The following are excerpts from a Friday sermon by Sheik Ibrahim Mudeiris from Gaza. Palestinian Authority TV aired this sermon on March 18, 2005:

Mudeires: A Palestinian and an Iraqi had a conversation before the occupation of Baghdad. Khaled said to his Iraqi colleague: 'Don't you think that all Arab and Islamic countries are occupied - although occupation may be of different shapes and forms? We in Palestine are the most fortunate in the entire Arab and Islamic because we are the only people who resist occupation and die for the sake of Allah.'

These are good words.

But listen to what the man from Baghdad responded. What he said demonstrates a profound understanding of Islam. He said to him: 'Khaled, you in Palestine die for the sake of Allah, but we are required to live for the sake of Allah, which is more difficult, because whoever doesn't live properly for the sake of Allah, cannot die properly for the sake of Allah.' These are words emanating from true feelings and a true understanding of the Prophet Muhammad. The Iraqi understood what the Prophet said, upon his return from a raid: 'We have returned from the small Jihad to the great Jihad [of building society].'