Academic Paper: The Interaction of the Palestinian Prisoners with the Prophecy of the Demise of Israel in 2022 (Arabic)

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Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations has published an academic paper by Ishaq Tariq ‘Arafah, entitled “The Interaction of the Palestinian Prisoners with the Prophecy of the Demise of Israel in 2022,” in Arabic.

The paper analyzes the interaction of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, with the prophecy of Sheikh Bassam Jarrar concerning the demise of Israel in 2022. Jarrar’s prophecy was based on a research in the Holy Qur’an, which he published in a book.

The study sheds light on the most important event for the Palestinians in general, and the Palestinian prisoners, in particular, i.e., the demise of the Israeli occupation. One must note that Palestinian prisoners are considered the role models of their societies. ‘Arafah relied on personal interviews and questionnaire conducted in Section 7 of Shata Prison. The questionnaire was distributed to 37 prisoners, who make up 74% of the prisoners in Section 7, while interviews were conducted with another 9, leaving only 4 inmates of Section 7, who neither filled out the questionnaire nor were interviewed. Therefore, the sample total was 46 prisoners, 92% of Section 7.

‘Arafah discussed the interaction of the Palestinian prisoners with the prophecy, where 96% of the respondents indicated that they had an idea about the prophecy. 50% of respondents feel—to a large and medium extent—that it may happen, while 25% felt that there is a remote possibility that it could happen, while the other 25% did not believe it would happen. ‘Arafah explored the extent of their knowledge of the tools used by Jarrar to reach the prophecy, and its impact on the thought and behavior of the prisoners. He found out that 34% of the prisoners pin their hopes to a large and medium extent on it, and 25% of them believe that the current conditions are very suitable for its realization.

The interviews also showed that the idea was not recent, and that it is the result of certain calculations in the Holy Qur’an, and it is a matter of Ijtihad (reasoning and interpretation) and not a matter of precognition. For Jarrar’s prophecy was based on research methods and approaches.

The study concludes that the interaction of prisoners with the prophecy is by people who are aware of reality, thus their lives did not depend on it, however, they look at it as a hope that might bring freedom.