Status quo Al-Aqsa semakin terancam, kata pegawai waqaf

The integrity of Al-Aqsa Mosque's status quo is increasingly under threat, according to Mustafa Abu Sway, deputy chair of the Islamic Waqf Council at Baitulmuqaddis. Speaking in a video interview from the mosque, Abu Sway expressed concern over daily restrictions imposed by Israeli security forces, which prevent people, including youths, women, and sometimes the elderly, from freely accessing the holy site. This lack of freedom of movement and prayer effectively exists within Al-Aqsa Mosque, he stated.

Abu Sway, appointed as the Integral Chair of Imam Ghazali Studies at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds University in 2012, serves on the Islamic Waqf Council of Baitulmuqaddis and the Restoration Committee for Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. He highlighted that the 19th-century Uthmani decree originally permitted Muslim worship at Al-Aqsa, while non-Muslims could visit under Islamic Waqf management, administered by the Jordan Ministry of Waqf.

Notably, the status quo has faced increasing challenges since 2000, particularly after Israeli hardliner Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to Al-Aqsa, which sparked the second Palestinian intifada. Under Israeli National Security Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, some areas within the mosque have been barred to Muslim worshippers during their incursions. Abu Sway emphasized that these developments pose a significant threat to the historical status quo of the revered site.

He criticized politicians who irresponsibly raise the issue for electoral gain, often referring to the "Temple Mount" instead of Al-Aqsa in their statements to the Israeli High Court. This phenomenon, he argued, contributes to a rise in provocations against the mosque. The matter is of great seriousness, as Al-Aqsa is integral to Islamic doctrine and identity worldwide, including in Southeast Asia.

It is closely linked to the Prophet Muhammad's Isra and Mi'raj, during which he ascended to heaven from Mecca to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Abu Sway underscored that the Jordanian role in safeguarding the holy site is crucial, and the global Muslim and Arab communities, as well as Muslim and Arab societies, need to acknowledge Jordan's role in its fullness. He called for a broader Arab and Muslim, as well as friendly nation, acknowledgement of Jordan's custodial responsibilities for the holy site, and for a more active role from Arab and Muslim nations and allies in ensuring the safety and stability of the region.