Arabic → English transcript

Before we move on from the file of October 7,

how do you read the final outcomes? Now we are after almost three years,

I mean, since this event.

And also, given your position as a religious authority, there are, for example,

fatwas by Sheikh Dayya in Gaza and others, who considered that

this means that even in religious law there are question marks about this decision.

In your position

as a religious authority and as a Palestinian leader,

what is your final assessment and how do you now judge what happened on October 7?

Look, in order to judge, as I said earlier, in order to judge something,

an event, an action, we must read

its premises and its results, and not isolate the event

itself from its consequences. And in Islamic law we have what helps us with that.

We have an extensive jurisprudence

and a wide chapter among the chapters of Islamic jurisprudence called the

jurisprudence of the consequences of actions, the jurisprudence of results.

An action may in itself be legitimate, even good in itself,

but when it is coupled

with its results and consequences it becomes not good.

I will give you an example from Islamic law, simply. Fasting, the fast of Ramadan,

is an obligation. In and of itself, it is

A legitimate matter, in fact a pillar of Islam. But if it is linked to

some outcomes

that are illegitimate, it becomes illegitimate. I mean, a health condition… exactly.

If fasting in Ramadan leads to destroying one’s life, it becomes forbidden.

Imagine the pillar, a pillar of Islam, that at some point becomes forbidden if

it will lead to destroying the body or destroying the self.

Because the objectives of Islamic law

are based on five objectives: preserving religion, preserving life,

preserving wealth, preserving lineage or honor, and preserving intellect.

All the rulings of the Sharia revolve around these objectives,

which are called in Islamic law the five necessities, the preservation of

which represents a firm pillar of the pillars of Islam.

Now, when we come to judge October 7, resisting occupation in and of itself

is legitimate, even sacred. You will not find

a Palestinian or a Muslim, or even an ordinary human being

who can dispute or argue with this principle. Resisting occupation is legitimate,

no one will argue with you about that. But resistance to occupation must be

placed within a framework

Complete, in complete contexts of capacities, readiness, and preparation,

and reading the outcomes and consequences, and reading the circumstances.

Because he is the Messenger, peace be upon him,

who lived in Mecca for thirteen years, during which he did not carry out any

violent action, because the objective circumstances did not allow him to do so.

And when he left for Medina, he did not start by carrying out violent actions,

but rather he began by consolidating the pillars of society. Then after that,

he began a war that was only defensive. He did not initiate, not once,

any offensive action. Then he is the same one who

concluded the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah,

which some of the Companions called the“ humiliating treaty.” Because they saw

in it a kind of injustice and loss for the Muslims, but he accepted it.

And he is the same one who conquered Mecca by force

and not through a treaty. So all these contexts indicate that

matters are measured by their own specific circumstances and by their outcomes.

When you come to look at October 7,

resisting the occupation is legitimate,

and acting against the occupation is legitimate, and no one can debate this issue,

or argue or object. But considering that… To what came out of October 7, from today

who can say

that October 7 was right? I will reveal a secret to you.

Maybe this is the first time I say it, and maybe no one has ever

said it before. After a few months from the start of October 7,

the Hamas movement sent a message to its leaders abroad: Find us a way out even

if this way out costs us presenting an image of victory for Israel.

The Hamas leadership in Gaza? And this is realistic and wise.

And this is documented? One hundred percent, one hundred percent. Of course anyone

can deny this. I know that maybe someone will come and deny it and say this

is not true. I assure you of this, that this is true

and in a written message.