With the dawn of a new Hijri year, Muslims do not merely commemorate a historical event of the past. Rather, they draw inspiration from the philosophy of the Hijra as a foundation for deepening awareness and strengthening the values of steadfastness, dignity, justice, the championing of truth, solidarity, and responsibility. These meanings are embodied today in our consciousness as we turn our gaze toward the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first qibla, which has remained firmly embedded in the Ummah’s consciousness, in obedience to the words of the Prophet, peace be upon him: “No journey should be undertaken except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque, my mosque here, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

This prophetic connection among the three mosques is not merely a geographical arrangement; it is a unity of destiny that Muslims have long affirmed, making Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem a single spiritual space where distances dissolve and worship merges with responsibility. Today, as millions of hearts turn toward Mecca during the season of Hajj, we recognise that these multitudes are not merely numbers in a census but rather an immense civilisational force and a single living body. They remind us that the Ummah possesses tremendous latent potential. When transformed into conscious presence and collective action, this power ensures that Al-Aqsa—the first of the two qiblas and the third holiest sanctuary in Islam—remains present in our movement just as it is firmly rooted in our hearts.

It is also worth remembering that Islamic civilisation was sustained through caravans of knowledge, trade, and pilgrimage. The caravan was never merely a means of transportation; it was a civilisational institution that connected the farthest reaches of the Islamic East with the depths of Africa, carrying people, ideas, knowledge, and expertise. Along its routes emerged rest houses, lodges, zawiyas, libraries, hospitality facilities, and relief stations that served travellers and helped them reach their destinations.

As time evolved, the means changed, and caravan routes gave way to modern forms of transportation that compressed distances. Yet the mission remained unchanged: connecting humanity to the sacred and binding communities to one another.

It is particularly significant that the Holy Qur’an links Hajj to capability, with the Almighty saying: “And pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by all who can make their way there.” Historically, the notion of being able to undertake the journey was closely linked to perseverance and endurance in overcoming the hardships of travel. Today, although many of those physical difficulties have diminished, the value of striving remains unchanged. While technology has eased access to many destinations, Jerusalem reminds us that some forms of hardship no longer lie in the journey itself but in the obstacles and restrictions encountered along the way, and in the determination to reach and remain present despite the barriers that visitors and Jerusalemites alike continue to face.

Jerusalem is not merely a geographical location. It is also a spiritual extension of the Night Journey and Ascension and a true test of the Ummah’s conscience. It faces persistent attempts to distort its identity and impose a singular narrative upon its history, despite having remained throughout the centuries a human space where religious and civilisational memories converged into a shared tapestry. In its alleyways, the calls to prayer of mosques blend with the bells of churches, preserving its character as a symbol of coexistence and shared human heritage.

For this reason, the defence of Jerusalem is not limited to protecting stone. It encompasses defending the human right to life, dignity, and belonging to one’s land, as well as the right of future generations to inherit a city alive with its people, heritage, and civilisational diversity. There is no Jerusalem without Jerusalemites, both Muslim and Christian. Supporting Jerusalem is not confined to preserving sacred sites or restoring historical landmarks; it also extends to supporting the schools, hospitals, libraries, and community institutions that sustain life in the city and strengthen its ability to endure, allowing body, spirit, and mind to flourish together.

Building bridges of connection with Jerusalem is among the most meaningful expressions of solidarity with its people. It breaks the barrier of estrangement and provides a practical embodiment of an enduring Islamic principle: strengthening bonds of fellowship and standing with the vulnerable. Among the meanings conveyed by the Almighty’s words, “You are the best nation brought forth for mankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in God,” is the imperative to translate values into action. The excellence of the Ummah is not measured solely by the size of its population but by its ability to transform that number into ethical action and into a moral and human presence that inspires hope and solidarity.

For this reason, Islam did not leave solidarity as a mere abstract value; it established practical mechanisms and enduring institutions to embody it. Zakat is a social system that directs a portion of wealth toward those in need, while the waqf has historically represented a pioneering model for institutionalising generosity and supporting education, social welfare, the preservation of sacred sites, and the continuity of public good.

Among the honours of belonging to a house entrusted with the custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem—as a trust and responsibility rather than a privilege—is the recognition that this responsibility has never been a substitute for the Ummah’s own responsibility but rather an expression of it. Jerusalem is the trust of the entire Ummah and its shared responsibility.

The Hijra carried within it the meanings of resolve, sacrifice, and rising to meet one’s duty. The caravans of Hajj carried the meanings of unity, solidarity, and connection to the sacred. Jerusalem deserves today to reclaim its place in this unbroken procession. Sacred places transcend politics and outlast its shifting tides, for they are bound to truth, dignity, and shared human memory. Just as truth ultimately prevails, Jerusalem remains a sacred trust for all who believe in the values of justice, dignity, and fidelity, and a true test of our ability to transform our convictions into action worthy of its place in both the Ummah’s consciousness and the broader human conscience.

As we welcome a new Hijri year, we ask God to make it a year of goodness and blessing, to make us among those who serve the interests of the Ummah and its human mission, and to guide us toward what is best for humanity and its dignity.

We likewise ask the Almighty to protect Jerusalem and to bless its people, Muslim and Christian alike, who each day safeguard the identity and mission of this blessed city. Jerusalem is blessed not only by its sacred sites but also by its people and their steadfastness, and it will remain a sacred trust in our hearts and consciences, in every age and at every moment.