Daily Times

Kashif Mustafa hailing from Rawalpindi, Pakistan always enjoyed travelling to far flung places that carried history of invaders with them.

He preferred these places to the cities with tall sky scrapers and its affiliated hustle bustle. He loved small lakes, wells, canals, rivers and dilapidated houses in these areas. He would be happy enjoying a meal at a small roadside restaurant rather than at five star hotels. This attitude to discover the unknown became his second nature that took him to Israel. His travelogue titled Diwar-e-Giriya Ke Aas Paas (around the wailing wall) is an outlet to his feelings to express his sentiments about the beautiful places to look at but were equally painful as far as the distortion of history is concerned. Muhammad Diwan Iqbal disclosed that Kashif lives in Johannesburg and is a heart surgeon by profession and he encouraged the doctor to pen his observations in a book form.

Initially, Kashif had apprehensions to visit that land. It had Jerusalem city in it surrounded by stones. This city has seen three great religions of the world; Judaism, birth of Christianity and Islam; of great significance to the three religions. Ghalib’s verse suited his condition that “Rukti Hai Meri Taba’a Tau Hoti Hai Rawaan Aur’ (the more my feelings slow down, the more flow it witnesses). One fine morning, Kashif went through strict immigration procedures and boarded for Tel Aviv. His first contact was with a Jew in the airplane who stated that whatever one’s religion is, no one goes out of Israel empty handed. Tel Aviv was like Karachi. Its name meant mountain spring. Israel has been divided into three zones, one Zone A comprising Palestine Land Gaza and West Bank. Nobody can enter or leave this zone. Two, Zone B where Palestinians can come and leave after work and Zone C, totally prohibited for Palestinians. Muslims have ruled Gaza from eight century to 1917 for 1,100 years, he discovered.

The author has explained that in the first five volumes of the bible (Torah) there is no mention of the arrival of Mauood. As a matter of fact in the 18th century, one of the Rabbis had converted as Muslim along with many other Jews. Still Jews await their salvager’s arrival.

‘Quba tul Sakhar’ is that golden tomb which was built by Yazeed’s cousin Ummavi Khalifa Abdul Maalik in 691 to halt great congregation at Makkah. A little distance away, is the Al Aqsa Mosque built by Salahuddin Ayyubi to reduce the rush in the real Al Aqsa Mosque also known as Bayt al-Muqaddas, the third holiest site in Islam. In its basement, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had led prayers of 25 prophets before going for ‘Meraj’ on ‘Buraaq’. Kashif captured on camera the hand impressions on the stone stopped by Jibrael to fly away with Buraaq.

The salvager that we await is known as Dajjal and Christians call him anti-Christ. Since Jews believe that ‘Hackl–e-Sulemani’ (famous palace) exists somewhere in the basements of Al Aqsa and the mosques, the present day digging in Palestine and Al Aqsa Mosque seems to have a link with this belief. Jews have to settle in the Middle East and Madina tul Munawarah. Jews have to own all resources of the world. Israelis are the descendants of Hazrat Yaqoob. The first generation of Hazrat Yaqoob comprised of 12 sons and one of them was named Yahooda who was the ancestor of a Yahoodi tribe. So it is quite obvious that Bani Israel and Yahoodis are the two different sectors.

All this leads to the tyranny on poor Palestinians.

The custodians of Prophet Moosa’s grave are simple in nature and attire.

Sephardi Jews is a relatively poor community comprising Spanish and Arab Jews.

Tempelar Knights’ Pope had attachment with Catholic Church and Freemasons organisation and banking system.

The details of Kashif’s experience can only be enjoyed while reading this travelogue.