[a] More insights on the Zionism series

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

It is important to mention that Nathan Birnbaum (a) was one of the first to use this term as a political alternative to Jewish nationalism. (b) The intention behind Birnbaum’s use of this term was to emphasise the sanctity of the movement by linking it to Mount Zion, (c) (d) and perhaps this was connected to what he was aspiring to achieve at the “Bales” (e) Conference in Switzerland. (f) Furthermore, Birnbaum was likely aware of the historical use of the term Zion by the Christian Church in supporting the Jews’ political efforts to establish a national homeland in Palestine. (g)

An Nasraniyyah As-Suhyuniyyah, Nash’atuhaa Wa A’hammu Aqaa’idihaa Vol 1. pages 65-66

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[a] Nathan Birnbaum, an Austrian-Jewish writer, was born in 1864 AD and passed away in 1937 AD. Growing up in a Hasidic family, he played a significant role in the establishment of the Kadima organization. However, he later became a member of the “Agudat Israel” group and opposed Zionism. Birnbaum published an article criticizing the assimilation of Jews with other nations, and he also oversaw the edition of several Jewish Zionist newspapers. For more information, refer to Herzl’s diaries on page 511 and the Dictionary of Zionist Terms on page 66.

[b] See Encyclopedia Judaica Vol 16. Page 1032

[c] Mount Zion is a common term that specifically refers to the city rather than the hill. Zion, on the other hand, is the name of the eastern hill in Ancient Jerusalem. It was the site of the city of the Jebusites, which was under the control of Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him, the King of Israel. Atop this hill, you can find the Temple of Sulayman, peace be upon him, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock. For more information, you can refer to Circle – Biblical Encyclopedias: 5/54, Dictionary of Major Religions: p. 816, and Al-Munajjid Fil A’lam, p. 349.

[d] See: Zionism between religion and politics: p. 25

[e] Basel or Basle is a city in northern Switzerland. Minerals include: (coal and salt). Its agricultural products are very few. It has factories for: (iron, copper, and steel). It exports: (cow, hides, ghee, and others). See Al-Munajjid Fil A’lam p. 105.

[f] Switzerland is a federal republic in Central Europe, its capital is Bern. Its agricultural products include grains, sugar beets, potatoes, and grapes, and its industrial products include the manufacture of machines, watches, and paper. See Al-Munajjid Fil A’laam p. 318

[An Nasraniyyah As-Sahnuniyyah Nasha’atuhaa Wa Ahammu Aqaa’idihaa Vol 1. pages 65-66]

[g] There were three tribes in Palestine before the children of Israel took control of it: they were the Phoenicians who inhabited it around the year 3000 BC, and they settled in the northern region of the Mediterranean Sea. And the Canaanites descended south of the Phoenicians and occupied the central region of Palestine in the year 2500 BC. These were Arab tribes migrating from the Arabian Peninsula, then groups came from the Island of Crete around the year 1200 BC. It was called [فلستين] and was situated between Jaffa and Gaza on the Mediterranean Sea. The Canaanites called these people [فلسطين] and the name prevailed over the entire region, so it became referred to as [فلسطين]. According to what the Jews mentioned in their books, and what was written in the history of the region is that these peoples continued (residing) in the region. Many wars between them and the Children of Israel and the Jews occurred, which continued throughout the presence of the Jews in that region. Therefore, from a historical perspective, it becomes clear to us that the Jews were not the first to inhabit Palestine, but rather they entered it or some of it and captured parts of it after it had been in the possession of these people.

As for the religious perspective, Allah revealed in the Qur’an that Musa [peace be upon him] said:

يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ

O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you, and turn not back (in flight) for then you will be returned as losers. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Ayah 21

Regarding Allah’s statement [كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ – Which Allah has assigned to you], Ibn Ishaq [may Allah have mercy upon him] said (meaning), “Which Allah has bestowed on you”. As-Sa’diy [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, (meaning), “Which Allah has commanded you (to enter)”. Al-Qataadah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “The people were commanded (to enter) just as we are commanded to perform the prayer, pay the Zakat, perform Hajj and Umrah”.

So, according to some of the Scholars, Allah’s statement [كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ – Which Allah has assigned to you] does not mean to ownership. And based according to others, it means ownership on condition that they entered it. And others say that it was a gift to them. This makes clear the meaning of “Which Allah has assigned to you” alongside the fact that there is no proof in this that they have a (specific) right to Palestine, and that is because Allah bestows many blessings on His faithful servants whilst they are in that state of (sound) faith, and it is for them whilst they are in that state of (sound) faith. But in the case of disbelief, they have no right to it. When Allah commanded the children of Israel to enter, they turned away, so He prevented them from entering, but when they responded and were obedient, Allah granted it to them. This is why Imaam Ibn Katheer [may Allah have mercy upon him said about the Ayah: “A promise that Allah has made and conveyed by your father Israel that he will bequeath it to those of you who believe”. Therefore, it was theirs whilst they were in that state of (sound) faith, but as for in their state of disbelief (in the final Messenger and seal of the Prophets), they have no right to it. This is demonstrated by Allah’s statement:

فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ الْأَرْضَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِي وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ

Their Lord inspired them [i.e. the Prophets]: “Truly, We shall destroy the Zalimun (disbelievers and wrong-doers.). And indeed, We shall make you dwell in the land after them [i.e. the disbelievers]. This is for him who fears standing before Me (on the Day of Resurrection or fears My Punishment) and also fears My Threat”. [Surah Ibraaheem. Ayaat 13-14]

Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَلَقَدۡ ڪَتَبۡنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلذِّكۡرِ أَنَّ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ

And indeed We have written in Zabur and after (We have already written in the) Dhikr that My righteous servants shall inherit the land. [Surah Al-Anbiya. Ayah 105]. [An Excerpt from “Diraaasaat Fil Ad’yaan Al-Yahoodiyyah Wan-Nasraaniyyah. pages 65-67. Publisher: Daar Adwaa As-Salaf. 6th Edition 1439AH (2018). May Allah bless Ustaadh Harun Banton for sharing the source of this article].

Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated: The word Zabur in this Ayah means all the revealed books and does not specifically mean the Zabur that was given to (Prophet) Dawud [peace be upon him]. The word Adh-Dhikr in this Ayah is the Ummul Kitaab that is with Allah [i.e. the Lawh Al-Mahfooz], the word Al-Ard in this Ayah means the Dunyah and the righteous servants mean the Ummah of Muhammad [peace be upon him]. This Ayah is one of the signs of the Prophethood of Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] because he conveyed this (affair) at Makkah, while all the people of Makkah were unbelievers, enemies to him and his companions, and the Mushrikoon had expelled them from their homeland (Makkah) and their dwellings.

The word Dhikr has been mentioned in reference to the Kitaab in the statement of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] in a hadith reported by Imaam Al-Bukhari and Muslim that: “There was Allah and nothing else before Him and His Throne was over the water, and He then created the Heavens and the Earth and wrote everything in the Dhikr [The Book].” [Saheeh al-Bukhari. Number 7418]

This is the Dhikr [The Book] in which was written that the earth will be inherited by the Ummah of Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him], and the revealed books have been referred to as Zubur in the statement of Allah:

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالاً۬ نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ فَسۡـَٔلُوٓاْ أَهۡلَ ٱلذِّكۡرِ إِن كُنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ
بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ‌ۗ

And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad ) any but men, whom We inspired, (to preach and invite mankind to believe in the Oneness of Allah). So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not. [بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ‌ۗ – with clear signs and Books]. [Surah An-Nahl. Ayaat 43-44] [An Excerpt from “Shifaa Al-Aleel” page 39]

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated: Based on this, for example, the land of the Arabs is not for the Arabs, the land of the Persians is not for the Persians, and the land of the Romans is not for the Romans (i.e. Allah can give it to others). The land belongs to Allah and He gives it as a heritage to whom He will, and they are the righteous servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Whoever disbelieves in Allah and is too proud to obey Him has no right to the land. Allah gives it as a heritage to whomever He wills of the righteous servants. Based on this, if the children of Israel said, “The land of Shaam is ours because Musa [peace be upon him] said: [يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ – O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you], we say: Indeed, Musa [peace be upon him] said this because at that time you were righteous people and the righteous servants of Allah, and the earth belongs to Allah Who gives it as a heritage to whomever He wishes from among His righteous servants. However, after the advent of Islam and you disbelieved in it, you became unworthy of (this inheritance), and the righteous and believers in Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]- those who follow him – became its inheritors.

Prior to when the Muslims were expelled (from this inherited land), it was occupied by the Roman Christians (who inherited it from) the Jews because they were the righteous after the Jews; then the Muslims occupied it after them because they are the righteous servants of Allah. So, the land of Shaam was written as an inheritance for the righteous (as Allah said): [وَلَقَدۡ ڪَتَبۡنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلذِّكۡرِ أَنَّ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ – And indeed We have written in Zabur and after (We have already written in) Dhikr that My righteous servants shall inherit the land].

Due to this, the Children of Israel (inherited the land from) those people in the sacred land who had great strength because they were upon the truth; then the Christians inherited it from the Jews because they were the people of truth, then the Muslims inherited it from the Christians because they are the people of truth. Based on this, the Yahood at present have no (specific) right to Palestine or any other part of Allah’s earth. Therefore, if the Muslims become righteous and return to their true religion, through which Allah will grant them the heritage of their land, they will regain the land.

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ

Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them…[Surah An-Nur. Ayah 55] [An Excerpt from “Tafseer Surah An-Nur”. Ayah 55. Slightly paraphrased]

Finally, with regards to the present situation of Palestine, then indeed, one returns to the advice of the Senior Scholars [Imaams: (Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz, Imaam Al-Albaanee, Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen, Al-Allaamah); Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi al-Mad’kali, Al-Allaamah Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbaad, Al-Allaamah Saalih al-Fawzaan, Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Luhaydaan, Al-Allaamah Al-Ghudayyaan, Al-Allaamah Abdul Azeez Aala Ash-Shaikh].