Al-Quds International Institution appealed to Jordan to allow seclusion (I'tikāf) in Al-Aqsa Mosque starting from the first night of Ramadan.

In a letter sent on 12/3/2023 to Jordanian Awqaf Minister Muhammad Ahmad al-Khalayleh, the Institution said that Al-Aqsa Mosque is the brother of Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi according to established religious texts. It added that these three mosques have been historically open to worshipers for seclusion day and night throughout the year, and it wondered: As long as Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi are always open for seclusion, why is Al-Aqsa Mosque singled out for closure throughout the days of the year and seclusion in it is limited to the last ten days of Ramadan?

The Institution asserted that allowing seclusion in Al-Aqsa would be essential in encouraging worshipers from across Palestine to visit the Mosque and stay in it for nights. It noted that many Palestinians have to cross Israeli barriers or jump off the Separation Wall to reach Al-Aqsa; thus, finding the Mosque closed at night after such a dangerous journey would discourage them from visiting it. The Institution stressed that, facing Israeli aggression against Al-Aqsa and its worshipers, the duty is to ensure that the Mosque is open for seclusion.

In its letter, the Institution said that during the month of Ramadan, Al-Aqsa faces attacks by the Israeli police and incursions by settlers, especially as they employ their biblical holidays as seasons of aggression against the Mosque. It stated that the most violent aggression against Al-Aqsa will be in these days as Jewish “Passover” coincides with the third week of Ramadan, which makes allowing seclusion one of the most imperative duties to strengthen Islamic presence in the Mosque and establish its Islamic identity.

Ultimately, the Institution appealed to the Minister of Awqaf to allow seclusion in Al-Aqsa starting from the first night of Ramadan, and to announce this to the public to encourage worshipers to visit the Mosque and stay in it at this historical stage in which the Israeli government and settlers adopt an agenda seeking to remove Al-Aqsa Mosque and build their alleged temple in in its place.