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= Masjid Al Aqsa: The first Qiblah for Muslims. =

What is Al Aqsa?
Al Masjid Al Aqsa:

The name “Al Masjid Al Aqsa” refers to the entire sanctuary (144,000 sq metres) and all the buildings in it. It includes the famous grey domed building (Masjid Qibli), and the gold domed building (the Dome of the Rock), as well as many other buildings within the sanctuary (including Masjid Marwani, Masjid Buraq etc.). The picture below shows the boundaries of Al Masjid Al Aqsa:

As we will recurrently be making mention of Masjid al Aqsa in this series, it is critical for us to correctly grasp what ‘Masjid al Aqsa’ actually entails, right from the inception.

A significant amount of confusion exists regarding this matter, with messages purporting to clarify in fact only serving to befuddle the understanding even further.

Is Masjid al Aqsa the black domed structure or the gold domed structure? Does one hold a greater significance than the other?

In the most authentic Islamic understanding of these questions, it is neither the black domed building (Musalla al Qibli), nor the gold domed building (the Qubbat as Sakhra/Dome of the Rock), that exclusively accounts for Masjid al Aqsa.

Allah SWT reminds us in the Holy Qur’an that He has blessed the land of Masjid al Aqsa for us and, hence, according to Islamic teachings, ALL the buildings within the walled al-Aqsa Sanctuary and the entirety of its land are sacred right down to every single grain of sand contained therein. Therefore, when we refer to ‘Masjid al-Aqsa’ it is not to any of the specific buildings found upon the land, but rather, the land itself upon which both the Dome of the Rock and the black/grey domed masjid (and other structures) stand.

References to the al-Aqsa Sanctuary/Masjid al-Aqsa are interchangeable terms, and neither of these names refer exclusively to the black domed building. Many have routinely referred to this Salaah facility as Masjid al-Aqsa, whereas, in fact, it should be called Musallah Qibly, which is simply a part of the wider Masjid al Aqsa compound. It is this common misuse of terms that has confused people.

The Masjid al Aqsa compound covers a walled off area of approximately 144 000 m2 on the south-east of al Quds (Jerusalem). There are 44 buildings within the al-Aqsa Sanctuary, including the black domed masjid and the Dome of the Rock. Other structures on the site include the underground Musalla al Marwani, other buildings on site, smaller domes, minarets, schools, fountains, clearings with olive trees and other plants, and monuments.

Many of these structures hold interesting historical significance. However, it should be emphasized that it is the land of the entire compound that is holy and blessed, and not the bricks and mortar of individual structures established on the land.

The entire area is a waqf(endowment) and the spiritual benefits associated with al Aqsa apply equally throughout the site.

This understanding of what constitutes Masjid al Aqsa is especially critical in light of Zionist attempts to divide the Masjid and limit Muslim access to parts of this sacred site.

The Dome of the Rock:
The Dome of the Rock (which is also known by its Arabic names Masjid As-Sakhrah and Qubbat As-Sakhrah) is the most well-known building in the sanctuary of Al Masjid Al Aqsa due to its iconic design and gold dome. It is situated in the middle of the plateau of Al Masjid Al Aqsa, and was built in 72AH by Abd Al Malik ibn Marwaan. It is a part of Al Masjid Al Aqsa and is not separate or distinct to it.

Summary:

Al Masjid Al Aqsa is the entire area that comprises both what is today called Al Masjid Al Aqsa (the silver domed building at the southern end of the sanctuary), the Dome of the Rock (in the middle of the sanctuary), and everything else that is on the plateau (including Masjid Burak, Masjid Marwani etc) and within the walls of the sanctuary. The size of the sanctuary is 144,000 square metres.

The picture above is also very helpful. Everything within the green borders is Al Masjid Al Aqsa, and the picture also highlights some of the structures and buildings that form part of Al Masjid Al Aqsa (inc. Masjid Qibli, Dome of the Rock, Masjid Marwani and the wall of Masjid Buraq, etc).

Why visit Al Masjid Al-Aqsa?
There are many reasons why Muslims should make a sincere intention and their best efforts to visit Al Masjid Al Aqsa, and inshAllah, below are 3 of the most important:

1. Islamic: Status of Al Aqsa and its associated reward:
Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught us that we should only undertake a special journey to one of three masjids; Al Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, Al Masjid An-Nabawi in Madinah, and Al Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. In addition – prayer in each of these blessed masjids are multiplied in virtue, with one salaah in Al Masjid Al Aqsa receiving at least 500 times the reward of salaah elsewhere. Al Masjid Al Aqsa has a very special status for Muslims because of its own unique history, including being:
 * The first qibla in Islam.
 * The second place of worship built in Islam (built 40 years after Kaaba).
 * The place where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) travelled to on the night of Isra.
 * The place where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) led all the other Prophets in prayer.
 * The place where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) ascended during the Miraj.

A place mentioned in the Quran as being “blessed” and “holy”, on numerous occasions. A few of these Quranic references are extracted below:

Surah Isra (17:1): “Glorified be He [Allah] Who did take His servant for a journey by night from Al Masjid Al Haram to Al Masjid Al Aqsa, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of our Signs. Verily He is the All Hearing, All Seeing”

Surah Maidah (5:21): “Remember Musa said to his people: “O my people! Call in remembrance the favour of God unto you, when He produced Prophets among you, made you kings and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples. O my people! Enter the Holy Land which God has assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will you be overthrown, to your own ruin”

Surah Al Anbiyya (21:69-71): “we said, O Fire! Be thou cool and [a means of] safety for Ibrahim. Then they planned against him, but We made them the greater losers. But we delivered him and Lot (and directed them) to the land which We have blessed for the nations”

One final point relating to reward is that some shayukh have said that if one remembers Allah at a time when others forget, then inshAllah the reward is greater because it is harder to do so. So, imagine the reward one will get for visiting Al Masjid Al Aqsa if one embarks on that journey at a time when the rest of the Muslims are neglectful and / or forgotten to visit this blessed place.

2. Social: Support the Ummah and the Palestinians:
We have all heard about the inhumane, immoral and apartheid conditions which the Israeli authorities force upon our Palestinian brothers and sisters to live under. Many experience conditions of poverty that we can scarcely imagine, and are subjected to daily harassment, humiliation, physical abuse and prejudice.

Now ask yourselves the question – why do they stay in this land and endure such hardships each day, when there are many Zionist organizations that are willing to pay them unimaginable sums of money for their property?

The reason is because the Palestinians realise that this land is blessed and is sacred for the Muslims! They make such sacrifices to protect Al Masjid Al Aqsa so that it remains an Islamic place of worship, and so that all of us, and our families and future generations can visit and offer our salaah there. They sacrifice themselves to please Allah by protecting Al Masjid Al Aqsa for the Muslims.

So, with this in mind, the very least we should try and do is visit and show them that we as an Ummah have not forgotten about them, and that we as an Ummah are united in our support for them. One thing that always touches me on visiting Palestine is how often the locals tell me just how much it means for them to see foreigners visit, and how it gives them hope and renewed determination to continue their struggle because it reminds them that their struggle is for the Ummah, and that the Ummah is behind them.

3. Economic: Give Sadaqa:
Visiting Al Masjid Al Aqsa and Palestine provides an amazing and unique opportunity to gain huge reward by giving sadaqa.

The reason for this is that the Israeli authorities have imposed such strict restrictions on the free movement of Palestinians and their ability to engage in trade and business, that it is v difficult for them to build an economy independently.

Therefore, if you visit Al Masjid Al Aqsa and intend that all the money you spend will be to support the Ummah (and especially those within the Ummah who need it and have sacrificed themselves for the deen) – then inshAllah all the money you spend will be sadaqa for you! Below are a few lovely hadith and ayaat on the virtues of sadaqa:


 * “Sadaqa extinshuishes sin as water extinguishes fire” [Ahmad, Tirmidhi]
 * “Sadaqah (charity) does not decrease wealth.” [Muslim]
 * “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his Sadaqah.” [Ahmad]
 * “Every act of goodness is sadaqa” [Bukhari].
 * “The likeness of those who spend for Allah’s sake is as the likeness of a grain of corn, it grows seven ears, every single ear has a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies (increases the reward of) for whom He wills, and Allah is sufficient for His creatures needs, All-Knowing.” [Quran 2:261]

So please take up this amazing opportunity to gain massive amounts of reward and increase in your closeness to Allah by visiting this, Blessed Masjid!!

Islamic History of Al Masjid Al Aqsa:
Al Masjid Al Aqsa has a very special place in the hearts of the entire Muslim community due to its unique and rich history as a place of worship that is so closely intertwined with the lives of many of the Prophets of Islam, as well as for its special status as a Masjid to which travel is recommended and in which reward is increased. It is a special and blessed Masjid of vast size comprising 144,000 square metres in size (covering approximately 1/6th of the entire area of the Old City of Jerusalem) and with capacity to accommodate in the region of 500,000 worshippers.

InshAllah below we shall set out a very brief summary of the history of Al Masjid Al Aqsa, splitting the information into three sections: 1) From Prophet Adam (as) to Prophet Muhammad (saw); 2) From Prophet Muhammad (saw) to 1917; and 3) From 1917 to the present day.

1. From Prophet Adam (as) to Prophet Muhammad (saw):
Al Masjid Al Aqsa was the first qibla in Islam and it has been a significant and important place of worship for the Prophets of Islam. It was built 40 years after Al Masjid Al Haram in Makkah. There is a difference of opinion amongst scholars as to who exactly built Al Masjid Al Aqsa, with some scholars and historians asserting the view that Al Masjid Al Aqsa was built by Prophet Adam (as), and others opining that it was built by Prophet Ibrahim (as). It has also been rebuilt, renovated and expanded many times in the history of Islam.

It was a well-known place of worship at the time of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and for his son Prophet Ishaq (as) and grandson Prophet Yaqub (as). When Prophet Yaqub’s son Prophet Yusuf (as) attained a position of power in Egypt, he asked his family to join him and escape the poverty that engulfed Palestine. Biblical sources claim this included his father Prophet Yaqub (as) and Prophet Yusuf’s siblings and their children [Book of Genesis], and that there were 33 in all (Allahu aalam). At this point, as there was no one left amongst Prophet Yaqub’s progeny to look after Al Masjid Al Aqsa (which at the time had the name of “Beteyel” or “House of God”), care for this blessed place was entrusted to the native population of the land (who were also followers of Prophet Ibrahim (as)), the Palestinians.

The Israelites who voluntarily emigrated to Egypt seeking a better material life remained there for approximately four centuries and became slaves to the Egyptians. This slavery only ended when Prophet Musa (as) freed them from Firaoun under the command of Allah. However, the Israelites rejected the orders of Allah to return to Palestine and were thus commanded to live in and wander through the desert of Sinai for 40 years. This ended when a new generation was born, containing within it Prophet Daoud (as), who led his generation of believers to Palestine.

Prophet Daoud (as) established his kingdom in part of Palestine, and controlled Jerusalem. His son Prophet Suleiman (as) rebuilt Al Masjid Al Aqsa with the help of the local indigenous population and next to it he built the ruler’s palace. After Prophet Suleiman’s death, his two sons divided his kingdom amongst themselves with each having its own capital. These kingdoms existed for a very short period of time – approximately two hundred years, with the last king of Jerusalem in this dynasty being dethroned in 586/587BC as he tried to resist the Babylonians (led by King Nebuchadnezzar) but failed due to a crippling siege that the Babylonians had placed on the city.

Shortly after the Babylonians took control of Jerusalem, Al Masjid Al Aqsa was destroyed again.

The Persians overthrew the Babylonians (during which time efforts to rebuild Al Masjid Al Aqsa as a place of worship were renewed), but in the period thereafter ownership changed hands numerous times, and Al Masjid Al Aqsa was destroyed, rebuilt and then destroyed again within a century by the Romans in 70AD after a revolt in the city.

By 315-325AD, when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, the Romans and the people residing in their land (including the Jews) no longer had any regard for Al Masjid Al Aqsa and no longer treated it as a place of sanctity and worship, with the site of Al Masjid Al Aqsa actually being used as a place of waste disposal for the citizens of the city. This is how Al Masjid Al Aqsa remainded for the next few hundred years until the Prophet Muhammad (saw) revived once again the spirituality of this blessed place, and his great companion Umar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) liberated the city.

2. From Prophet Muhammad (saw) to 1917:
Al Masjid Al Aqsa had a very unique place in the life of Prophet Muhammad (saw) for many reasons. Firstly, as Al Masjid Al Aqsa was central to the lives of many of his fellow Prophets (as) with whom he shared an exceptional bond (as the Islam taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a continuation, completion and perfection of the religion and message of monotheism preached by all the prophets of Allah including Prophet Adam (as), Prophet Nuh (as), Prophet Ibrahim (as) (of whom Prophet Muhammad (saw) was a descendant through his son Ismaeel (as)), Prophet Musa (as), Prophet Daoud (as), Prophet Suleiman (as), and Prophet Isa (as) to name a few), Al Masjid Al Aqsa also by definition had a central place in his life and heart. In addition to this, up until the 2nd year of Hijra (623/624AD), the Prophet Muhammad (saw) turned and faced Al Masjid Al Aqsa as the direction for his prayers.

In his lifetime though, the most memorable reason why Al Masjid Al Aqsa has such significance is because it was the place to which he travelled on the night of Israa, and it was the location from which he made his Miraaj to the Heavens.

In the books of Hadith, we learn that the Prophet (saw) went to visit the Ka’bah at night, and fell asleep. The Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) then awoke him and led him to a winged white beast named Buraq. It was on Buraq that the Prophet (saw) then made the journey to Jerusalem (a journey that would typically take 40 days) in just one momentous night. On reaching Jerusalem, the Prophet (saw) met and led all the previous Prophets in prayer at the site of Al Masjid Al Aqsa, and then embarked on the Miraaj to the Heavens.

The journey of Israa was such a momentous occasion that Allah revealed verses relating to this journey in the Holy Quran:

سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ"“Glorified be He [Allah] Who did take His servant for a journey by night from Al Masjid Al Haram to Al Masjid Al Aqsa, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs. Verily He is the All Hearing, All Seeing” [17:1]."After the death of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), the second khalif of Islam (who was also a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad (saw)), Umar Ibn Al Khattab, entered and mercifully liberated Jerusalem (accompanied by 40,000 sahaba) on the invitation of the Christian leader at the time, without shedding blood and with the guarantee of protection for the lives, property and places of worship of others within the city who wished to remain there. As Umar’s personality and characteristics closely resembled and matched those of the liberator of Jerusalem foretold within scriptures, the people of the city were quick to embrace and accept his rule.

As mentioned earlier, when he arrived at the site of Al Masjid Al Aqsa in 637/638AD, he didn’t find a place of prayer but rather a plot of land that had been left barren and had been used as a rubbish tip by the Romans. Upon seeing this he took the responsibility to remove the waste with his own hands and to rebuild Al Masjid Al Aqsa. Both the Christians and the Jews were pleased with the arrival of Umar and the Muslims, and with their just rule.

In 691/692AD, Abd’ al Malik bin Marwan began constructing what is nowadays known as the Dome of the Rock on top of the rock which some believe was the place where Prophet Muhammad (saw) embarked on his Miraaj to the Heavens. However, it must be noted that regardless of whether the rock has importance for this reason, its main significance derives from it being within the boundaries of Al Masjid Al Aqsa and therefore part of Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

The Muslims lost Al Masjid Al Aqsa to the Crusaders in 1099AD and were the victims of one of the darkest and most bloody days in its history. On arrival into Jerusalem. the Crusaders announced that they would not take any prisoners, resulting in a large proportion of the Muslims fleeing to Al Masjid Al Aqsa in order to seek refuge. The Crusaders later entered the blessed Masjid and massacred thousands of Muslims inside. Al Masjid Al Aqsa was then converted into a palace, and it took 88 years before the Muslims reclaimed it in 1187 under the leadership of the great leader Salahuddin Ayyubi. His reclamation of Jerusalem and Al Masjid Al Aqsa was reminiscent of Umar Ibn Al Khattab’s liberation five centuries earlier, and was a stark contrast to the actions of the Crusaders just a generation prior. Like Umar Ibn Al Khattab, Salahuddin Ayabbi did not allow a massacre of civilians or soldiers, and after reclaiming Al Masjid Al Aqsa he also used his own hands to clean the blessed land, and famously sprinkled rosewater through the Masjid.

The Muslims once again had unhindered control of Jerusalem and Al Masjid Al Aqsa for a significant period of time – approximately eight centuries – and their rule was characterized by peace, justice and prosperity, with Al Masjid Al Aqsa becoming a great centre of learning with scholars from all over the world travelling to study and teach within its blessed precincts. Throughout almost this entire period, the Christians and Jews were provided safety and protection, and their rights were respected as People of the Book.

3. From 1917 to the present day:
For numerous centuries during the Ottoman caliphate, the city of Jerusalem and Al Masjid Al Aqsa were preserved with honour and dignity, with Muslims being in charge of the administration of the city, but in line with Islamic law and the Ottoman millet system, they provided religious freedom and security for the Jewish and Christian minorities. However, all this changed when the Zionist movement in Europe emerged with the aim of creating a Jewish state on Muslim Palestinian land. This Zionist movement which was supported by the British, was further strengthened during World War 1 when the British captured Jerusalem and brought an end to eight centuries of Muslim rule. On arrival into Palestine in 1917 they found a land that was 90% populated by Arabs and with fewer than 56,000 Jews (of which only 5% were native Palestinian Jews, with the majority being those who had fled European persecution in recent decades). The British allowed the Muslims control of Al Masjid Al Haram during this period.

Five years after the British capture of Jerusalem, the first restoration works of the 20th century in Al Masjid Al Aqsa took place, and a couple of years later in 1924 Trans-Jordan took over custodianship of Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

In 1947 prior to Britain passing over the issue of Palestine to the UN, the Jews owned less than 6% of the total land of Palestine. For this reason, when the UN General Assembly recommended (despite this being outside of their competence according to the UN Charter) having a “Jewish state” which would comprise 54% of the Palestinian land, the native Palestinians rejected the proposal.

In 1948 after a war and numerous massacres and atrocities committed by the Zionists, the Jews established “Israel” on 78% of Palestinian land, and captured approximately 85% of Jerusalem. The Jordanian Arab Legion took control of the West Bank – including 11% of the eastern parts of Jerusalem which encompassed the Old City and Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

In 1967 following a further war, Israel illegally occupied East Jerusalem and claimed to unify Jerusalem as part of Israel. This move was. and is still, opposed and unrecognised by the international community. Following its capture of Jerusalem and the protests that followed, the Jewish authorities swiftly handed Al Masjid Al Aqsa back to Muslim control.

Following attempts by prominent Israeli figures to establish Jewish prayers at Al Masjid Al Aqsa and subsequent protests, a law was passed prohibiting Jewish prayer on Al Masjid Al Aqsa. The decision also meant that Jews and foreign tourists could only enter Al Masjid Al Aqsa through the Maghrebi gate.

However, since 1967 many Israeli authorities have passed rulings permitting Jews to offer worship on the site of Al Masjid Al Aqsa and many organisations have been lobbying Israeli officials to start the process of rebuiliding a Jewish place of worship on the sacred land of Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

In 1969 a fire that was started by a Zionist extremist destroyed the mimbar that was installed by Salahuddin Ayyubi. The mimbar was considered one of the most beautiful in the world and was constructed with over 10,000 interlocking pieces of Cedar and other wood, Ivory and Mother of Pearl affixed without a drop of glue or a single nail. Most of the damage from the fire took over 20 years to repair, due to the Israelis not allowing suitable resources into Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

In 1987 four Palestinian men were killed queuing at a checkpoint in Gaza, sparking the first intifada. Intifada literally means “shaking off” and is used to convey the meaning of setting Palestine and Al Masjid Al Aqsa free from Israeli oppression.

In 2000, Ariel Sharon marched on Al Masjid Al Aqsa surrounded by over 1000 security guards and police. This sparked the second Palestinian intifada. Following this visit, restrictions were placed on Palestinians wishing to pray at Al Masjid Al Aqsa, with Palestinian men (especially those between 18-50 years of age), facing bans from praying at certain times. These restrictions continue to this day.

In March 2013 Jordanian King Abdullah II signed an agreement with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas which maintained and reiterated the status quo that the King of Jordan is the official custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and that he has the right to exert all legal efforts to preserve them, especially Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

In November 2013 a draft Israeli law was proposed in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) allowing Jews the right to pray on Al Masjid Al Aqsa. This development was the result of 40 years of intense lobbying by nationalists who wish to destroy Al Masjid Al Aqsa in its current form, and replace it with a Jewish place of worship.

In October 2014 Israeli authorities closed Al Masjid Al Aqsa for the first time since 1967. This resulted in mass protests across Palestine and the Muslim world, and was swiftly followed by Al Masjid Al Aqsa being reopened.

To summarise the present-day situation:

Israel systematically denies access to Al Masjid Al Aqsa to most Palestinians, has permitted excavation works to be carried out under Al Masjid Al Aqsa damaging the foundations of Al Masjid Al Aqsa, and has permitted Jews to enter Al Masjid Al Aqsa during certain times on most days (despite this being contrary to traditional Rabbinical law for fear of disrespecting such sacred land). In addition to this, Israel maintains a security force on Al Masjid Al Aqsa permanently despite numerous appeals by the Supreme Muslim Council – and yet still fails to prevent Zionist extermists causing damage to Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

Interestingly, the UN Security Council has passed more than 20 resolutions condemning Israel’s annexation of Old Jerusalem, and Israel has been the most frequently condemned state by the UN in its history.

So please make your best effort to visit Al Masjid Al Aqsa and show that this place of worship is blessed and sacred for all Muslims.

Hadith relating to Al Masjid Al Aqsa:
Below are a collection of hadith relating to Al Masjid Al Aqsa:

The Importance of Visiting Masjid Al-Aqsa:
Abu Hurayrah (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said:

“Do not undertake a journey to visit any Mosque, but three: this Mosque of mine, the Mosque of al-Haram and the Mosque of Aqsa” [Sahih Muslim 1397]

Many similar Hadiths appear in Sahih Bukhari (Ref: 1189), Abu Dawud (Ref: 2033), An Nasa’i (Ref: 700) & Ibn Majah (Ref: 1409). There are also other narrations from Abu Sa’eed Al Khudri relating the same message in Tirmidhi (Ref: 326) and Ibn Majah (Ref: 1410).

Great Virtue in Praying at Masjid Al-Aqsa:
Abu Darda (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said:

“A prayer in Makkah (Ka’bah) is worth 1000,000 times (reward), a prayer in my Masjid (Madinah) is worth 1,000 times, and a prayer in Al-Aqsa Sanctuary is worth 500 times more reward than anywhere else” [Bayhaqi]

Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

“We were discussing when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which is better, the Mosque of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “One prayer in my mosque is better than four prayers offered there (in Bayt al-Maqdis), and what a good place of prayer it is. Soon there will come a time when, if a man has a piece of land the size of a horse’s rope from which he can see Bayt al-Maqdis, that will be better for him than the whole world.” [ al-Haakim, 4/509]

Anas Ibn Malik (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said:

“A man’s prayer in his house is equal (in reward) to 1 prayer; his prayer in the mosque of the tribes is equal to 25 prayers; his prayer in the mosque in which Friday prayer is offered is equal to 500 prayers; his prayer in Aqsa Mosque is equal to 50,000 prayers; his prayer in my mosque is equal to 50,000 prayers; and his prayer in the Sacred Mosque is equal to 100,000 prayers.” [Ibn Majah – Daeef Hadith]

Abdullah Ibn Amr reports that the prophet (ﷺ) said:

“When Sulaiman bin Dawud finished building Baitil-Maqdis, he asked Allah for three things: judgment that was in harmony with His judgment, a dominion that no one after him would have, and that no one should come to this mosque, intending only to pray there, but he would emerge free of sin as the day his mother bore him.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Two prayers were granted, and I hope that the third was also granted.” [Ibn Majah]

The Second House of Allah on Earth:
Abu Dharr (ra) reported that he asked the Prophet (saw), “O Messenger of Allah, which mosque was first built on the surface of the earth?” He said, “Al- Masjid-ul-Haram (in Mecca).” I said, “Which was built next?” He replied “The mosque of Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).” I said, “What was the period of construction between the two?” He said, “Forty years.” He added, “Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, for the best thing is to do so (i.e., to offer the prayers in time)”

[Sahih Bukhari 3366]

A similar Hadith is also narrated in Sahih Muslim (Ref: 520 a), and in Ibn Majah (Ref: 753).

The Importance of Donating to Masjid Al-Aqsa:
Maymunah Bint Sa’d (ra) relates that she asked the Prophet (saw):

“O Messenger of Allah, tell us the legal injunction about (visiting) Bayt al-Muqaddas. The Messenger of Allah said: go and pray there. All the cities at that time were affected by war. If you cannot visit it and pray there, then send some oil to be used in the lamps.” [Abu Dawud]

The Virtues of Wearing Ihram from Masjid Al-Aqsa:
Umm Salamah (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said:

“If anyone puts on Ihram for Hajj or Umrah from Masjid Al-Aqsa and then proceeds to the Sacred Masjid (Ka’bah), his past and future sins will be forgiven, or he will be guaranteed Paradise”. [Abu Dawud 1741 – Daeef Hadith]

The Blessed Land of Masjid Al-Aqsa:
Zaid Ibn Thabit (ra) narrated:

“We were with the Messenger of Allah (saw) collecting the Qur’an on pieces of cloth, then the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: ‘Tuba [a prayer for glad tidings] ]is for Ash-Sham.’ So, we said: ‘Why is that O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Because the angels of Ar-Rahman spread their wings over it.’” [Tirmidhi]

The First Qiblah:
Al-Bara (ra) narrated that:

“We prayed toward Bait Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for sixteen or seventeen months – Safwan was not sure – then it was changed to the Qiblah.” [An Nasa’i 488]

Al Isra Blessings for Ummah:
Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated that:

Allah’s Messenger (saw) was presented with two cups one containing wine and the other milk on the night of his night journey at Jerusalem. He looked at it and took the milk. Gabriel said, “Thanks to Allah Who guided you to the Fitra (i.e., Islam); if you had taken the wine, your followers would have gone astray.” [Bukhari vol 6, book 60, Hadith 232]

Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “I met Ibrahim (ﷺ) on the Night of Ascension (Al-Asra), and he said to me: ‘O Muhammad, convey my greetings to your Ummah, and tell them that Jannah has a vast plain of pure soil and sweet water. It is a plain levelled land. The plants grow there by uttering: Subhan-Allah, Al-hamdu lillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar (Allah is free from imperfection; praise be to Allah; there is no true god except Allah; and Allah is Greatest).” [At- Tirmidhi]

Masjid Al-Aqsa – The Best Place of Residence
‘Abd Allaah bin ‘Amr said:

“I heard the Apostle of Allah (saw) say “There will be emigration after emigration and the people who are best will be those who cleave most closely to places which Abraham migrated [i.e., Jerusalem].” [Abu Dawud – Daeef]

11 Reasons Why love Masjid Al Aqsa:
Some of the reasons why Masjid al-Aqsa should form an important aspect of a believer’s dedication, and the reason why many pious individuals have given their wealth and lives, include the fact that Masjid al-Aqsa is:

1. the first Qiblah for Muslims.

2. the station of al-Isra’ and al-Mi’raj.

3. the second house of Allah built on earth.

4.the place where hundreds of Messengers of Allah are buried.

5. the place where many Companions are buried.

6. a place where miracles were shown by Allah’s will.

7. a place which Allah Himself calls a ‘blessed place’.

8.referred to directly and indirectly, seventy times in the Holy Qur’an.

9. the place where angels have descended with Allah’s message.

10. the only place on earth where all the Messengers of Allah prayed at the same time led by the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

11. the only Masjid mentioned by name in the Holy Qur’an apart from the Ka’bah.

It is for the above reasons and many more that we need to understand our responsibilities regarding safeguarding the Masjid al-Aqsa which is in great danger of being demolished by Israeli extremists.

Where will gathering for Qiyamah Take Place?
Due to the many reminders of Qiyamah that lie within the Hajj journey, it is often assumed that Arafah will be the location for the final Resurrection and gathering of mankind before their Lord. But is this assumption based on fact? What does the Qur’an and Hadith have to say about this question? Scholarly authorities who have considered this question have written that there is no Saheeh evidence indicating towards Arafah as the place of resurrection.

Rather it is proven in the saheeh hadeeth that the gathering will be in al-Shaam (Greater Syria, including Palestine). It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Al-Shaam is the land of the gathering and the resurrection.” (Narrated by Ahmad)

Al-Manaawi said in Fath al-Qadeer: “i.e., it is the place where the people will be gathered for the Reckoning. They will be resurrected from their graves then they will be driven to that land. It has been singled out for this because it is the land of which Allaah said (interpretation of the meaning): ‘the land which We have blessed for the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)’ [al-Anbiya’ 21:71]. Most of the Prophets were sent from that land and their laws spread throughout the world, so it is appropriate that it should be the land of the gathering and the resurrection.” (Fayd al-Qadeer by al-Manaawi, vol. 4, p. 171).

The Hadith narrated by Maymoona (RA) indicates the same:

Sayyidatina Maymuna (RA) reported: I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah [SAW], tell us about Bait al Maqdis’. He said: ‘It is the place of Judgement Day where everyone will be called. Come and pray in it, for one prayer in it is like one thousand prayers elsewhere’. ‘What is one cannot go there?’ I asked. He replied, ‘Send oil for its lamps; for whoever does so, it is as if they went there’” (Musnad Imam Ahmed)

Imam al Qurtubi in his tafseer has mentioned regarding the following ayah:

و استمع يوم يناد المناد من مكان قريب

Surah Qaaf Surah no. 50 Ayat no. 41

و قد زادت السنة هذاه الاية بيانا, فروى الترمذى عن معاوية بن حيده عن النبى صلى الله عليه و سلم فى حديث ذكره  قال و اشار بيده

الى الشام فقال ” من ها هنا الى ها هنا تحشرون ركبانا و مشاة و تجّرون على وجوهكم يوم القيامة

Tafseer al-Qurtubi Vol 17-18 Pg 31 (Darul Hadith Cairo)

He states that, narrated by Imaam at- Tirmidhi that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) indicated towards Shaam and stated “from this area to this area you will be resurrected some people riding some walking and some dragged on their faces on the day of Qiyamah.”

Furthermore, Imam al Qurtubi explains the exact location to be close to the rock at Masjid-al-Aqsa, Palestine.

و قيل : المكان القريب صخرة بيت المقدس

Tafseer al-Qurtubi Vol 17-18 Pg 31 (Darul Hadith Cairo)

Imam al Qurtubi also narrates in his book at-Tazkirah, commentating on the ayah:

” فاذا هم بالساهرة”

(Al Quran – Surah an-Naazi’aat )

He quotes Imaam as-Thawri as saying that the land of resurrection is Shaam.

و قال الثورى : الساهرة ارض الشام

At-Tazkirah   Pg 168 (Darul Hadith Cairo)

Thus, the gathering of people on Hajj at ‘Arafaah reminds the Muslim and is symbolic of the gathering of all of mankind for the Reckoning. However, textual evidence indicates towards Shaam, Palestine and the surroundings of Masjid al-Aqsa as being the actual location for the ultimate gathering and reckoning for Qiyamah.

And Allaah knows best!

The importance of al-Quds for the Muslims – and do the Jews have any right to it?
Firstly: with regard to the importance of Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), you should know – may Allaah bless you –that the virtues of Bayt al-Maqdis are many:

-Allaah has described it in the Qur’an as being blessed. He said (interpretation of the meaning): “Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allaah) Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam (at Makkah) to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsaa (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed…” [al-Israa’ 17:1]. Al-Quds is part of the neighbourhood surrounding the mosque and hence it is blessed.

-Allaah has described it as being holy, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “[Moosa said:] O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allaah has assigned to you…” [al-Maa’idah 5:21]

-In al-Quds there is al-Masjid al-Aqsaa, and one prayer there is equivalent to two hundred and fifty prayers elsewhere.

It was reported that Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: we were discussing, in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which of them was more virtuous, the mosque of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or Bayt al-Maqdis. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: One prayer in my mosque is better than four prayers there, but it is still a good place of prayer. Soon there will come a time when if a man has a spot of land as big as his horse’s rope from which he can see Bayt al-Maqdis, that will be better for him than the whole world. (Narrated and classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, 4/509. Al-Dhahabi and al-Albaani agreed with him, as stated in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, at the end of the discussion of hadeeth no. 2902).

One prayer in al-Masjid al-Nabawi is equivalent to one thousand prayers elsewhere, so one prayer in al-Masjid al-Aqsaa is equivalent to two hundred and fifty prayers elsewhere.

With regard to the famous hadeeth which says that prayer in al-Masjid al-Aqsaa is equivalent to five hundred prayers elsewhere, this is da’eef (weak). (See Tamaam al-Minnah [?] by Shaykh al-Albaani – may Allaah havemercy on him – p. 292).

-The one-eyed Dajjaal (“Antichrist”) will not enter it, because of the hadeeth, “He will prevail over all the earth, apart from al-Haram [in Makkah] and Bayt al-Maqdis.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 19665. Classed as saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah, 2/327, and Ibn Hibbaan, 7/102).

-The Dajjaal will be killed close to al-Quds. He will be killed by the Messiah ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him), as was stated in the hadeeth: “The son of Maryam will kill the Dajjaal at the gates of Ludd.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2937, from the hadeeth of al-Nawwaas ibn Sam’aan). Ludd (Lod) is a place near Bayt al-Maqdis.

-The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was taken to Bayt al-Maqdis on his Night Journey (al-Israa’) from al-Masjid al-Haraam to al-Masjid al-Aqsaa. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allaah) Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam (at Makkah) to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsaa (in Jerusalem) …” [al-Israa’ 17:1].

-It (al-Quds) was the first Qiblah of the Muslims, as was reported by al-Baraa’ (may Allaah be pleased with him): the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis for sixteen or seventeen months. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 41 – this version was narrated by him – and by Muslim, 525).

-It is the place where Wahy (Revelation) came down, and it is the homeland of the Prophets. This is well known.

-It is one of the mosques to which people may travel.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No journey should be made except to three mosques, al-Masjid al-Haraam, Masjid al-Rasool (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and Masjid al-Aqsaa.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1132. Also narrated by Muslim, 827, from the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, with the words, “Do not travel except to…”).

-The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led the Prophets in one prayer in al-Aqsaa, as reported in the lengthyhadeeth: “… Then the time for prayer came, and I led them in prayer.” (Narrated by Muslim, 172, from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah).

It is not permissible to travel to any spot-on earth for the purpose of worshipping there, except these three mosques.

Secondly:

The fact that Ya’qoob (peace be upon him) built al-Masjid al-Aqsaa does not mean that the Jews have more right to the mosque than the Muslims, because Ya’qoob was a monotheist and the Jews are mushrikeen. The fact that their father Ya’qoob built the mosque does not mean that it belongs to them. He built it for the monotheists to worship in it, even if they were not his children, and he did not allow the mushrikeen to enter it, even if they are his children, because the call of the Prophets has nothing to do with race; it is based on taqwaa (piety, awareness of Allaah).

Thirdly:

Your saying that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led the previous Prophets in prayer to signify the unity of the message and all divine revelations is correct from the point of view of the origin of the religion and ‘aqeedah (belief) of the Prophets. All of the Prophets received their Message from one source, which was the Wahy (Revelation), and they all had the same ‘aqeedah, which was the belief in Tawheed (absolute unity of Allaah) and the worship of Allaah Alone, even though there were differences in the details of their laws. This was confirmed by our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he said: “I am the closest of mankind to ‘Eesaa ibn Maryam in this world and in the Hereafter. The Prophets are brothers although they have different mothers, and their religion is one.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3259; Muslim, 2365).

The phrase “brothers although they have different mothers” means brothers who have the same father but different mothers, i.e., they are the children of co-wives.

Here we would caution readers against believing that the Jews, Christians and Muslims are following the same principles nowadays, because the Jews have changed the religion of their Prophet. Indeed, part of the religion of their Prophet is that they should follow our Prophet and not reject him, but they disbelieve in the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and associate others in worship with Allaah.

Fourthly:

The Jews do not have any stake in al-Quds, because even though they may have lived in the land previously, that land now belongs to the Muslims from two points of view:

1.The Jews disbelieved and are no longer following the religion of the believers among the Children of Israel who followed and supported Moosa and ‘Eesaa (peace be upon them). 2.We Muslims have more right to it than them, because land does not belong to the people who lived there first, but to those who establish the laws of Allaah therein. Allaah created the land, and He created people to worship Allaah in the land and to establish therein the religion, laws and rulings of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “… Verily, the earth is Allah’s. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills of His slaves; and the (blessed) end is for the Muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-A’raaf 7:128] Hence if some Arabs came who were not followers of Islam and they ruled the land with kufr, they would have to be fought until they submitted to the rule of Islam or were killed.

It is not the matter of race or ethnicity; it is the matter of Tawheed and Islam.

Here it is useful to quote the words of one of the researchers: “History tells us that the first people to settle in Palestine were the Canaanites, six thousand years BCE. They were an Arab tribe who came to Palestine from the Arabian Peninsula, and after their arrival, Palestine was named after them [i.e., Canaan].”

(Al-Suhyooniyyah, Nash’atuhaa, Tanzeemaatuhaa, Inshitatuhaa, by Ahmad al- ‘Awadi, p. 7).

“As for the Jews, the first time they entered Palestine was approximately six hundred years after Ibraheem had entered the land, i.e., they entered it approximately 1400 years BCE. So, the Canaanites entered Palestine and lived there approximately 4500 years before the Jews.”

(Ibid., p. 8) Hence it is clear that the Jews have no right to the land, whether according to religious law or in terms of who lived there first and possessed the land. They are aggressors who are seizing the land by force. We ask Allaah to rid Bayt al-Maqdis of them sooner rather than later, for He is Able to do that and He is Most Generous in answering. Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.

“Al-Aqsa Mosque and its courtyards are entirely Islamic, and no division of the blessed site will be accepted.”

Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar

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