Fatwa asks Muslims to visit Masjid Al-Aqsa

AMMAN, Jordan — Scholars from various Muslim countries issued a fatwa during a conference here on April 28-29 allowing Muslims to visit to Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem while under Israeli occupation.

Earlier scholars had ruled against visiting till Al-Aqsa could be liberated. They said that visiting Al-Aqsa would give legal recognition to the occupying force – Israel.

The new fatwa only applies to Palestinians and Muslims with passports from countries outside the Muslim world.

“There are currently plans by the Israeli government to divide Al Aqsa or to demolish it and an influx of Muslim pilgrims lends support to the concerns,” the scholars stated.

The scholars however laid down the following conditions for visiting Al-Aqsa:

1. That it does not lead to normalisation with the occupation.

2. That the visit assists Palestinians and not the occupiers; and that any transactions including buying and selling undertaken must benefit the Palestinians and none other than them. 

3. That visitors enter with Palestinian or Jordanian tourist groups and stay clear of programmes run by the occupier.

4. It is preferred that trips to Al Aqsa be within the routes of umra and Hajj and in a collective manner.