Muhammad Ahmad Hussein
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Ahmad Hussein has been the Grand Mufti
of Jerusalem since July 2006, when he was appointed by Mahmoud Abbas
, the President
of the Palestinian National Authority
. Hussein replaced Ekrima Sa'id Sabri
, who was fired by Abbas for involving himself too heavily in political affairs. Hussein is the seventh Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.
Prior to becoming Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hussein was the manager and imam
of the Al-Aqsa Mosque
and was considered to be a political moderate. Three months after his appointment as Grand Mufti, however, Hussein stated in an interview that suicide bombing by Palestinians
against Israelis was "legitimate, of course, as long as it plays a role in the resistance".
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem is the Sunni Muslim cleric in charge of Jerusalem's Islamic holy places, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.-Ottoman era:...
of Jerusalem since July 2006, when he was appointed by Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
, the President
President of the Palestinian National Authority
The President of the Palestinian National Authority is the highest-ranking political position in the Palestinian National Authority ....
of the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
. Hussein replaced Ekrima Sa'id Sabri
Ekrima Sa'id Sabri
Sheikh Ekrima Sa'id Sabri was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine from October 1994 to July 1, 2006. He was appointed by Yasser Arafat.He has a doctorate from Al Azhar University in Egypt on the “Islamic Endowment Between Theory and Practice”....
, who was fired by Abbas for involving himself too heavily in political affairs. Hussein is the seventh Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.
Prior to becoming Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hussein was the manager and imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
of the Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque also known as al-Aqsa, is the third holiest site in Sunni Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem...
and was considered to be a political moderate. Three months after his appointment as Grand Mufti, however, Hussein stated in an interview that suicide bombing by Palestinians
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
against Israelis was "legitimate, of course, as long as it plays a role in the resistance".