Abbas advisor in sermon describes Jihad and Ribat as a way to hold on to the land; “This land – I swear by Allah – will not be anything but ours”
Official PA TV, Friday sermon by Supreme Shari’ah Judge, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice Mahmoud Al-Habbash at a mosque in Ramallah
Supreme Shari’ah Judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "When the strife increases and the arguments outweigh interests … what must we do? Allah's Messenger [Muhammad] says… ‘Only then you must do Jihad,’ and the Jihad is a sanctification of an effort for Allah… sanctify your efforts for Allah, in order to raise the flag of truth, to defend the right and justice… to deal with the lie, oppression, exploitation, aggression, and occupation; this is the best Jihad there is – and listen, people of Palestine – the best Jihad is Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic). And where is the best Ribat? The Hadith (i.e., sayings and practices attributed to Islam's Prophet Muhammad) says: 'Your best Ribat is in Ashkelon' – in other words, the land Ashkelon is in. Where is Ashkelon? In Palestine, here. The best Ribat. This is a Hadith that was told by Imam Tabrani, and its ethics are reliable. His Hadith is reliable. This is a Hadith that arouses hope in our hearts, and adds certainty and faith for us that we are on the right and good path…
Your best Jihad is Ribat. Ribat is remaining… resolve, taking root – the best Jihad is that we will remain here, that we will strike roots here. It is forbidden for any of us to entertain the thought or intention of leaving this land, emigrating from here, leaving. It is enough for you, people of Palestine, that you have thwarted plots for more than 100 years. When they wanted to occupy this land, they said: We want this to be a land without a people for a people without a land. This is how they wanted it to be – empty of you. You thwarted their plot and caused them to wring their hands in anger, sorrow, and jealousy… Currently, the Palestinian people is the majority between the [Mediterranean] Sea and the [Jordan] River. And this land – I swear by Allah – will not be anything but ours…
Allah, forgive us our sins and excesses, strengthen our resolve, and grant us victory over the infidel people. Allah, help us in Jihad and Ribat, O Master of the World. Allah, strengthen our resolve in dealing with the people of the lie."