"After the dark night, there is surely a bright morning" — Joint declaration urges the Islamic Ummah to break its silence and rise for Gaza and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In a powerful show of unity and moral urgency, dozens of renowned Islamic scholars from across the Muslim world came together in Istanbul to issue a stark warning to the Ummah: the genocide unfolding in the Gaza Strip must not be met with silence, but with decisive action.

The scholars gathered at the Şinasi Ünsal Mosque Conference Hall in Başakşehir, where they released a comprehensive nine-point declaration demanding an immediate end to the Israeli siege, full support for the Palestinian resistance, and mobilization across Muslim societies to defend the oppressed people of Gaza and the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Scholars from Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania, and other countries participated in the high-profile event. Notable figures included Dr. Nawwaf Takruri, President of the Palestinian Union of Scholars; Suat Yaşasın, Vice President of ITTIHADUL ULEMA; Dr. Abdulhay Yusuf, Sheikh Muhammad Saghir, Mustafa Kasadar, and many others who represent a wide cross-section of scholarly authority in the Islamic world.

The gathering opened with a moving recitation of the Qur’an by Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Kareem, after which Dr. Wasfi Ashur read the official press statement on behalf of the attending scholars.

A Deafening Silence Amid a Roaring Genocide

Dr. Ashur sharply condemned the role of Western powers in enabling the Zionist onslaught and criticized the deafening silence of many Muslim governments. “The Zionist enemy carries out brutal massacres daily, exterminating entire families,” he said. “This genocide is taking place under the eyes of the so-called international community, with full complicity and a glaring bias in favor of the occupier.”

The statement stressed that political efforts to shift blame onto the Palestinian resistance amount to “distorting the truth, evading moral responsibility, and serving the agenda of the Zionist regime.” Ashur warned that this moral inversion not only absolves the aggressor but betrays the very cause of justice.

The Nine-Point Declaration: A Roadmap for Islamic Responsibility

The declaration issued during the event is a direct call to awaken the Islamic conscience and mobilize global Muslim efforts. It was structured into nine core themes:

1. Hold the Real Aggressors Accountable:

The primary responsibility for the genocide lies with the Zionist occupation and its allies—particularly the United States and European governments who continue to provide material, political, and diplomatic support. Accusing Palestinian resistance groups is a clear betrayal of justice and a service to the oppressor.

2. Duty of Muslim Leaders to Mobilize:

Scholars called on the leaders of Muslim countries—presidents, kings, emirs—to declare a general mobilization as a Shari’ah obligation. If direct military intervention is not possible, leaders must at least take bold measures to break the siege, deliver humanitarian and medical aid, evacuate the wounded, and provide strategic support to the resistance.

3. Normalization with Israel is Void and Sinful:

All treaties and normalization agreements with the Zionist regime are null and void in Islamic law, and the safety they claim to ensure is illusory. The declaration emphasized that every Zionist settler present in Islamic territories is to be considered an aggressor and war criminal.

4. Gaza is the Ummah’s Responsibility:

Helping Gaza is not the duty of Palestinians alone—it is the duty of the entire Ummah. Scholars stressed that this includes military, financial, political, and spiritual support from governments, institutions, and individuals.

5. Immediate Opening of the Rafah Crossing:

The Egyptian government was urged to act swiftly and decisively by opening the Rafah Border Gate, a lifeline to besieged Gaza. The scholars labeled its continued closure an “unacceptable crime” that prevents the delivery of aid and the evacuation of the wounded.

6. Al-Aqsa is in Danger—Mobilize to Protect It:

The scholars warned of growing Zionist provocations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, including plans to sacrifice animals inside the sacred compound during Jewish holidays. These actions were condemned as an “open attack” on Islam’s third holiest site and a grave insult to Muslim belief. Scholars urged Muslims worldwide to consider the defense of Al-Aqsa a sacred obligation.

7. Support Resistance in Syria and Lebanon:

As Israeli aggression spreads beyond Palestine, the declaration called on Muslims to support resistance groups in Syria and Lebanon as well, noting that Zionist expansion is emboldened by the silence surrounding Gaza.

8. Marches, Protests, and Vigil Actions Urged:

The scholars called on Muslims everywhere to surround Zionist and American embassies, organize continuous public protests, and hold vigils in public squares. They announced that they themselves will participate in a major demonstration in front of the Israeli consulate in Istanbul following tomorrow’s noon prayer. The entire Muslim public—men and women, young and old—was invited to join.

9. Message of Hope to Gaza:

The statement concluded with a moving message of love and solidarity for the people of Gaza. “Your perseverance is the herald of victory, Allah willing,” it read. “You are sacrificing your homes, your children, your lives, and your wealth in the way of Allah—and Allah will never forsake you. After the dark night, there is surely a bright morning.”

A Moment of Reckoning for the Ummah

The event was not merely a condemnation—it was a clarion call. Scholars from across the Islamic world are urging a shift from passivity to proactive defense of their oppressed brothers and sisters. The joint statement underscored that this genocide will not only be remembered in the chronicles of history, but written in the books of deeds before Allah.

“This is not a political matter—it is a matter of creed, of honor, of obligation,” said one scholar in attendance. “The time of comfortable silence is over. We must either rise for our brothers and sisters, or accept our place among those who betrayed them.”

As Gaza continues to bleed under relentless bombardment, the scholars' voices echo through the Ummah, reminding the world that justice delayed is justice denied—and that divine aid follows those who strive for truth. (ILKHA)