Abbas raised Hussein as an immediate successor to Ekrima Sa'id Sabri, who was reportedly removed from the position due to his growing popularity amidst his open expressions of highly contentious political views and his condoning of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

[1] In October 2006, three months after his appointment as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hussein expressed his opinion on Palestinian suicide bombings against Israelis, stating: "It is legitimate, of course, as long as it plays a role in the resistance.

"[1][2][3] In January 2012, Hussein addressed a crowd during an anniversary event for the founding of the Palestinian nationalist political party Fatah, during which he quoted a hadith, stating: "The Hour will not come until you fight the Jews.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Hussein's words as "morally heinous" and compared his behaviour to a former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husseini, who had allied himself with Adolf Hitler.

[4] Israeli attorney-general Yehuda Weinstein instructed local police to open a criminal investigation into Hussein's statements for incitement.