Napoleon Bonaparte’s Invasion to Palestine
Napoleon Bonaparte and his French Army in 1799 invaded Palestine. He committed mass murder and caused extensive destruction of villages and cities like Gaza, AlRamlah, and especially the coastal city, Yafa. Al Jazar assumed the role of governor in Palestine, with Acre as his base. Yousef Jarrar, held the position of administrator in Legion Sanjak, which included Jenin, the surrounding villages, and Marj Bin A'amer all the way to Haifa. Furthermore, he served as the administrator for Nablus Sanjak, which encompassed mount Nablus, Tulkarm, and the surrounding villages all the way to Yafa. In a surprising turn of events, the French invasion of Palestine brought together Yousef Jarrar and Al Jazar, who had a history of enmity. It was during this time that Al Jazar sent Yousef Jarrar (Abu Dawood), a heartfelt poem:
Screenshot from Hussni Adham Jarrar’s book ‘Mountain of Fire History…and Jihad 1700 - 1900AD’
what the mujahid fighter gushing forth unravels
with tears running down my cheeks
Allah the merciful did not create better than the messenger,
the Hashemite messenger, the gentleman of all genteel
Go forth on a fast steed with your travels!
journey even at nightfall. Do not assume the Pines dependable.
it is square, (the letter) not folded by the crooked or the careless
race the blowing winds in the wilderness!
may Allah guide you, take my letter
filled with expressions and examples.
pass through Marj Ibn A’amer and approach
you will find yourself in lands with noble nationals
get to Jenin in the cloudless morning
you will find their high rises and built castles
burst through it quickly, do not give to exhaustion
reach Sanour and there you can settle
You will find there the lion of the lands, the master of the masses.
in the years of inflation, he was instrumental
tell him do not begrudge our stumbles, you have our praises!
what passed has long passed as time passes
what can I tell you about the numerous diseases we encountered
crusaders wearing armor with lethal arsenal.
the French came to us like locusts and gravels.
seven sultans with seven assails
destroying our mosques and building their chapels
and they call to extinguish the Islamic lanterns
I need you to rise with me for battle
The day of war. Do not fear what you witness
thrust out the western crowd with your numbers
extinguish the eyes of the heretics
Screenshot from Hussni Adham Jarrar’s book ‘Mountain of Fire History…and Jihad 1700 - 1900AD’
When Yousef Jarrar read the poem, he became emotional and gathered the important figures in the Sanjaks of Legion and Nablus. He then recited a poem of his own composition, which had the same rhyming scheme as the one sent to him by Al Jazar.
Abu Dawood speaks with a languished heart
I feel in my heart burning fires
from afar, we received letters
from our Affandi, our malicious Amir
when I beheld the letter, I was overjoyed
when I read the letter, down poured my tears
the heretic creed came to us with violence in their eyes
destroying mosques is the purpose of these invaders
when catastrophe surrounds us O’ Thou Glorious Concealer
O’ Thou Dominant, Thou art the God of all creatures
Toukan family, unsheathe your swords
jump on those precious backs O’ riders
AlNimir family, those ferocious tigers
line up your bold ranks
Mohammed AlOthman, assemble the men for me
from every quarter, assemble the warriors
Ahmed Al Qasim, you courageous lion
for the infantry, commander of all commanders
AlJayousi, a lion in the day of pursuit
for the beautiful and chaste woman, you are the protectors
make haste, O’ A’ato’out, don’t give to fatigue
resolve to go to battle and we will rest in Acres
Ahmadi Al Jabir you wild lion
on this dusty day, the day to deliver
Salih’s sons, you profitable lions
your precious souls always the first sellers
O’ you Ghazi, conqueror of the idolaters
sell your soul with the help of the well-bred horses
Abdel Hadi, arise, do not give to exhaustion
of the coming masses, you are the conquerors
O’ Nablus men, rise up as a cluster
like Eagles over the empty wilderness
proceed to Acre, all of you soldiers
attend to the war from morning till dusk
save your homeland O’ Muslim believers
we all are Islam, the enduring religion
Who is killed from us. This is his day.
and whoever survives gets all the splendor
Strike them like the strike of a stubborn gallant
Similar to the olden days of A’antar
Abu Dawood speaks from a brave heart
nothing but endurance is left for me in this war
Screenshot from Hussni Adham Jarrar’s book ‘Mountain of Fire History…and Jihad 1700 - 1900AD’
The men responded to his summons. The sheiks and notables gathered their troops and set off towards Acre. They resisted the colonizer and successfully expelled them. Napoleon Bonaparte, leading the French, suffered heavy casualties during this invasion. Palestine remained free, protected by its people till the start of the 20th century.
