Growing up in the US, I've heard all my life what Israel means to many Jews & Christians. But most of my American friends have no understanding of what #Palestine means to Muslims. So I will share here why Muslims have an emotional connection to Palestine that can't be negotiated

Palestine is the Holy Land for Muslims, It is the land where our forefather Abraham (peace be upon him) was sent by God. It is the land where his son Ishmael was born before he was sent to Mecca by God. It is the land of Isaac, Jacob & Joseph -- all great Muslim prophets.

Palestine is the land God guided Moses (a major Muslim prophet) to. It is the land of David & Solomon, revered prophets of the Qur'an. It is the land of John the Baptist & Jesus the son of Mary (peace be upon them all) -- mighty prophets of Islam and Messengers of God.

And Palestine is the land where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) traveled miraculously in his Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and from which he rose to Heaven to the Throne of God. Before Mecca became the direction of prayer for Muslims, it was originally Jerusalem.

Palestine is the land that was taken by Muslims from the Byzantines within 6 years of the Prophet's death. It is the land where the Prophet's noble follower the Caliph Umar personally arrived to build a mosque in Jerusalem where the Prophet had risen to Heaven -- Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Palestine is the land where the greatest Islamic scholars lived and taught for centuries, including Al-Ghazali, considered the most influential Muslim teacher of the past thousand years. My own Sufi master taught from Ghazali's office that still stands next to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Palestine is the land that fell to the Crusaders in a barbaric invasion where cannibalism was used to terrorize the populace to surrender. The Crusaders killed all the Jews & fellow Christians that Muslims had protected.

The Crusaders ruled Palestine for 90 years (20 years longer than the current state of Israel has existed). But Muslims never gave up trying to reclaim it until the great leader Saladin defeated the Crusaders in 1189. Muslims continued to rule Palestine from then until 1948.

Muslims have lost other lands. Spain was the jewel of Islam for 800 years. Now Al-Andalus is just remembered in poems & laments. Yet Palestine is a land that cannot be lost & will never be lost to Muslims. It is central to who we are & our faith. I hope that explains it. Salaam.