‘Masjid Al-Aqsa’
جامع الأقصى
in Jerusalem, Palestine
Oil on Canvas
Dimensions 30cm x 30cm
Behold. Ponder. Let your imagination take you there.
Al-Aqsa witnessed the sky aglow as angels made their descent in rows upon rows, to attend the most noble congregation of humanity.
It was in truth the richest of gatherings, with the ambiance of piety and the aura of excellence; all the Prophets of the Magnificent Lord.
What air of grandiosity Al-Aqsa beheld, where the men of faith and valor, the true leaders of all times stood shoulder to shoulder behind the man dearest to Allah, our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Jihad is a meritorious struggle or effort carried out for the sake of Allah. It encompasses every aspect of the struggle, from defending the sanctuary of Al-Aqsa to standing up against oppression to spreading awareness about it. Raise your voice or your pen or your hands in prayer, it counts.
Why then have we tabbooed the word Jihad? Or have we been led to believe the contrary?
Jihad is and should be the most honourable for us. If you have had the opportunity of any sort to delve deep into and reverberate with the soul of Jihad, then I congratulate you upon your success. Honourable is every Palestinian who defended Allah’s sacred place, every hand that threw the stones, every mother who lost her child, every child who lost their parents, every family that lost a home. These are the people of faith. They are the guardians of Masjid Al-Aqsa. These are the sacrifices. The gold standard Jihad. They deserve the accolade.
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُون
To Allah we belong and to Him is our return.
This is an original artwork by
Javeria Nabahat Amin
