Author name:
ابتهال فرحان خلیفة سالم
Supervisor name:
فرات عبد الحسن كاظم الحجاج
Abstract:
Hawza ‘Ilmiyya(1) in Iraq (Najaf) was never a mere scientific religious institution to teach and receive religious sciences. Instead, its affect indeed reached different fields and included expressing official stances of any incident inside and outside Iraq with concern with the religion and creed.In addition to the clear role of scholars' acts and preaches in touch with various events in the Islamic nation and Arabic countries. When the Jews started to flow to Palestine in the first decade of the twentieth century, the religiousclerics and scientific students of Hawza declared their firm stance in solidarity with the Islamic Nation to stand opponent to that dangerous scheme. This stance extended to the present time. Thus, the researcher focused her attention to examine this issue to discover the nature of this stance from the viewpoint of Hawza, its students, and Najaf which resembles an incubator for that stance, and in addition to the fact that this issue is not negotiated before. The researcher started her study from 1948 which is the year to announce the Israeli state as recognized by the United Nations, passing through all events and combats happened between Arabs and Israel. The study ends at 1973 which is the year that witnessed the fourth Arab - Israel war. The researcher has suffered from the scarcity of sources and documents and that was possibly due to the lack of documentation of events, as well as damage caused to some of what has passed through the country during the events of (Sa'aban popular uprising) in 1991. Perhaps it is due to the existence of neglect by the previous authorities in order to prevent highlight the face of the Arab national Najaf.1 it is a seminary where Shi'a Muslim clerics are trained.The current thesis consists of an introduction, four chapters, and a conclusion. The first chapter is dedicated to deal with the stance of Hawza ‘Ilmiyya regarding the Palestinian cause (1920 - 1947). This chapter includes four sections; the first of which is dedicated show the concept of Hawza ‘Ilmiyya and its major studying stages, as well as the importance of each stage of which. Also, this section shows the history of the emergence of the Hawza in Najaf and the history of the most prominent scientists in that period, inaddition to their political and religious attitudes towards the Palestinian cause.The second of which is dedicated to deal with the stance against the Zionist settlement and the other Palestinian revolutions (1920 - 1936). This section also examines the political stances of religious scholars against the Zionist settlement, starting from the major Palestinian revolution and the reasons of occurrence, as well as Al - Buraq Revolution. Finally, the fourth section deals with Hawza’s efforts against the Anglo - American Committee’s scheme (1945 - 1947).Despite the preoccupation of Iraq and Hawza'Ilmiyyahin Najaf with World War II and the negative impacts on the internal and external situation of Iraq, but it has not deterred from continuing the efforts of scientists in Najaf towards the Palestinian cause (1945 - 1947) as scientists declared their firm stancesregarding the Palestinian cause, especially after their opposition to the Zionist project.As for the Second chapter, it is entitled “The Stance of Hawza ‘Ilmiyya in Najaf regarding the Palestinian Cause, since the Partition Resolution till the triple aggression (1947 - 1956). This chapter consists of three sections. The first section points out how the partition resolution was referred to the UN Authority and what it implied and how it has been applied to the land of Palestine. In addition, this section scopes the lights on the rejecting political and religious attitudes, including those of Hawza, poets, students, as well asthe press and associations role, particularly in Najaf, expressed in forms of condemnation, protests, and demonstrations. This section also reveals the causes and consequences of the outbreak of Arab - Israeli war, as well as the most prominent political and religious stances during that 1948 war, the war that witnessed a unique support of religious scholars in Najaf. The third section reveals the stance of Hawza ‘Ilmiyya regarding the Palestinian cause between the first and the triple aggression against Egypt (1949 - 1956). Thissection also explains the reasons for the defeat of the Arab armies during the first Arab - Israeli war years (1948 - 1956) as well as showing the stances of all religious scholars in Najaf, where they organized the collection of voluntary financial contributions, particularly from Kufa and Najaf, as supervised by a number of religious officials in Najaf and working on send such contributions to their brothers in Palestine. Additionally, the religious scholars in Najaf also urged all people to take caution and work to provide support to the Palestinians and support their fellow fighters there. Scientists continued to support the Palestinian cause and urged peoples for the promoting of holy war to save the Arabic Palestine.The third chapter of the thesis deals with the stance of Hawza ‘Ilmiyya regarding the Palestinian cause between the two wars of 1956 and 1967. This chapter is made of three sections; the first section is dedicated to explain and detail the reasons of the triple aggression against Egypt and the different consequent political and religious situations, as Hawza in Najaf expressed its attitude clearly and strictly concerning the triple aggression, and also by sending letters and telegrams to kings and presidents in the world requesting to express a clear and firm stance toward Egypt and the work required to stop that aggression. The second section deals with the scientific community and its stance regarding the Palestinian cause (1958 - 1963). This section summarizes the history of the emergence of the scientific community and the most prominent founders. It also highlights the sharp and firm stances of the scientific community towards the Palestinian cause, as well as the work on the dissemination of data for the Palestinian people, demanding the UN to find solutions for Palestinian Arab people and their case with Israel. All such stances were being published in Adhwaa2 Magazine being the formal tongue of the community. Then, the third section reveals the role of media and pressin Najaf in supporting the Palestinian cause. That role cannot be ignored as it supported the Palestinian cause since ancient times until the present time. It was mainly a result influenced by the fatwas of religious scholars in Najaf on the one hand and their sense of responsibility towards the Arab issues, particularly the Palestinian cause, on the other hand. Among Najaf's newspapers and magazines supporting this issue were Al - Gheri Magazine (Najaf), Islamic Justice Journal (Najaf), and Eman3 Magazine as theyindicated the firm stances of Hawza 'Ilmiyya regarding the setback of June and till the War of October (1967 - 1973).The fourth chapter carries three sections. The first of which scopes the light on the setback of June and the stance of Hawza ‘Ilmiyya on regard (1967 - 1968. It highlights the said setback, its causes, and impact on Palestinian people, in addition to the stances of Najaf's Hawz 'Ilmiyya regarding the setback. That setback raised discontent of a number of scholars in Najaf, led by SayyidMuhsin Al - Hakim, who denounced that setback in 1967 through his sermons and fatwas thereon at the time.The second section is dedicatedextrapolate the opinions and Fatwas4concerning Feda'I5 acts (1967 - 1968) as 2 In Arabic means "Lights". 3 In Arabic means "Faith".4 Advisory opinion showing official and religious stances. all opinions were supportive to such acts. Scientists started to urge people collectively to participate in Feda'I acts that were seen sacred and honorable to of the case of Palestinian people as stated in a number of sermons and fatwas. Then comes the third section dedicated to view the opinions and attitudes of religious clerics regarding the events of burning Al - Aqsa Mosque on 1969. This section shows the value of Al - Aqsa Mosque and the reasons to burn it. That was a horrible crime protested by all clerics and scientists in terms of their sermons, fatwas, and demonstrations. The last fourth section deals with the escalation of the Arab - Israeli conflict and the stance of Hawza ‘Ilmiyya on regard (1970 - 1973). As attitudes of religious scholars continued to advocate for the Palestinian cause with all its potentials and capabilities, in addition to work to resist the Israeli aggression in the war in October 1973 and stating the reasons, results, and impacts of that war. As a conclusion, the researcher comes with a number of results afterpassing through the thesis. The researcher adopted during the preparation of thesis a number of documents saved and published by official institutions and foundations, particularly the Foundation of Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Kashif Al - Gita' as well as the Library of SayyidMuhsin Al - Hakim published on a CD. Among the most prominent documentary books adopted by the researcher is the documentary book published in 1973 by the Scientific Community, entitled (religious scholars call Muslims to jihad for the sake ofAllah) which really enriches the current thesis with valuable information in a scientific and discreet manner. In addition, a number of Arabic books are adopted within the course of the thesis. Among them is the book (Ideal values of Islam) for Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Kashif Al - Gita' who lived during the time of the early stages of the Palestinian cause and wrote many works 5 The acts in which a person sacrifices himself in order to cause casualties and damages to the enemy.within this field, as well as the book entitled (The Shiite Marjiyya and the Palestinian cause) by author Mohammed Abdul - Jaleel, Book (Islam and the Palestinian Cause) by Kadhem Al - Budairy. The current thesis also benefits of other sources likethe book entitled ( Iraqi Sorrows Encyclopedia) by Hussein Lateef Al - Zubaidy, in addition to (Iraq, the Communists, Baathists, and Liberal Officers) written by Hana Patato considered a valuable source to enrich the thesis from the political side. An important and significant role wasthe role of published and unpublished theses being significant sources for information on the Palestinian cause and the stances of Hawza. Among them is the MA thesis prepared by Dr. Muqdam Abdul - Hasan Al - Fayadh entitled (Political History of Najaf 1941 - 1958), and the MA thesis prepared by Mohammed Jawad Jasim Al - Jazairy entitled (Social History of Al - Najaf Holy city 1968 - 1979). Another component of sources to be referred to is magazines and journal. Press of Baghdad had a great benefit in providing facts and information for the period of this thesis discussion. Among them is (Flagof Independence), (Voice of Liberals), as well as some significant press publications in Najaf like (Al - Gheri), (Al - Bayan), (Islamic Justice), (Evidence), (Al - Najaf Magazine).These journals and magazine enrich the thesis with valuable information on various topics, especially or concern, the Palestinian cause.As a final statement of the researcher, it is worth mentioning that this work is modest and humble. Should it be successful, it is the divine support by Allah. Thanks and blessings be upon Allah.
