Shaykh Dr. Yasir Qadhi presents a historical overview of Al-Hajj Amin al-Husayni (1895–1974), the last Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.

The discussion aims to provide a factual account of his life while addressing and debunking common accusations made against him, specifically regarding his relationship with Nazi Germany, Hitler and the Holocaust.

Born to a noble family in Jerusalem with a lineage tracing back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he was educated in Jerusalem, Cairo (Al-Azhar), and later trained at a military academy in Istanbul during World War I.

Becoming the Mufti of Jerusalem in 1921, he formed the Supreme Muslim Council to advocate for Palestinian rights and resistance against the British Mandate and the increasing influx of Jewish European Zionists.

Forced into exile by the British, he traveled through various countries before settling in Berlin for three years. Shaykh Yasir Qadhi emphasizes that his presence in Germany was a result of being blocked elsewhere and that his single meeting with Hitler was an attempt to negotiate support for Arab independence.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi asserts that there is no evidence Al-Husayni was a member of the Nazi Party or part of Hitler’s inner circle. He characterizes the claim that he orchestrated the Holocaust as a “blatant lie” used to smear Palestinians.

Like other historical figures, Al-Husayni’s political maneuvers must be viewed within the context of the era and his struggle for his people’s freedom, drawing a comparison to the pragmatic alliances made by figures like Nelson Mandela.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Al-Husayni continued his advocacy, though his influence declined as secular and nationalist movements like the PLO gained prominence over his revivalist, faith based approach. He died in 1974 in Lebanon and was denied burial in Jerusalem by the state of Israel.