Yearning for Ottoman justice: the al-Aqsa as a mirror on Muslims
The al-Aqsa Mosque, which was recently besieged in an attack by Israeli soldiers, holds what was the first “qibla” -- direction of prayer -- of Islam. In addition, the journey taken by the Prophet Mohammed to heaven (mi'raj) began from this spot.
Even though the “qibla” for Muslims today is the Kaaba in Mecca, Jerusalem is equally important for Muslims as it is for Jewish and Christian people. Just as it has been through history, Jerusalem remains a vital reflection of the general state of Muslims throughout the world. During eras when Muslims were doing important things in the arenas of justice, philosophy, morality, economic affairs, politics and military matters, Jerusalem was always a city of peace. And during these times, it was not only Muslims but in fact all the people of the various religions in the world who enjoyed living in great serenity in this city.
When the Caliph Umar came to take the city, despite the fact that he was at the helm of a state some 20 times larger than Turkey's now, he shared his camel assistant with others, taking turns in receiving help. He sewed and repaired on his own his clothing that was ripped during the journey. When he wanted to pray at a spot sacred to Christians, he would do so outdoors, in consideration that perhaps Muslims would otherwise later try to turn the spot into a mosque, or “masjid.”
The sensitive spirit so nourished by Islam at these times was carried on in so many ways through the four centuries of Ottoman rule in Jerusalem. The Ottomans, in their rule over the city, were so sensitive to the many religions coexisting there that they even altered the essential profession of faith, writing on the city walls not the traditional "There is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God," but rather "There is no god but God, and Ibrahim [Abraham] is the Friend of God." This, of course, references the shared prophet of the three religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, Abraham, underscoring thus not separation but unity.
Even the Israeli leadership, which has occupied the immediate region since 1967, admits to all this. Former Israeli President Ehud Barak described the Ottoman rule in Jerusalem to former Turkish President Süleyman Demirel as such: “During Ottoman times, one fantastic corporal was able to rule over all a peaceful Jerusalem with just a 20 soldier unit at his command.”
One situation involving former Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Çetin is also an apt depiction of how clearly Jerusalem reflects the general state of Muslims in the region: During a state visit, the Israeli prime minister at the time greeted Çetin on arrival in Israel and shared the following: “I went to a Jewish town near the Egyptian border. The local Jewish mayor opened his mouth and began to complain, letting loose against the Arabs as well as the Israeli leadership. I said in response, ‘You are complaining about everybody, but what do you want?' The mayor replied, ‘I want Ottoman justice'.”
Few people dispute that it was barbaric of the Israeli soldiers who entered the al-Aqsa Mosque recently to walk in front of the “mihrab” -- the wall niche in a mosque which indicates the "qibla" -- in their heavy soldier boots. Here is how Azzam Habib, who heads the foundation that helps run the al-Aqsa, describes the incident: “Around 300 Israeli soldiers forced their way into the mosque. Some of the soldiers then proceeded to walk around into the mosque, in the area where the mihrab and minbar [pulpit] are located, in their army boots.”
Turkey as well as many other Muslim countries strongly condemned the incident. There were protests. The Israeli flag was burned. There were the reactions one would expect to see in response to such a provocative incident. But the truth is, these scenes -- which we seem to see over and over again -- never actually do anything to help the tyranny we watch unfolding. The very same names which not long ago accused former Turkish leaderships and in fact the entire regime of cooperating with Israel are the people running Turkey today. And while they do issue strong condemnations of these incidents, nothing changes. And it should be pointed out that those who have led Turkey in the past were also accustomed to issuing strong condemnations against these sorts of incidents.
The reason none of these condemnations do any good is because what we see happening in both Jerusalem and throughout the Muslim world is not due to one reason but is rather the result of the terrible state into which Muslims have fallen. A distancing from morality, a turning of backs to science, a breaking away from the principle of justice, a distancing from democracy, human rights and other human values. And then there is the poverty and misery and all the results of ignorance and waste. Are there any examples or values that the globe can take from the Muslim world today in arenas that stretch from education to morality, from economy to politics?
This whole painful tableau has been reflected now for centuries in the stories surrounding the al-Aqsa Mosque. Some important thinkers in the past -- such as Mehmet Akif, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, Malik bin Nebi and Fethullah Gülen -- have warned us that our main enemies are really within ourselves. But rather than listening to these wise voices, we have learned to label them traitors, choosing thus to wobble on in our miserable states. And so who cares if the al-Aqsa is raided, if Gaza burns and if blood flows in Iraq, Syria and so on. Let's keep on making our loud and empty declarations, let's keep on fooling ourselves and let's keep on living our lives as usual!
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