Today, Tuesday, more than 100,000 worshipers performed the blessed Eid al-Adha prayer, in the premises of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Department of Islamic Endowments in Jerusalem said, in a statement: "More than 100,000 worshipers performed the blessed Eid al-Adha prayer, in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque," which is the largest number of worshipers present in the mosque since the month of Ramadan.
Since the dawn hours, worshipers began to flock to the mosque from all over Jerusalem, and they chanted the Eid takbeer as they entered and left in large groups to and from the mosque, through the gates of the Old City and in its alleys.
In the Eid sermon, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, said: "We have been plagued in these blessed days by the violation of the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and its courtyards were desecrated by settlers yesterday and the day before yesterday."
Sheikh Sabri, head of the Supreme Islamic Council, condemned the statement by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, on Sunday, regarding the right of Jews and Muslims to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Sabri said that "Bennett wanted to show his strength and deny himself the character of weakness and impotence, all at the expense of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and gave instructions to use violence and brutality against Muslims, including the assault on the committed veil without any human scruples."
He added: "The so-called Prime Minister of Israel wants to provoke a religious battle in Jerusalem through his abnormal statement and through his support for the intruders."
He continued: "From the pulpit of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, we affirm our rejection of this dangerous statement, and our rejection of these incursions, and we hold this so-called person fully responsible for any tension that occurs in the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque."
And he added, "The existing regimes in the Islamic world must assume their responsibilities towards Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, for Al-Aqsa is a trust in your neck, and God Almighty will hold accountable all those who fail in the right of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa."
Sheikh Sabri addressed the worshipers by saying, "You are the difficult equation to protect Al-Aqsa after God Almighty."
And he added: "Al-Aqsa is part of your faith as it is part of the faith of two billion Muslims."
With the end of the Eid prayer, worshipers headed to the cemeteries near the walls of old Jerusalem, as is the custom on Eid days.
