Ibrahim Saqr Alzaeem

In one of the lobbies at the Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, the students gathered around the Palestinian heritage corner. One visitor is viewing the Palestinian cities, the other is gazing at the Palestinian outfits, a third is tasting the popular cuisines, and all of them are enjoying the show presented by the Palestinian youngsters.

This took place at the margin of the Arabic Language Festival in 2016. This Festival is held by the university students, especially the higher education students, in cooperation with the Academy’s Administration. The Palestine’s corner was supervised by the Palestinian Students Union in coordination with the Palestinian Embassy.

Joy filled the entire place on that day as it was a chance for students to meet in person. Everyone was thrilled to learn more about the cultures of our Arab countries. Palestine’s corner was the one most visited to the extent that some of the displayed items were sold out. The visitors enjoyed the taste of Palestinian foods.

I was asked to deliver a speech on behalf of Palestine. I thought a lot about what to say in a few minutes. However, I realized that knowledge was important in the battle against the Israeli occupation, so I talked a bit about Al-Quds. Then, I focused on the importance of raising the awareness of the generations about the issue of the Muslims, and that it was the responsibility of the families, schools and universities to spread such awareness.

In a private conversation with the Academy’s Administration, I urged them to take the first step and include such knowledge in a course about Palestine as part of extracurricular activities in order to move past the conventional way.

Knowledge is not something extra; it is a duty imposed by the reality Palestine is living under. The daily Judaizational attempts Al-Quds suffers from, the horrible conditions of the prisoners who are deprived from their right to freedom, the grabbing of lands in the West Bank, the attempts to steal history, the work to change the identity of the occupied lands of 1948, and the siege and aggressions imposed on the Gaza Strip are all important and must be talked about.

Every one of these issues, among others, is the result of the occupation of Palestine. They need a long time and plenty of books to explain and address. Therefore, I kept questioning every word I say and tried to focus on the most important information about the key issues.

It felt necessary. Every time I met new people who found out I was Palestinian, they would shower me with questions. Some questions were simple, but others reflected how knowledgeable the person is. I would answer all of them, and after finishing I would realize again how essential knowledge is.

Arab and Muslim countries range from knowing the basics about Palestine’s cause and knowing the minute details. Perhaps, we hold the ignorant the responsibility for their ignorance. Nevertheless, looking closely at the reality of our Ummah, one can see that it is not their responsibility only. The states, with their media and cultural bodies, are more responsible for the ignorance of the Ummah and the absence of their awareness.

If we had already lost hope in several regimes, today, more than ever, we must unleash knowledge through pens, cameras, schools, universities, seminars and festivals.

The responsibility is great. The ignorance of the people is not their sole responsibility. We play a part too if we do not exert the efforts. Allah has provided us with lots of means. We are not asked to be good at all arts, but we are asked to be good at some in order to spread awareness among the people of the right we carry.

Every meeting with the people made more convinced of the importance of what I was doing, and feel more burdened. Still, it made me more sure that the Malaysian people holds great good in their hearts – and all other peoples of our Ummah as well. It is their right that we introduce to them the issue of their first Qibla.

This is a message to all officials, no matter the position, to stand by the right. The means will not be an obstacle if we think well, and the influence will not be less if we find the right way. It is obligatory, then, for all individuals and institutions to identify our capabilities and seek their development. It is important that we learn how to use media tools and implement scientific research – that we reach all peoples using the approach they know. If the people does not speak Arabic, we add the language they speak; or else the message will live ineffective.