The Muslim world must move beyond passive concern and re-engage with the political, social and technological challenges shaping the future, according to Friends of Al-Aqsa founder Dr Ismail Patel.
Speaking to One Nation Media (ONM) following a recent visit to South Africa, Patel reflected on the work of the UK-based organisation Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), which has spent nearly three decades ensuring that Palestine remains central to public and political discourse.
Established in 1997, the organisation focuses on campaigning, lobbying, boycotts and education.
“Our main focus has always been to make sure that the Palestine issue does not go away from public debate,” he said, stressing that the Palestinian struggle must be understood as a political issue rather than merely a humanitarian crisis.
Al-Aqsa under threat
Central to Patel’s concerns was the situation at Al-Aqsa Masjid, which he said has faced a sustained process of encroachment since 1967.
He warned that restrictions on Muslim access have steadily intensified over the decades, while access for other groups has expanded.
Patel also pointed to what he described as a dangerous erosion of the historic status quo governing the holy site, including recent proposals to transfer full administrative control away from Islamic authorities.
He argued that these developments mirror patterns already witnessed elsewhere, particularly in Hebron, where changes to longstanding arrangements have significantly altered the character and administration of sacred spaces.
Crucially, Patel stressed the importance of precision in language when discussing the conflict.
“Not all Jews are Zionists, and not all Zionists are Jews,” he said, warning that conflating the two risks undermining meaningful political engagement and obscuring the political nature of the struggle.
He added that Zionism has increasingly sought religious justification for political objectives, including claims relating to the future of Al-Aqsa.
Fragmentation within the Muslim community
Turning to South Africa, Patel offered a mixed assessment of the Muslim community, praising its longstanding commitment to the Palestinian cause while warning that internal cohesion has weakened.
Although significant work continues to be undertaken by various organisations, he said these efforts are often fragmented.
“What I have noticed over the years is that there seems to be fragmentation internally within the Muslim community, where people are still doing a lot of great work, but they are doing it in silos,” he said.
Patel further noted a decline in coordinated engagement with political leadership, arguing that this has diminished the effectiveness of the community’s collective voice.
Rather than calling for abstract notions of unity, he emphasised the need for practical coordination, communication and cooperation between organisations working in similar spaces.
From catalyst to sedative
Beyond organisational challenges, Patel argued that the Ummah is experiencing a deeper intellectual and spiritual shift.
He said Islam has historically functioned as a force for justice, transformation and social change, but warned that it has increasingly been reduced to a private and ritualistic practice.
“We have changed that faith from a catalyst, something that moved us, to a sedative faith,” he said, describing what he sees as a growing withdrawal from public engagement, social responsibility and accountability.
Patel linked this shift, in part, to the legacy of colonialism, which he argued separated religious life into private and public spheres and discouraged Muslim participation in shaping governance, policy and society.
Muslims and the challenge of AI
Patel also identified artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the defining global challenges of the modern era.
He warned that AI is already being used in surveillance, warfare and social profiling, including in contexts affecting Muslim communities.
However, he rejected disengagement as a response.
“We have to be authors of AI so that the algorithms that are created are not against Muslims,” he said, urging Muslims to invest in education, research and ethical technological development.
He added that Muslims must be present in policymaking spaces to ensure emerging technologies are shaped by principles of justice, transparency and accountability rather than exclusion or bias.
Concluding his reflections, Patel argued that the challenges facing the Ummah are deeply interconnected, from the struggle over sacred spaces such as Al-Aqsa to community fragmentation and the rapid evolution of global technology.
For Patel, the task ahead is not simply one of preservation, but of active participation in shaping a more just and equitable future.
