Grand Mufti of Yorubaland
The current turmoil in the Middle East is not just another episode in a series of regional conflicts — it is the unfolding of a larger, deeply ideological agenda. What is happening is far beyond the battlefield confrontations in Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria. It is not merely about security or survival, nor is it about borders or missiles. It is about reshaping the region under the vision of a Greater Israel, a controversial and ambitious idea rooted in historical, religious, and strategic ideology.
For decades, analysts and observers have hinted at the underlying motive behind Israel’s expansionist policies — the idea of Eretz Yisrael, or Greater Israel, which some extreme ideological factions envision as stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates. This vision encompasses not only Palestine but parts of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and even Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
While many in the international community dismiss this as fringe ideology, the pattern of military interventions, land annexations, and aggressive foreign policy in the region suggests otherwise. The war against Iran — while seemingly about nuclear threats — is, in this broader context, just a piece of the puzzle.
One of the most sacred Islamic sites in the world, the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, is increasingly under threat. With ongoing raids, restrictions on Muslim worshippers, and rising far-right sentiments in Israeli politics, many fear that the ultimate goal is the destruction of Al-Aqsa to pave the way for the so-called “Third Temple.”
Such a move would not only ignite outrage across the Muslim world but would be a direct assault on the spiritual heart of over 1.8 billion Muslims globally. The silence of the Arab leadership in the face of this escalating threat is both alarming and disheartening.
The conflict with Iran may seem like the climax of tensions, but in reality, it could be a stepping stone to broader goals. The destabilization of Iran would weaken the last major resistance power in the region, leaving Lebanon’s Hezbollah exposed, Syria fragmented, and Iraq vulnerable. With these buffers removed, the road to full regional dominance becomes clearer for Israel and its Western allies.
Egypt, with its strategic control of the Suez Canal and its historical leadership role in the Arab world, is not off the radar. Nor is Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s two holiest sites. A weakened or neutralized Saudi state would mark the final blow to Islamic influence in the region.
It is perhaps the greatest tragedy of this unfolding narrative — the deafening silence of Arab governments. Whether due to political alliances, economic dependence, internal instability, or outright fear, the traditional defenders of the Islamic cause have grown increasingly indifferent. Normalization deals, trade agreements, and diplomatic handshakes have taken precedence over the collective struggle of the ummah.
This silence is being paid for by the innocent in Gaza, the oppressed in the West Bank, the refugees in Lebanon and Syria, and potentially the entire Islamic world in the near future.
What we are witnessing is not just a war of guns and missiles — it is a war of ideology, faith, and future. It is a war to redefine identity and erase historical memory. And if the Muslim world continues to remain silent and divided, the cost will be irreparable.
There is an urgent need for unity, for vision, and for courage. The Muslim world must rise not in sectarianism or hollow rhetoric, but in sincere action. The fate of Al-Aqsa, the integrity of the Middle East, and the dignity of Islam itself depend on it.
"They plot, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners." (Qur’an 8:30)
Let the world not say that the ummah was asleep when the fire reached its last sanctity. Let the world remember that the Muslims rose — not just in protest, but in purpose.
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