Jerusalem bids farewell to Al-Aqsa Mosque Imam Sheikh Walid Siam after a life full of giving

The occupied city of Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque lost today, Thursday, Sheikh Walid Siam, who passed away at the age of 71, after a long and bitter struggle with illness. The deceased is considered one of the prominent scientific and advocacy figures in the Holy City, having spent decades of his life in the precincts of Al-Aqsa Mosque as an imam and a teacher for generations.

Local sources in Jerusalem stated that Sheikh Siam left a clear mark in the field of Islamic education, specializing in teaching Islamic education, Quranic sciences, and Tajweed rules. Successive generations of Jerusalemites studied under him, inspired by his values of knowledge, etiquette, and strong connection to Islamic holy sites amidst the challenges surrounding the city.

Sheikh Siam's journey was not limited to imamate and teaching; it also included working as a Sharia marriage officiant and a religious preacher, enjoying wide respect in Jerusalemite circles. Despite his religious standing, the Sheikh was not spared from the harassment of the Israeli occupation, as he was arrested in 2019 and placed under house arrest by the occupation authorities for several days in an attempt to restrict his advocacy role.

Jerusalemites mourned Sheikh Siam on social media platforms with touching words, recalling his amazing insistence on being present in Al-Aqsa Mosque even in the most difficult moments of his illness. His loved ones confirmed that he was keen to reach the courtyards of the mosque using an electric wheelchair, so that his voice and presence remained an authentic part of the place's identity and sanctity.

For his part, Sheikh Hussam al-Din Afana, one of Palestine's scholars, eulogized his late student, describing him as a model of loyalty, knowledge, and high morals. Afana pointed out that Sheikh Siam was not just an imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, but also the sheikh of Dar Al-Quran Al-Karim and the imam of Al-Adhami Mosque, emphasizing that his passing represents a great loss for the advocacy scene in Palestine.

Sheikh Walid Siam, the Imam of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Sheikh of Dar Al-Quran Al-Karim there, passed away. He was one of the best students I have ever taught in terms of character, manners, and knowledge.