Is Palestine considered a land of war or a land of peace, and what is the Muslim's position regarding what is happening in al-Aqsa, and what is the ruling on one who cooperates with Israel under compulsion?

The questioner : Another question, also related to the previous topic. The Jews have occupied Palestine and al-Aqsa Mosque. Do you consider Palestine a land of war or a land of... in light of the Islamic Shari'ah? Then, what must the Muslim do, or what is obligatory for him to do, in each case? And is it permissible for a Muslim to serve in the Israeli army if... he is forced to serve? And what are the matters that define the limits of compulsion?

The Shaykh : Of course, this is not permissible. But most of the questions raised here are answered by the response to the previous question. What can Muslims do regarding Israel, or rather, regarding non-Muslims in general? Nothing at all. This is something every one of us knows.
And in my opinion, it is foolish for a Muslim to think about doing something he cannot do while neglecting what he can do. This questioner is asking, but he is not actually expressing his own opinion; rather, he is expressing the opinion of the masses of lost Muslim youth. They ask, "What do we do? What do you do?" "What do you do? Look after yourselves." Because obviously, we cannot do anything at all regarding Palestine, regarding Afghanistan, or regarding many other countries where communist revolutions and other things are happening. But we can gain knowledge of the religion. We can understand Islam correctly, even if cautiously. And we can apply Islam to ourselves, where no one interferes between us and our Islam. We do not apply it or do it. As for Palestine and other countries, what can we do for them? Work on yourself. Then, you will find the time, energy, and ability that help you to work for others. How excellent is that phrase mentioned on such an occasion: "Establish the state of Islam in your hearts, and it will be established for you on your land."

The questioner : The issue of whether it is a land of war or a land of peace?

The Shaykh : There is no doubt that it is a land of war. But these Islamic rulings have no effect today, because what is the ruling for a land of war and what is the ruling for a land of Islam? And to whom do these rulings apply? To Islamic states. Where are these Islamic states so that we can say this is a land of war? We must... are we still...? Fighting them and considering their blood and wealth lawful, and so on.
None of these rulings apply, because there are no Islamic governments ruling by what Allah the Exalted has revealed.

The questioner : Of course, serving here in the Israeli army... under compulsion.

The Shaykh : This is a question I always say, meaning, without offense, I often bear the mistakes of some people in their questions and their dealings. But this question, you cannot bear it. One person says to me, "I cannot pray standing." I say, "Pray sitting, my brother. If you cannot, what do you say? What do you think I will tell you? I will tell you, 'Pray standing.' You say, 'I cannot pray standing.' What do you think I will tell you? Me or someone else, even if you direct this question to me?"
So take this as a rule: something that is not possible, our Lord the Exalted does not burden us with. So here, if he is forced, what do we tell him? We tell him, "Do not go." Is he forced? Yes. Do not go...

The questioner : No, it is within the limits of dislike (makruh). It is...

The Shaykh : ...it has no limits and is not... limited. So he says "forced." Compulsion... ability has no limits. Fear Allah as much as you are able. Our Lord did not say that ability is weighed by a material scale or other precise scales that have occurred in the modern era. Ability and compulsion return to the person obligated. For example, take the incident of Bilal al-Habashi and 'Ammar ibn Yasir. Both were tortured in the path of Allah the Exalted. Bilal endured the beating and the torture in the sun, and so on, until Allah the Exalted saved him by Abu Bakr buying him and freeing him. 'Ammar could not endure that patience. But who can determine this ability from that ability? Each person burdens himself. He was told to insult the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)... they left him, so he insulted the Messenger and was released. After that, he went to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) after he felt some relief. He knew he had made a mistake, so he recounted it to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). He said, , "I find my heart at peace with faith." He said, "If they return to the torture that you cannot bear or endure, then return to the words that you do not find an effect of in your heart." If the intention of the question is what is the ruling on one who is forced into the Israeli army to fight, and perhaps to fight Muslims, then the answer is what you have heard. But if he is asking, what is compulsion? The answer is we cannot define compulsion, especially compulsion in fighting, or compulsion, for example, in committing forbidden acts. There is compulsion, but it is not possible to enumerate the types of compulsion, nor is it possible to define any specific compulsion by a material definition that can be considered compulsion. Some people know their proportion, and others do not. This is impossible. Therefore, these matters came in absolute terms in the Noble Book so that every person acts according to the text within the limits of his capacity and ability.