As massive wildfires swept across Israel, accompanied by waves of online Palestinian incitement, a different voice was heard on Wednesday from the Arab world. Sheikh Mohammad Ali Al-Husseini—one of the most influential Shiite clerics in the region—posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling on neighboring countries to assist Israel in extinguishing the fires.
Islamic Ruling
In his statement about the wildfires, the sheikh wrote: “We are seeing the green environment in Israel burn, and the fire continues to spread. This can cause environmental damage to the land, air, water, and human life.”
According to Islamic legal teaching, he added, “We are commanded to protect and preserve the environment, and when it is harmed, we must act quickly to save it.”
A Call to Neighboring States
Al-Husseini directly addressed Israel’s neighbors—Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria—saying their involvement is a moral imperative.
“It is expected that neighboring states fulfill their environmental responsibility by helping to extinguish the fires and save the environment. This is a human and environmental duty, unrelated to political agendas.”
استنادًا إلى فقه البيئة في الشريعة الإسلامية، يستوجب علينا الحفاظ على البيئة وحمايتها، وإذا ما تعرضت لأي أذى يجب المسارعة إلى إنقاذها.
من هنا، نحن #نسمع_ونرى احتراق البيئة في إسرائيل من شجر وغيره ويمتد ذلك وينتشر، وقد يصل إلى دول الجوار مما يسبب أذى بالبيئة في الأرض والجو…
— محمد علي الحسيني (@sayidelhusseini) April 30, 2025
Mohammad Ali Al-Husseini is a Shiite cleric born in Lebanon, previously active among Shiite circles in the country’s south. Over the years, he distanced himself from Hezbollah and from Iranian influence. He later moved to the United Arab Emirates. Today, he is one of the most prominent Arab leaders advocating coexistence, opposition to terrorism, and interfaith reconciliation. In public posts and at international forums, he consistently speaks out against religious extremism and promotes the building of a shared moral identity.
