Jerusalem in the Islamic belief
Introduction:
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the first Qibla and the second of the two mosques. No word can describe it. It is one of the three sacred places that Prophet Mohammed encouraged Muslims to go and visit them. Also, it is a blessed mosque, as Qur’an says: “whose surroundings We have blessed”. This is one of the greatest and most eloquent expressions regarding the bless and great honor Al-Aqsa Mosque enjoys, especially that it’s located in the land of Divine Religions and lace where prophets ascended from to the seven heavens.
The Virtues of Al-Aqsa Mosque:
Allah says: “Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed”. From this holy verse, the virtues of Al-Aqsa Mosque can be inferred. Since it has been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an we know that it is a very important and great place. Allah blessed it and its surroundings. Not only that, one of its virtues is that a prayer in it equals in reward 500 prayers in other mosques.
The Borders of Al-Aqsa Mosque:
The area of Al-Aqsa mosque is vast. It’s 144 dunums. This area includes all of what is within the walls, like prayer halls, above and under the ground, terraces, domes, courts, corners, and other landmarks.
Legends and Myths related to the Holy Rock:
There have been a lot of legends and myths that talked about the Holy Rock that a mosque, right in the middle of the has been built on. It is located on the highest point of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Some of these myths is that it was hanged in the air and some people say it followed prophet Mohammed, PBUH, when he ascended to the Heavens. Also, some people falsely say it is a rock from heaven, and that all the waters around the world come from under it. The fact is that it is a normal rock with no special characteristics, except that it was the Israelites’ Qibla before Muslims. it is said that prophet Mohammed, PBUH, ascended from above it to the Heavens in his Isra’a and Mi’raj night Journey. We should not believe all the things told about it.
The Relationship between Al-Haram Mosque and Al-Aqsa Mosque:
The relationship between al-Haram and Al-Aqsa mosques is astonishingly tight. The unique link between the two mosque has been related to the story of their building, which was mentioned in a prophetic tradition (hadith) narrated by Al-Bukhari. Abu Dhār the Companion said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: which Masjid was built first?’ He said: ‘Al-Masjid Al-Haram. I said: ‘Then which?’ He said: ‘Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.’ I said: ‘How long was there between them?’ He said: ‘Forty years”. This hadith is one of the keys to study the relationship between the two mosques. There is resemblance in their buildings, and an experts’ study showed that the engineering planning of Al-Aqsa Mosque is similar to that of the Kaaba’s. It’s worth mentioning that the builder of them both is Prophet Adam, PBUH.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is Not a Sanctum:
Some people wrongly call Al-Aqsa Mosque “the Holy Jerusalemite Sanctum” or “the Third Sanctum”. Thee named are not accurate, because in Islam, there are only two sanctums, which are Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca, and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Prophet Mohammed, PBUH, said: “Verily Ibrahim declared Mecca sacred and supplicated (for blessings to be showered) upon its inhabitants, and I declare Medina to be sacred as Ibrahim had declared Mecca to be sacred. And I prayed for it”. The Sharia definition of a “sanctum” is the place that it’s forbidden to hunt, pluck grass, cut down trees, and do other stuff in it. Prophet Mohammed, PBUH, said: “Madinah is a Haram (Sanctuary) and its Sacred Precincts extend from ’Air to Thawr (the names of two mountains). Its fresh grass is not to be cut, its game is not to be driven away, and things dropped in it are to be picked up by one who publicly announces it, and it is not permissible for any man to carry weapons in it for fighting, and it is not advisable that its trees are cut except what a man cuts for the fodder of his camel”. As for Al-Aqsa Mosque, it is NOT forbidden to do such things. the danger in this description, “sanctum”, lies in that some Muslims get to think that Al-Aqsa Mosque is only Al-Qibli Mosque, the mosque with the gray dome, and that the sanctum is the courts around it, so they get to think that Al-Aqsa mosque and the Jerusalemite sanctum are two different things.
Al-Buraq Wall:
The first thing Jews have done when they occupied Jerusalem is destroying Al-Magharibah District to the ground and taking over Al-Buraq Wall and its court located right next to the district. They claimed that the wall is of the remains of their alleged Temple. They come to it to pray and cry, that’s why they falsely call it the “Wailing Wall”. The truth is that it is “Al-Buraq Wall” and its name came from the story of prophet Mohammed when he was taken from Mecca all the way to Al-Aqsa Mosque. He tied the rope of his animal the Buraq to a ring on that wall, and then he prayed two-Rak’a prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Who Built Al-Aqsa Mosque?
We know that Al-Aqsa Mosque is the second mosque ever on Earth. It was built at the beginning of the Divine approach on Earth, and when Allah started to send prophets who called for monotheism. Therefore, it is impossible for Prophet Ibrahim, prophet Solomon, Omar bin Al-Khattab, or Abdul Malik bin Marwan to be the ones who built it. They all lived during relatively late periods of time. Al-Aqsa Mosque was built by Adam, PBUH, because he is the first prophet, and there is no way that Adam lived for hundreds of years without building a place to worship Allah! Allah sent him to Earth as a successive authority. There were no one on Earth that could prevent Adam from building a mosque to worship Allah in, because there were yet no disbelievers at that time. We can say that Adam is the real builder of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
No wonder that Al-Aqsa mosque is the third of the holiest places in Islam, and that all the nations fight for it. If you get to know Al-Aqsa Mosque and how to love it, you will know the way that Allah has decreed for this nation to prevail. Victory is inevitable, and liberation is coming soon. Gaining pride is on the way, but it needs patience and work to be done. Be an Aqsa walking on earth.