#HandsOffAlAqsa

Israel get your #HandsOffAlAqsa

The #HandsoffAlAqsa campaign is about educating people about the importance of Masjid al-Aqsa and putting al-Aqsa on the global agenda in order to protect Masjid al-Aqsa from Israeli occupation.

Take Action

Order Forty Ahadith of Masjid Al-Aqsa

Order ‘Forty Ahadith of Masjid Al-Aqsa’ for your local mosque. This booklet intends to rekindle your love, affection and devotion to Masjid al-aqsa with forty ahadith about the Holy site.

You can distribute or leave it in the mosque for other worshippers at your mosque.

Stay in touch by:

This is a great way to keep up to date on all our activities and news on Palestine

FOA

Visit Al-Aqsa

Visit Masjid Al-Aqsa to grow your love and that it is never empty

Khutba for Masjid Al-Aqsa

In light of the ongoing violence in Masjid Al-Aqsa, please dedicate a Khutba about Masjid Al Aqsa so that your congregation can be reminded of the struggle in Palestine.

Please see template:

Masjid-Al-Aqsa-Khutba

Resources on Al-Aqsa

Learn more about what Masjid Al-Aqsa is, it’s virtues, importance and much more. There are also resources for children.

AQSA RESOURCES: CLICK HERE

Story

Israel get your #HandsOffAlAqsa

The #HandsoffAlAqsa campaign is about educating people about the significance of Masjid al-Aqsa as the third-holiest site in Islam, which is currently physically deteriorating under the Israeli occupation.

We want to put al-Aqsa on the global political agenda in order to protect Masjid al-Aqsa from occupation and preserve this fundamentally sacred space.

For the past six years FOA have also been running an annual event focused on the plight as well as the importance of masjid Al-Aqsa. Aqsa Week is a week full of workshops, talks and activities dedicated to this sacred sanctuary. We hope you always get involved in this important event and spread the word!

Downloads & Resources

FAQ

What is Masjid Al-Aqsa?

The entire compound including the land and buildings within the al-Aqsa sanctuary are sacred, with ‘Masjid al-Aqsa’ referring to all the specific buildings upon the land.

There are 44 buildings within the al-Aqsa Sanctuary, including the domed masjid and the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as Sukhra). These buildings have extraordinary historical significance for Muslims; it is the third holiest site in Islam and the place where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven.

Who constructed the building within al-Aqsa sanctuary?

When the second Caliph ‘Umar entered Jerusalem he requested first to be taken to al-Haram al-Sharif, the place of al-Aqsa Sanctuary.

He ordered the construction of a masjid at the southern end of the sanctuary. This was originally a wooden structure and was later re-built as a solid structure.

 

What we are asking for?

Friends of Al-Aqsa are asking for Muslims to have full access to the buildings in al-Aqsa sanctuary and for Israel to relinquish the control it has asserted over the sanctuary.

More Campaigns

#StopArmingIsrael

We are calling for the British government to stop funding Israeli war crimes by cancelling its arms export licenses to Israel. UK-made weapons are currently used to oppress Palestinians by using excessive and violent force, making their daily lives unbearable.

 

Find Out More

#CheckTheLabel

During the month of Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and to get closer to God. It is also about remembering the unfortunate and the poor.

The end of each day of fasting is marked by having iftar, this is the meal to end the days fast. Iftar usually begins by eating a date.

Unfortunately, many Muslims break their fast with Israeli dates. These dates help maintain the illegal occupation of Palestine.

Breaking fasts with Israeli dates counter the essence of justice and fairness that Muslims try to instil within themselves during Ramadan.

Please check the label and not buy Israeli dates to break your fasts. Israeli dates are labelled from Israel, West Bank and Jordan Valley.

Dates from West Bank and the Jordan Valley are most likely grown from illegal Israeli settlements, on land stolen from Palestinians.

Israeli settlements are extremely harmful for the Palestinian people. For an Israeli settlement to be built Palestinian people are forcibly removed from their homes, their homes are demolished and they are then denied access to their own land.

As a part of the process of colonisation of Palestine, Israel takes over Palestinian land, sets up companies on that stolen land and they then employ some Palestinians who have no option but to work there since Israel has taken away the opportunity for them to work for themselves. Palestinians would rather have their land back and than have called for a boycott of Israeli goods.

So, what can you do about this?

1) When doing your Ramadan shopping, #CheckTheLabel on the date package to see the ‘origin of’/’produce of’.

Do not buy dates labelled from Israel, West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Some Israeli brands to avoid are shown in the image below.

If you shop online, before you add the dates to your cart, check where the dates are from as this information is usually listed.

To confuse the customer, some Israeli brands have labelled themselves as ‘Produce of Palestine’. Our research, at present, can only verify genuine Palestinian brands as shown in the image below.

2) Email the foreign secretary urging the UK government to ban trade with Israeli settlements.

The UK government repeatedly condemn Israeli violations and settlements, but continue to trade with them. This is evident in the fact that the UK is Israel’s second largest market for dates that in 2020 was worth nearly £28 million. Trade is a huge aspect in sustaining these illegal Israeli settlements.

You can email the foreign secretary above.

Make sure this Ramadan you are not helping Israel maintain its occupation by eating Israeli dates.

Find Out More