In these dark times of history, we see the descendants and followers of the two prophets: Ishmael and Issac, fighting among them to dispute a land which since the dawn of time has been a holy land. Although this land came under the responsibility of Muslims, but other countries have widened the chasm of hatred and strife to make this sacred land a land of war and dread.
Likewise, in another verse, Allah affirms: “And [We had subjected] to Solomon the raging wind, which by his command went towards the land which We had blessed.” (Al-Anbiya 21: 82). According to some commentators, this “land which We had blessed” refers to the region of Sham.
In another place in the Qur’an, this region has been called “pure [holy]”. In fact, addressing his people, the prophet Musa said: “O my people! Enter the pure [holy] land which Allah has ordained for you.” (Al-Maida 5: 22). According to some commentators, the “pure [or holy] land” referred to in this verse refers to that of Sham.
In addition, this region is
known to have hosted many men and women who have marked Muslim history.
Moreover, speaking in particular of Hazrat Mariam (ra) and of her son Isa (as),
Allah says: “And We made of the son of Mary, as well as of his mother a
sign; and We sheltered them in a secure place on a hilltop [high place] with a
spring.” (Al-Muminun 23: 51). Commenting on
this verse Ibn Kathir asserts that, according to the most correct opinion, the
place mentioned in this verse means “Bayt-ul-Muqadas”.
Likewise, it is said, according to some commentators, that this earth will be the place where the Angel calls for people to be resurrected and to come together for the Day of Judgement. In fact, speaking to His prophet, Allah says: “And listen on the Day when the caller [crier] will call [cry out] from a near place.” (Qaf 50: 42). In substance of this verse, Ibn Kathir writes: “According to Ka’b Al-Ahbar, this crier will stand on the rock of the Temple of Jerusalem and say: ‘O bones reduced to dust, O torn limbs! Allah commands you to come together for the Last Judgement’.”
This is why some scholars
claim that “Bayt-ul-Muqadas” will be
the place where the Resurrection and the Gathering will take place. In the
Sunnah we can see that: This land carries within it the second mosque which was
built forty years after that of Al-Haram [the Holy Ka’aba], namely the Masjid
Al-Aqsa. Therefore, it is quite possible that these two mosques were first
built by Adam or one of his sons. Moreover, Abu Dharr once asked the Messenger
of Allah (pbuh): “O Messenger of Allah!
Which mosque was first built on earth?” He replied: “The Masjid Al-Haram.” Then he said, “And afterwards?” The prophet said: “The Al-Aqsa Mosque”. After which Abu Dharr asked, “What is the time frame between the two?” -
“Forty years.” (Bukhari, Muslim).
The Masjid Al-Aqsa was the Qibla of Muslims for a certain period. Indeed, it is reported that after their emigration to Medina, the prophet and his companions performed their Salat [prayers], for around 16 or 17 months, by turning towards the Al-Aqsa mosque (Meaning of a Hadith quoted by Bukhari and Muslim).
Jerusalem or the Masjid Al-Aqsa was visited by the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) during his spiritual ascent during the night, as was also proved in the following verse: “Glory and purity to Him Who, by night, made His servant [Muhammad] travel from the Al-Haram Mosque to the Al-Aqsa Mosque which We have blessed around, in order to show him some of Our signs.” (Bani Isra’il 17: 2). In this regard, Anas Ibn Malik related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “They brought me Al-Buraq, a white mount larger than a donkey and smaller than a mule, which was in a jump where his gaze stopped. So I got on it and was transported to “Bayt-ul-Muqadas”. There I tied him to the ring intended for the use of the prophets. I entered the mosque where I performed two cycles [Rakat] of prayer...” (Muslim).
The Masjid Al-Aqsa is considered to be a holy place. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said in this sense: “A journey can only be undertaken towards three mosques: the Masjid Al-Haram, this Masjid [the mosque of the prophet] and the Masjid Al-Aqsa.” (Bukhari, Muslim).
So, it is obvious then that the fact of praying in this place is undoubtedly very meritorious. Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “When Sulaiman Ibn Da’ud had finished building ‘Bayt-ul-Muqadas’, he asked Allah for three things: a judgement which coincides with his own, a kingdom such as none other after him would have, and the atonement of the sins of any person who comes to this mosque only to pray, [such atonement which resembles] like the [purity with which he was born] day his mother gave birth to him. The [first] two requests have been granted, and I hope the third request has been granted.” (Ibn Majah).
In some narrations it is reported that one Salah [prayer] made at “Bayt-ul-Muqadas” is equivalent to five hundred prayers performed elsewhere. Either way, this place stands out from other places. It is therefore important for us to love and respect it at its true value, because this is a matter of piety of the heart. It is time for peace to be restored and for the spiritual children of Abraham (as) and of Ishmael (as) and Issac (as) to stop fighting and live in harmony with respect for the faith of the other, without any dispute or war. In a war it is the lives of the innocent that are sacrificed and an entire country suffers the throes of war.
May Allah preserve His holy mosques in Arabia, as well as in Jerusalem, and may Allah open the way for Islam to perfect the bond of brotherhood and inspire hearts to Allah’s oneness and the beauty of Islam. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 23 July 2021~12 Dhul-Hijjah 1442 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.