SERDANG, SELANGOR, 5 August 2012 – When Sheikh Ismail Mosab Haslimon and his colleagues set foot on Malaysian soil for the first time, he forlornly whispered to himself how at this far end of the world thousands of miles away there are people who care about the Palestinian struggles.

“When I return to Palestine soon, God willing, I will tell my companions and relatives that you our brothers in Malaysia are concerned about the Palestinians,” he promised to the congregation at Al-Furqan Musolla here where he gave a talk and conducted the terawih prayers. The congregation choked when hearing this.

He hails from Al-Khalil in the West Bank, the birth and burial place of many of the prophets of Islam, and studied at the University of Al-Aqsa with a degree. Like many other young Palestinian men who became victims of Zionism, he was arrested and jailed four times, the last being 2004. While imprisoned for seven years, Sheikh Mosab was released in 2011 following the prisoner exchange programme that involved a Jewish terrorist soldier, Gilad Shalit.

In his speech, Sheikh Mosab among others emphasised that “we in Palestine are living in hardship and bitterness. For what? This is none other than for Al-Aqsa”. He repeated these words three times, indicating the importance of Al-Aqsa to all of us Muslims that Allah has mentioned the Al-Aqsa directly in the Al Quran in Surah Al-Isra’.

He reminded the audience that it was the responsibility and duty of all Muslims to liberate the blessed mosque. “Today the Jews are trying to destroy the Al-Aqsa masjid. We, the children, family members and even the elderly of Palestine continue to give ourselves, our energy, property and everything else we own in defense of the Muslim waqaf land, the land bequeathed to all of you,” he said with great humility. “We will remain steadfast to defend it, not by sitting in the palace or in pleasure, but with our soul, blood and tears”.

He added that the people of Gaza are forced to pray terawih in the dark because electricity rationing limits supplies to only about four hours a day. At the same time, Jewish fighter jets and drones always hover in the skies and shoots and bombs anyone they choose. Young men and children playing outside the house would be killed without any fault. “These are the sacrifices of our brothers in Gaza today,” he explained.

“I say all this not to complain of our distress and pain, but to inform you of our efforts here in the forefront to defend Gaza and all of Palestine to the Muslims in Malaysia to take heed of what is happening and not to forsake this struggle of our brothers in Palestine,” he explained after telling about their struggle.

Regarding his experience while imprisoned by the Zionist Jews, Sheikh Mosab who refused to elaborate said, “I’m sure you won’t want to hear them.” However, he did touch on how the food in prison were mixed with dead rats and at times poisoned. He also spoke of the torture where he was forced to sit on a stool for three months until the whole body became sick.

“Do you have the heart to see your mothers and sisters forced to remove their clothing when visiting you, purportedly to make sure they do not carry weapons?” he asked when describing what happens at the Israeli prison at present. There were even Palestinians who were arrested and tortured by trampling on their bodies until bones were broken and then not allowed to be given medication or treatment.

Concluding his talk, Sheikh Mosab hopes that all Muslims will help Palestine. “In Gaza we have electricity for only two to four hours a day. I’ve seen firsthand how a child died because the oxygen machine could not function without power. We did not have enough equipment and electricity supply to treat the child, and his parents wept to see their child die before their own eyes,” he remarked.

Alhamdulillah, the Ramadan program with the Huffaz at the Al-Furqan Musolla managed to raise a total of RM3, 539.51 in aid of Palestine. The event concluded with a presentation of a gift by Sheikh Mosab to the Secretary of Al-Furqan Musolla, Dr. Mohd Arif Abdul Manaf.

May the Al-Furqan Musolla community continue to offer prayers for the Palestinians. “Prayer is the ultimate weapon of the believers, and the prayer will be a catalyst for us to continue to fight in the forefront and liberate Al-Aqsa,” said Sheikh Mosab.

You can also extend donations for these aid projects in Palestine through the following accounts:
Account Name: Tabung Palestin HALUAN
No Account – BIMB: 14-023-01-003429-2
No Account – Maybank: 5644 9020 8528

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Report by Mus’ab Saari, Bureau of HALUAN Palestine

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