International Quds Day has widely seen as the legacy of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Every year on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, worldwide rallies are held to commemorate the Palestinian people’s resistance against Israel.
Palestinian struggle to liberate their territories which have been occupied by Israel for decades. Millions of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including Muslims and non-Muslims, take to the streets to denounce Israel’s atrocities against the people of Palestine.
Back in 1979, shortly after leading an Islamic revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini named the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan as Quds Day.
Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic once said in a historic message regarding the International Quds Day as following:
Until now, the oppressed were disunited and with disunity, nothing can be achieved. Now that a specimen of the bond of the oppressed has been realized in a Muslim homeland, this specimen must be realized at a more extensive level throughout the strata of human beings in history; and by the name of “Party of the Oppressed” which is the same as Hizbullah [Party of God], and which is in agreement with the will of God, the Blessed and Exalted, the oppressed must become the inheritors of the earth. (Sahifeh- ye Imam, Vol 9, page 255)
The annual event is seen as an opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their support for the cause of Palestine and vent their anger against the Apartheid regime of Israel.
Millions of people in Iran and other Muslim and non-Muslim countries worldwide hold rallies in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Quds Day is a far cry from a casual Islamic religious event. It is, indeed, a human rights event open to both Muslim and non-Muslims alike.
1- Quds Day is a day when the fate of the oppressed nations must be determined. Oppressed nations should make their presence known to the oppressors.
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 9, p 252
2- Islamic countries and the oppressed people of the world should discover their Islamic power…By trusting in God and relying on the power of Islam and faith, they should rise up and drive out the criminals, place the liberation of Jerusalem on top of their agenda, and keep the Quds day alive. It is hoped that by keeping this day alive, the apathy and inattentiveness would fade away
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 15, p 55
3- Muslims of the world should look upon Quds Day as the day of Muslims if not all the oppressed people of the world and from this critical point stand up against the arrogant powers and world-devourers and never sit by until liberation of the oppressed people from the tyranny of the powerful ones.
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 15, p 55
4-Bayt al-Muqaddas, the first qiblah of Muslims, belongs to Muslims.
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 16, p 419
5- Quds Day is a global day. It is not a day exclusively for Quds. It is a day when the oppressed confront the oppressors. It is a day of confrontations for nations that have been under the tyranny of the American government and other oppressors.
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 9, p 252
6- We are supporters of the oppressed. Whosoever is oppressed anywhere, we support him. And the Palestinians are oppressed. Israel has oppressed them. Therefore, we support them.
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 5, p 146
7- Quds Day is the day of Islam. Quds Day is the day on which Islam must be revived and it shall be revived; and the canons of Islam must be implemented in the Muslim countries. Quds Day is a day on which all the superpowers must be warned that Islam shall not come under their subjugation through their evil lackeys. Quds Day is the day of revival of Islam.
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 9, p 253
8- On Quds Day, which is one of the last days of the great month of God, it is fitting for all Muslims of the world to come out of the bondage and slavery of the Great Satan and superpowers and join the eternal power of God.
Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol. 15, p 53