub'adoon
we are al-Mudniboon
we are accused because of worship
we are sentenced to extermination because of devotion
we have been silenced for declaring Shahada
Sayyeed al-Ra'ees
Our iftar will be in Al-Quds
the capital of Palestine

Then the clay said, "All Praise is for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. We praise Him and seek His assistance. We ask for His forgiveness and take refuge in Him from the evil within ourselves and from the evil of our deeds. He whom Allah guides will never be diverted yet whomever He sends astray will never find his way, and I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone, He has no partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His servant and messenger. O Rabb, nothing is easy except for what you make easy. And you lighten distress if you wish.
The earth is sometimes happy and sometimes sad, even though it does not have a heart or feelings. Ah! This is one of the mysteries of clay and I do not know how to tell people about it. I am not inclined to talk about myself, but now, I have the desire to do so. Is not a lover allowed to speak about his beloved?
I'm just a simple piece of clay. A handful of clay. I was the princess of clay, even though I was made of clay. I was calm, still and content with my state of being a lump of clay. I do not dream, for clay does not have the ability to do this. Even though I could not dream, I was content. I had a long history before I became earthly clay. I was transformed into rock on a planet they call the earth in a place they call Palestine. I am a part of the mud of Palestine and a part of its land. Look how much I had suffered. Years passed by without being loved."
Canary said, "O Clay, tell us about Palestine!" Clay said, "O my brothers and sisters, every human being has the right to return back to his homeland, and the right of return and ownership of lands and homes is an eternal, individual and collective right that no occupation, state, treaty, agreement can gainsay, as every occupation no matter how long it lasts, and no matter how strong it is, is doomed to extinction. Do you know, the Land of Palestine is very important the Muslims?" Canary said, "So, tell us about it. Who was the first inhabitants of the land?" Clay said, "Nobody know exactly when the land of Palestine was first inhabited and there is no proof allowing a date to be determined. However, initial indications and archaeological remains lead us to believe it was the Natoufiyyun who settled in Palestine in the 10th Century BC. They were a group of tribes whose vestiges speak about them. But does anyone know who they were or where they came from?

According to what the archeological discoveries have revealed, scientists agreed that man lived on the Palestinian land, he is known as man of erect stature. Those ancestors were primarily hunters, who traveled in search of different herds of animals. Worth mentioning that prehistoric man during that period had passed through different development phases, where he began to develop his hunting maneuvers and his tools made of stone. During the third phase of the Stone Age, the thinking man appeared, where the knife made of long blades, constituted the primary tool used in this period. Remnants of that man was discovered inside caves in Palestine, like Al-Amira cave, Irc Al-Ahmar, Al-wad, Kubarah and other places in Negev desert. This phase marks the beginning of human gatherings, that represented a developed social form, despite the fact that such groups remained surviving on hunting and the gathering of provision.
The first known archaeological discoveries in Palestine date back to the Canaanites and the Amorites. These two people were tribes that emigrated from Arabia towards the north and settled in the land of Sham (Syria) and, specifically, in Palestine. This is clearly demonstrated in the history of Palestine and not only the eastern but also the western historians confirm this. Therefore, the initial historical recording about the first inhabitants of Palestine dates back to the Arab Canaanites and the Amorites. As for the Jews, there was no reference to them here. Even more, they first appeared on the scene just several centuries later.

There are numerous Arab tribes from the Arabian Peninsula who emigrated towards the north. There, they dispersed between Syria and Iraq (Mesopotamia). Some of them moved to Egypt. Among them were the Canaanites, who settled in the valleys of Palestine. Others, the Jebusites, established themselves in the Al-Quds area (Jerusalem), before it was built. Other people broke away and settled in the mountains. They were called the Phoenicians and the Amorites. This is how the land of Palestine was divided among these tribes. History books based on archaeological documents and on evident reality mention the names of all these people according to their geographical distribution in the habitat of Palestine.
According to the documented assessments, the famous Canaanites migration from the Arabic Peninsula occurred during the mid-third millennium BC. Though a group of the researchers have deduced that the Canaanites had settled in the country since the beginning of the third millennium, basing their assumption on the Egyptian Archeological discoveries. While others believe that the presence of the Canaanites dates back to seven thousands years ago, and that through tracing the monuments in their ancient cities, the most ancient of which is “Ariha” that stands erect till our day, and which is considered the most ancient city on earth. Although assessments of the precise beginning of the Canaanite presence has oscillated, what is unanimously agreed upon is that they were the first to inhabit this region among the ancient nations that were present at that time, and they were the first to erect on the soil of Palestine a civilization. It was mentioned in the Hebrew writings that Canaanites are the original inhabitants of the country, and it is also mentioned in Torah that they were the Amorite people. One of the most ancient cities that exist till our day is Ariha, Jericho, Asdod, Acco, Gaza, Al-Majdal, Jaffa, Askelan and Bisan. There are also many cities and villages, some of which still remain till our day, and others have perished. The metropolis of Canaan was Shekeem.

The Canaanites were renowned for cultivation and industry, they had excelled in mining, manufacturing of pottery, glass, clothes, and textile. In addition, they excelled in the art of architecture. Music and literature come on the top of the Canaanite’s civilization, where no other Semite population had ever cared for art and music like the Canaanites did, as they had quoted a lot from the music of the different nations, which took of the ancient Near East a home to them. As music constituted one of the worshipping rituals for Canaanites, thus their music rhythms, and instruments had spread all over the region. No one can gainsay that art and literature are the epitome of civilization. Thus there is no wonder when we trace the Israeli writings, we discover the great effort exerted by the Israelis to delude the whole world into thinking that they were the erectors of that grand civilization, and the composers of hymn, songs, and chanting. They had succeeded in making of this falsehood a fact in the eyes of many. But the great trusted historians like “Bristed” described the flourishing Canaanites city when the Hebrews entered it, as a city that contained luxurious and comfortable houses, a city that knew industry, trade, writing, and temples, thus it had a civilization, which the primitive Hebrew shepherds had emulated, hence they deserted their tents, and imitated them in building houses. Moreover, they took off the leather that they used to wear in the desert, to put on colorful wool clothes, and as time lapsed, it became hard to differentiate between the Canaanites and the Hebrews in the outward appearance. Then after the coming of the Palestinians from the seaside, and the Israelis from Jordan, the land of Canaan was split among three nations. Henceforth the Canaanites no longer became the sole masters of the country. Nevertheless, the Canaanite language remained the prevailing one. Since the dawn of recorded history, namely five thousands years ago, till the British mandate in the year 1920, Palestine had known only three languages: Canaanite language in the first place, then Aramean language, which was the language of Prophet Esa, alayhissalam, and thirdly the Arabic language.
According to the archeological discoveries in Egypt and Iraq, the Semites are considered the most ancient known nations, who lived on the Palestinian soil since the fourth millennium BC. They used to inhabit the eastern shore of the Mediterranean sea. As for the religious aspect, the Semites are considered - originally – the tribes descending from Shem, the eldest son of Noah, alayhissalam. What is confirmed, is that the original ancient inhabitants of Palestine were all Arab, who migrated from the Arabic Peninsula following a drought that stroke it. Thus they lived in their new native country “Canaan” for more than two thousands years before the appearance of the Prophet Moses and his followers.

Canary asked, "What is the origin of the name of the land?" Clay said, "The name of Philistine is attributed above all to people who hailed from Mediterranean islands, especially Crete. It seems that the people from these islands suffered from famine or some specific circumstances that forced them to repeatedly attack the coasts of Syria and Egypt. They were first driven back by Ramses III in the famous battle of Luzin that took place in Egypt. Ramses did not want them to settle in Egypt. Following negotiations, they ended up emigrating to Palestine. There, Ramses ordered them to settle in the south, in a region called Baalist. This is recorded in history books and Holy Scriptures, where the name Baalist is mentioned. Hence, the people who lived there belong to the lineage of Albalistiniyyun. The name of Palestine comes from here because it was then known as Baalistine. Over time it changed to Palestine.
However, these people became neighbours not only of the Canaanites but also of the Yabusiyyun (Jebusites) who were the first inhabitants in that region. From there, their languages interchanged and mixed, and they merged with the original people who were also the most numerous and civilized. In time, the Philistines intermarried with the “Canaanites”. This removed distinct signs of their original identities, therefore leaving no historical reference. This information reveals why, up until then, there is not even one single mention of the Jews. Where were they in that epoch ? How did they get to the land of Palestine? All the archaeological documents, history books and Holy Scriptures, in addition to western books, corroborate that the original inhabitants of Palestine were the Canaanites and the Jebusites."

Canary asked, "What is the difference between the Israel and The Jews?" Clay said, "The word “Israel” refers to Prophet Jacob, alayhissalam, who was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Prophet Ibrahim, alayhimussalam, who was the father of this nation. Prophet Ibrahim was born in the city of Ur of Chaldees, he arrived at the land of Canaan around the twentieth or twentieth-one century B.C., after leaving his country along with some members of his family to worship Allah acting upon the Divine Revelations sent down to him, as his clan used to worship idols, while he was monotheist. Haran situated in the eastern north between Euphrates and Khabour, was his first stop, where his father “Tarih” passed away. He then proceeded till he arrived at Shakim (Nablus). Prophet Ibrahim begot his elder son, Ishmael, alayhissalam, grandfather of the Arab, from his wife Hajar, then he had his second son Isaac, from his wife Sarah. Isaac then begot Esau and Jacob. Jacob also was known as Israel, who begot 12 son, by his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and by their handmaidens Bilhah and Zilpah. Judah was his fourth son from his first wife, Leah, was a forebear of the tribe of Judah. There are many opinions about the Jews. Some say that they are one of the tribes of Judah. But other say that they are not, because the kingdom was overrun and destroyed by the Babylonian Empire and the Israelite elites were exiled to Babylon. Other say that they came from a mixture of various tribes, some even from nomadic tribes who embraced Judaism.
In the Quran Surah Al-A'raf [7]:156, the word "Yahud" means, ‘repenting’, just as Moses said, "...indeed, we have hudna to You..." meaning, we repent to You. This indicates that they were first called Yahud, because they repented and, because they were kind to each other. Abu ‘Amr bin Al-'Ala’ said that they were called Yahud, because they swayed when they read the Torah. Allah knows best."

Canary asked, "So, what is the importance of Palestine in Islam?" Clay said, "Among the lands, Allah has chosen Mecca, Medina, and Ash-Sham. In Mecca, there is Ka’ba, in Medina, there is the Prophet’s Masjid, in Ash-Sham, specifically Syria, and from Syria, He chose Bayt ul-Maqdis, and from there another hill and where He decreed that Masjid al-Aqsa be built. Allah says,

"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." - [QS.17:1]

Abu Haraira, radhiyallahu 'anhu, reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying,

"One should undertake journey to three mosques, the mosque of the Ka'ba, my mosque, and the mosque of Elia (Bait al-Maqdis)." - [Sahih Muslim]

Abu Dharr, radhiyallahu 'anhu, reported:

"I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, which mosque was set up first on the earth?' He (ﷺ) said, 'Al-Masjid al-Haram (the sacred).' I (again) said, 'Then which next?' He (ﷺ) said, 'It was the Masjid Aqsa.' I (again) said, 'How long the space of time (between their setting up)?' He (ﷺ) said, 'It was forty years. And whenever the time comes for prayer, pray there, for that is a mosque." - [Sahih Muslim]

History tells us that Prophet Ibrahim’s two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, alayhimussalam, were born in Palestine. Nevertheless, they came from an emigrant family and did not belong to the wellsettled residents. Jacob, alayhissalam, who was also called Israel, was the son of Isaac. Joseph, alayhissalam, was among his children. The Quran refers to Joseph as a man who came to Egypt as a slave, until Allah provided him with wisdom and the capability to interpret dreams. He became a viceroy of Egypt holding the position of finance minister for the country. This was when he sent for his father and all his family so that they could join him in Egypt. This is how Jacob gathered all his family and children together and finally settled in Egypt. Their long journey from Palestine put an end to their status as emigrants. It therefore goes without saying that Jacob belonged to the Palestinian race or at least that is where he originated. History and all the books agree in confirming the accuracy of these facts. Jacob’s descendants did not live for even one generation in Palestine.
Another emigration to Palestine by the Israelites was that of Moses, alayhissalam, when, together with his people, the children of Israel, he emigrated from Egypt, fleeing from the Pharaoh and his soldiers. So we see that the Israelites only went into Palestine as emigrants. As for the true inhabitants of Palestine, they were the Canaanites. As far as I could verify, not in Arab sources but in sacred and western books, the Israelites emigrated mainly from Egypt to Palestine. This was because Palestine was administratively dependent on Egypt and also politically and historically since the temple founded by Jacob was built there. In that period the Pharaohs had started expanding into that land and had occupied Palestine, specifically the area under the rule of the Hyksos. When it was taken over by Egypt, it never became clear that the Israelites made it their land, nor that they settled there for a long period of time. They were short emigrations, but what is absolutely definitive is that the land first belonged to the Canaanites and the Jebusites.

Let's return to Moses’ flight from Egypt and Allah's intervention to save the Israelites by drowning the followers of the Pharaoh and his soldiers in the sea. This episode provides a position and a consideration in revealing who the Israelites actually are, in respect of their history with their prophet Moses.
The appearance of Moses on the scene took place in Egypt. Such an event goes back to 1250 BC. Allah helped him with many impressive miracles. It began when his mother was inspired to throw him into the open water and from hence to be raised in the house of the tyrant Pharaoh, who was oppressing the people of Egypt. The Quran relates that, when he grew up, Moses mistakenly killed an Egyptian and took refuge in Madian, escaping from the Pharaoh and his council of dignitaries. Then he was inspired by a mission that Allah ordered him to fulfil so that the people would stop worshipping the Pharaoh and only worship Allah, and in order for the children of Israel to leave Egypt where they were suffering the oppression of the Pharaoh, reinforcing his cause with miracles. One of these miracles was that of the staff that was transformed into a snake and that of the white hand, thus demonstrating his great magical skills. The story is very well known. Moses defied the Pharaoh in front of a multitude of Israelites and before the assembly of his people. The Pharaoh called for his sorcerers to confront the challenge. As a result, many Israelites and many sorcerers believed in his mission and in the Lord of Moses and Aaron, and ceased believing in the Pharaoh and his following. Then Allah revealed to Moses that Pharaoh was going to deceive them, so they fled from Egypt in the direction of Palestine. Pharaoh pursued them and was on the verge of catching them on the banks of one of the Red Sea inlets, the western one to be precise. There, Allah parted the waters for Moses and his followers to cross over on dry land. When Pharaoh and his soldiers reached the water, they were drowned. This is how Allah granted safety and peace to Moses’ people, after having been persecuted and terrorized.

When Moses and his people reached Sinai, they encountered a people who worshipped idols. His companions said to him, “Appoint us gods like theirs”. Moses was surprised by their attitude and treated them as ignoramuses. How could it be that, after having showed them ten miracles, including the emergence of dry land through the parting of the seas, they were asking him to adore something other than Allah, he who had asked them to venerate Him? This indicated how the lack of conviction of their faith was rooted in their souls. Moses and his brother Aaron were perplexed. In fact, the Israelites were tinged with the ungratefulness and subjugation acquired during the many centuries spent in the service of the Pharaohs in Egypt.
Moses decided to go ahead of his people and climb Mount Sinai (Jabal at Tor) to speak to the Rabb. He was away for forty days, during which he appointed his brother Aaron to be in command. As soon as he returned, he found them adoring a golden calf instead of Allah. Such disobedience was the greatest sin and the most burdensome. Allah punished them by subjecting their repentance to suicide, since their canonical laws stipulated that repentance for associating other beings with Allah and for ungratefulness was linked to suicide. Suicide was the penance that led to Paradise. In spite of all this, they refused. So he told them, “ Listen and obey”. They answered, “ We have listened but we disobey”. Then they received a divine warning threatening them with punishment. They saw how Mount Sinai was being completed raised above their heads. Moses said to them, “ Listen and obey” and they were forced to reply, “ We listen and shall obey”.

It was then that Moses chose seventy of the best men from his people to meet Allah on Mount Sinai in order to apologize before his Lord for the disobedience incurred by those who had gone astray, after having seen with their own eyes the eleventh miracle of the minor earthquake of the mountain. When they heard Moses speaking with Allah, they came to tell him that they were not going to believe it until they saw Allah face to face. The response was that they were struck by lightning. However, Moses then begged the Lord as these men were the best of his people and Allah revived them due to his generosity towards Moses. This was to be the twelfth miracle. And this is how the miracles of Moses occurred before his people without forgiveness for their arrogance and ungratefulness.
When the people of Moses reached the gates of Palestine, he notified them that Allah had ordered them to enter Jerusalem. Their reply was that the people there were mighty and they were not going to go in until they had left. Moses and Aaron advised them to enter all the same, as Allah had guaranteed their victory. They continued to refuse and told Moses that he and his Rabb should fight for them as they had no intention of complying with Allah's commands. Allah revealed,

"And when Moses said to his people, 'O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds. O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allah 's cause] and [thus] become losers.' They said, 'O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter.' Said two men from those who feared [to disobey] upon whom Allah had bestowed favor, 'Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And upon Allah rely, if you should be believers.' They said, 'O Moses, indeed we will not enter it, ever, as long as they are within it; so go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here'." - [QS.5:20-24].

That attitude cost them severe divine punishment in life and on the final judgment day. Their sentence was to wander for forty years, during which they had to live miserably, without knowing what direction to take.

When Moses heard this uncouth reply, he was very distressed and very sad and turned to Allah in prayer.

"Moses said, 'My Lord, indeed I do not possess except myself and my brother, so part us from the defiantly disobedient people'." - [QS.5:26]
"[Allah] said, 'Then indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty years [in which] they will wander throughout the land. So do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people'." - [QS.5:27].

During that period, Moses and Aaron also had to stay with them in that desert plain. They too were not allowed to enter the Holy Land because it was necessary for the guidance of Bani Israel that their Prophet and Messenger should be among them.

Then Allah inspired Moses, saying, "I am going to take Aaron to me, so bring him to such and such a mountain." Moses and Aaron went toward that mountain and lo! There was a tree, unlike any that had ever been seen, and lo! There was a dwelling, and within it a bedstead on which were cushions, and a pleasant smell all about. When Aaron saw the mountain and the house and what was in it, it pleased him, and he said, "O Moses! I would like to sleep on this bed." Moses said to him, "Then go to sleep on it." He said, "But I am afraid that the master of this house will return and be angry with me." Moses said to him, "Do not be afraid ! I will protect you from the master of this house, so sleep!" Aaron said, "O Moses! Rather sleep with me, so, if the master of this house comes, he will be angry with both of us." When they fell asleep, death took Aaron. When he felt its touch, he said, "O Moses! You have deceived me!" When he was dead , the house was taken away, the tree disappeared, and the bed was raised to heaven.
When Moses returned to the Children of Israel without Aaron, they said that Moses had killed Aaron, because he had envied their love for him, for Aaron was more forbearing and more lenient with them, while Moses had a certain harshness toward them. When this reached Moses, he said to them, "Woe unto you! He was my brother. Do you think that I would kill him? " And when they spoke against him more, he arose and performed two rak`ahs, and then prayed to Allah, Who made the bed descend so that they could see it between heaven and earth; and then they believed Moses.

During their long journey, the story of the cow they were ordered to slaughter took place. They started repeating one question after another, rebelling tenaciously against fulfilling any divine commands transmitted via their prophet. Hardly had they killed the cow when Moses took hold of a chunk of it and threw it onto the corpse of someone who had been murdered by an unknown hand. The dead man then came back to life and .revealed the name of his murderer.This was miracle number thirteen. But, did this make an impression in their hearts, moving them and making them more aware of worship and more obedient? No in the least. Rather, to the contrary. Their hearts turned to stone or to something even harder.

For forty years they disobeyed Allah's orders. Allah then sent the angel of death to Moses, their prophet, for the purpose of making him choose between life and death. He chose death near the holy places. Thus, a stone’s throw away from Jerusalem, where a dune of reddish sand had been formed, the angel of death fulfilled his duty and took his soul. Nevertheless, his people did not choose the right path and continued to go astray, incapable of coming out of the desert and the wilderness. After wandering for forty years, Allah guided them through the mediation of Moses’ disciple, the prophet entrusted to take them through Jordan to Palestine.

[Part 2]

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