Articles

Al-Aqsa Mosque
Author : Dr Noah Ali Salman
Date Added : 31-07-2013

 

All Praise be to Allah and blessings on His Messenger, Mohammad Peace Be upon Him

The roots of Al-Aqsa Mosque are deep in our hearts based on our faith:

1. The first of these roots is the Miraculous Night Journey (Al-Isra') as Allah Says (What means): ''Glory to (Allah) Who did take His Servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose precincts We did bless-in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the one Who hears and sees (all things)." [Al-Isra'/1].

 

It is well known that The Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) is the most blessed area on earth. The Journey from this place to another place indicates that the other place has equal sanctity and blessings. Muslims in the time of Omar Bin al Khattab (May Allah Be Pleased with him) absorbed that meaning and when they got the chance physically marched towards Al Aqsa Mosque after the Prophet Peace be upon him miraculously travelled to it. From this point, Muslims glorify Al-Aqsa Mosque in the same level they glorify AL-Masjid Al-Haram or the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca).

 

2. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the blessed land resided by bad people who practiced corruption and were punished by Allah consecutively. Thus, it is the turn for a nation whose slogan is the verse, it reads (What means) as follows: "Surely Allah commands to justice and fairness and bringing (charity) to a near kinsman." [An-Nahl /90] to follow that corrupted nations.

 

In addition, this was what happened. Allah ordained that Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his nation after him inherit the land. All prophets approved this when they accepted him to lead them in their prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque. For this, we notice that Allah followed the news of Al-Isra' (The prophet's miraculous night journey to Jerusalem) with the news of those who were given the book but did not abide by it and corrupted the land.

 

3. From Al-Aqsa Mosque, Prophet Mohammad Peace Be upon Him was heavenly ascended from earth to heaven and to Sidrat Al-Muntaha (in The Seventh Heaven) from where He was assigned the five daily prayers for all Muslims.

 

We all know that there are several gates to Heaven and that Gabriel (PBUH) exited from the gate opposite to Al-Sakhrah when he came down to the prophet in the cave of Hira'. This choice of the gate opposite to Al-Sakhrah makes Muslims remember Al-Aqsa mosque in every prayer. Muslims should never forget it as it is prone to terrible events. It must all the time be present in the mind of Muslims.

 

4. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the first Qiblah for Muslims (The direction that Muslims face when engaged in ritual prayer). Prophet Mohammad PBUH remained 16 months directing his prayers towards Al-Aqsa Mosque when he was in Al-Medina Al-Munawara. Then Allah, The Almighty ordered him to change the direction of Qiblah whereas; He Said (What means): ''Indeed We see the turning of your face to heaven, so We shall surely turn you to a Qiblah which you shall like; turn then your face towards the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca).'' [Al-Baqara/144].

 

Qiblah means the direction glorified by Allah. Therefore, Allah enjoined Muslims to direct themselves to this Qiblah (Al-Aqsa Mosque) to make them feel the blessings of this place.

 

This glory of being the Qiblah does not fade by being directed to follow another Qiblah. At which prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his flowers were directed to in their prayers remains a sacred place for us until the Day of Judgment. Its holiness is the same as that of Ka'ba. Believers must be as compassionate and protective towards it as they feel towards Ka'ba.

 

5. Al Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said: "No mosque is to be specially headed to in a journey except for three: Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca), the Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) and my Mosque (Al Masjed Al Nabawi in Medina)." [Agreed upon].

 

All mosques are the same in virtue except for these three, which are distinguished in sanctity and respect. The Haram (the inviolate place) is the place sanctified by God and His good believers. In the same way Muslims glorify the Masjid al-Haram in Holy Mecca and the Mosque of the Prophet (Al-Masjed Al-Nabawi) in Al-Medina Al-Munawarah, they must glorify the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and they must protect it.

 

6. A prayer in al Aqsa Mosque is worth 500 prayers performed in any other mosque as the Prophet (PBUH) said.

 

For this reason, our noble ancestors made it a point to travel and stay in Jerusalem for certain times. They made generous donations for this purpose seeking the multiple rewards from Allah and to be always ready to defend the Aqsa Mosque and protect it. For this reason, the people of Jerusalem and those who live around the area are in a state of mobilization until the Day of Judgment.

 

7. We are a nation that sees no difference between any of the Messengers sent by Allah. We believe in them all and respect them all; thus, any mark in Jerusalem related to any Prophet, is precious to us.

This religious fact is a special privilege for the Nation of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) Him, and that is why Allah made them witnesses over mankind and custodians for all the holy icons of all religions.

 

For these reasons, the Sacred Land and Al-Aqsa Mosque are precious to all Muslims. For that reason, they rallied to support the Jerusalem financially and spiritually while every generation is keen to leave an impact reminding other generations of the value of this place. Omar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah Be Pleased with him) and all Muslim leaders till today are doing so. We all know the Hashemite architecture in Jerusalem from the days of Sherif Hussain bin Ali to the days of King Hussain bin Talal (may Allah have mercy on him) who shielded the Dome of the Rock with gold pieces. King Abdullah II re-constructed the Saladin's Minbar and sent it back to its place at Al Aqsa Mosque, and he gave his directions to build a new Minaret in the Mosque. May Allah reward them all.

 

These are the roots of Al Aqsa Mosque in the hearts of Muslims. It is rooted in our consciousness and never escapes our thought as long as we read The Words of Allah Who Says (What means): "Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who hears and sees (all things)." [Al Isra'/1].

 

Peace be upon you all.

 

 

A Speech by the late Sheikh Noah Al Qudah delivered at the Hashemite Scientific Sessions organized by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. (The original speech has been edited for publication.)

 

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible to sleep before the time of the Fajr prayer begins, with the intention of waking up shortly afterward?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is permissible for a Muslim to sleep before the time of the Fajr prayer begins, intending to wake up and perform the prayer, by setting an alarm or asking someone to wake him. What is to be avoided is that a person sleeps while he predominantly assumes that he will not wake up for the prayer.
If he does not wake up until the time of the prayer has ended, he must make it up. It is recommended that he hasten to make it up as soon as he wakes, and likewise recommended that he make up its sunnah along with it.
It is stated in al-Majmūʿ by Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him): “Whoever was obliged to pray and did not pray until the time passed must make it up, because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): ‘Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers it.’ It is recommended that he make it up immediately, because of the ḥadīth we have mentioned. If he delays it, that is permissible, because it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) missed the Fajr prayer and did not pray it until he had left the valley. Had it been required immediately, he would not have delayed it. Abū Is-ḥāq said: If he left it without a valid Sharia excuse, he must make it up immediately, because he was negligent in delaying it.”
It is therefore the duty of every Muslim to keep the prayer in its proper time, seeking help from Allah the Exalted and striving against the self to do so. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on working in hotels?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is permissible to work in hotels, restaurants, and shops in jobs that involve no direct handling of forbidden things and do not assist in them, such as administrative work.
As for jobs in which one directly handles forbidden things or assists in them, such as serving, transporting, or purchasing alcohol, receiving payment for it, or agreeing to buy it, working in them is forbidden, based on the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” [al-Māʾidah/2]
The basic nature of the work of hotels and restaurants is permissible, and the sin of any forbidden element that arises incidentally in some of what takes place in a hotel or restaurant is borne by those who run it.
The scholars have also permitted dealing with one whose lawful wealth is mixed with unlawful wealth, as previously explained in Fatwa no. (2697). And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to use unscented petroleum jelly (Vaseline) during ‘Umrah, in order to prevent skin chafing or irritation?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
According to the Shāfi‘ī school, it is permissible for someone in the state of iḥrām to use oils and creams free of perfume/fragrance on parts of the body other than the head and beard, for a genuine medical need — such as preventing skin chafing or irritation. However, applying them to the head or beard remains unlawful.
Shaykh al-Islām, Imam an-Nawawī (raḥimahullāh), says in al-Majmū‘ (Vol.7/P.279): "Oils are of two types: the first is an oil that is neither perfumed itself nor contains any perfume — such as olive oil, sesame oil, ghee, butter, walnut oil, almond oil, and similar oils. The use of this type is not unlawful anywhere on the body, except on the head and beard — where its use is unlawful without any disagreement [among the scholars]." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible to slaughter a sheep on Eid al-Adha with the intention of charity (sadaqah) on behalf of a sick person, and with the intention of udhiyah (sacrificial animal) at the same time?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The udhiyah (sacrificial animal) is an act of worship intended for its own sake; therefore, it must be slaughtered with the intention (niyyah) of udhiyah.
 
Whoever intends to draw closer to Allah through this act of obedience with the intention of udhiyah, and also intends to gift the reward to another person, there is no Islamic objection to that. And Allah Almighty knows best.