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Gaza’s tunnels: Israel bombs, Tantawi rubber stamps Egypt’s blockade |
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Issues Explained
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Friday, 08 January 2010 |
 On one side Israel bombs the tunnels, on the other Egypt blocks the tunnels. Then came the fatwa endorsed by Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Tantawi, supporting Egypt’s construction of the underground steel barrier attempting to quell Muslim uproar by trying to legitimatise the whole callous and ugly blockade.
On January 1 2010, the press reported that the Islamic Research Council of Al-Azhar University, headed by Egypt's top scholar Sheikh Mohammed Said Tantawi issued the following fatwa: "It is one of Egypt's legitimate rights to place a barrier that prevents the harm from the tunnels under Rafah, which are used to smuggle drugs and other (contraband) that threaten Egypt's stability".
This provided a religious ‘rubber stamp’ to the Egyptian government's construction of a deep underground steel barrier to permanently block tunnels between Egypt and Gaza.
Importantly, the fatwa went further and condemned as haram (a violation of Islamic law) any opposition to the construction.
"Those who oppose building this wall are violating the commands of Islamic law,"
This follow-up censor was aimed at suppressing the widespread anger - including demonstrations along the border - being expressed by Muslims at the Egyptian government’s heartless construction which deprives blockaded Gaza vital life lines for supplies. The tunnels were a critical means of access into Gaza during Israel’s 3 week murderous assault on the enclave that killed over 1400 people mostly women and children a year ago.
Undoubtedly strengthened by the fatwa from Al-Azhar, on 2 January 2010, a day after the fatwa was issued, Israel’s air force carried out bombing raids on Gaza aimed at destroying the tunnels on Gaza’s side of the border. These Israeli bombings have continued with the most recent raid on 8 January 2010 killing among others a 14-year old boy whose body was recovered from one of the tunnels.
This episode is another sad illustration of the unholy collaboration between government ‘scholars’ and their depraved Muslim governments that directly supports and strengthens the enemies of the Muslims.
By way of reference for the ‘scholars’, the tunnels exist only because there is a border on the surface dividing Muslim land into Palestine and Egypt yet the Muslims are commanded to be one Ummah.
He (swt) says
وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ
“And hold fast all together by the rope which Allah and be not divided among yourselves” [TMQ 3:103]
There must never be a border between Muslims let alone one based on un-Islamic nationalism which prioritises an Egyptian life over a Palestinian life.
In the hadith of ‘Umar it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor deserts him. Whoever helps to remove the hardship of his brother, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah.”
Unlike the current regimes in Muslim lands, inshah Allah, the soon to be re-established Khilafah state will not recognise these borders and will instead mobilse the ummah to liberate the whole of Palestine and end the suffering.
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