Articles

The Place of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Muslims' Hearts
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 27-05-2014

 

 

His Grace, The Mufti-General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

All praise be to Allah, peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions:

Allah, The Exalted, has privileged Al-Aqsa Mosque with a special religious place in the hearts of all Muslims deriving from the very essence of their belief. Therefore, the Prophet`s Night Journey and Ascension (Isra` and Miraj) suffice as a miracle blessing that holy site. Allah, The Almighty, Says in the Holy Quran (What means): "Glory to (God) 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 heareth and seeth (all things)." [Al-Isra`/1].

 

Al-Isra` is taking the Messenger of Allah for a journey from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to the farthest Mosque in Jerusalem.

 

Al-Miraj is when the Prophet travelled upwards to the Heavens from the farthest Mosque to the gate of Heaven which is above Jerusalem because Heaven has many gates, but for honoring Al-Aqsa` Mosque (the farthest Mosque), the Prophet was ascended from it.

The religious status of Al-Aqsa mosque makes Muslims proud of their religion, hold on to their rights, and have faith in their Lord.

 

The Prophet was ascended through the different levels of Heaven from Al-Aqsa mosque, then to the Lute-tree which is said to be the end of worldly knowledge, and beyond which none may pass. During the Miraj, or the Ascension, Prophet Mohammad saw things that he could only dream of. He demonstrated to people how to be true believers, and not to question the Unknown, or the Unseen because none knows them but He (Allah). Allah, The Almighty, Says in the Holy Quran (What means): "The (Prophet’s) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw. Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw? For indeed he saw him at a second descent, Near the Lute-tree beyond which none may pass: Near it is the Garden of Abode. Behold, the Lute-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!) (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!" [An-Najm/11-17].

 

During the Miraj Night, the Prophet saw the wonders of Allah`s Kingdom….He saw the much-frequented Fane and the Lute-tree near which is the Garden of Abode to which the Angels, the spirits of the martyrs and the righteous find rest. In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) saw the Archangel Gabriel (PBUH) in his heavenly image.

 

Al-Miraj started from Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, which enjoys a privileged status in the Islamic Faith:

First: The pledge of allegiance took place in Jerusalem where the Prophet (PBUH) led the other Prophets in prayer and they welcomed Him, pledged allegiance to Him, and blessed His Message. It was a divine gathering in which the values of all prophets came together as mentioned in the Prophet's (PBUH) Hadith: "My similitude in comparison with the other prophets is that of a man who has built a house completely and excellently except for a place of one brick. When the people enter the house, they admire its beauty and say: 'But for the place of this brick (how splendid the house will be!). [Agreed upon].

 

Allah, The Almighty, has mentioned this pledge of allegiance in His Holy Book (What means): "Behold! God took the covenant of the prophets, saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an apostle, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help." Allah said: "Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness, and I Am with you among the witnesses." [Al-Imran/81].

 

Second: Al-Aqsa Mosque is the first Qibla for Muslims: It is the direction towards which a Muslim offers his/her prayers, acts of worship, and calls on Allah with love and reverence to derive from Him the strength and the determination. Thus, is there a place that is more that are more sacred, glorified, or better than the direction (Qibla) towards which one offers prayers in obedience to his/her Lord?

 

Allah, The Almighty, Says (What means): "We see the turning of thy face (for guidance to the heavens: now Shall We turn thee to a Qibla that shall please thee. Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque: Wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that that is the truth from their Lord. Nor is God unmindful of what they do." [Al-Baqarah/144]. Therefore, Al-Aqsa mosque is the Muslim`s first Qibla towards which the Prophet (PBUH) offered prayers for sixteen or seventeen months until the divine injunction came down to offer prayers in the direction of the Holy Kabah.

 

Three: Al-Aqsa Mosque (the farthest Mosque) is the second mosque built on earth after the sacred Mosque, and the third of the two Holy Haram's as regards its sanctity. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) says: "Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques i.e. Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Mosque of Allah's Apostle, and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, (Mosque of Jerusalem). [Agreed upon].

 

Four: Its ground and precincts are blessed for Allah Says (What means): "Whose precincts We did bless." [Al-Isra`/1]. Bilad Al-Sham: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine- is a sacred land whose sanctity is part of Al-Aqsa Mosque`s. Rewards for offering acts of worship are multiplied in Al-Aqsa Mosque. The prophet (PBUH) said: "The merit of offering prayer in the sacred Mosque compared to other mosques: One prayer in the sacred Mosque equals a hundred thousand prayers, one prayer in My Mosque(Prophet`s) equals a thousand prayers, and one prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque of Jerusalem equals five hundred prayers." [Al-Tabarania, Al-Baz`zar, and Al-Baihaqi in: “Sho`ab Al-Emaan].

 

The previously mentioned are the reasons that bonded Muslims on basis of creed, which is unchangeable neither with time, nor with individuals.

 

We sincerely ask Allah to forgive our sins, fulfill our aspirations and bestow victory upon us, and that is surely no difficult matter to Him.

 

Praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it acceptable to perform the Aqiqah for a male child by slaughtering and distributing the first sheep, and bringing the second one cooked from the restaurant?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

It is permissible to slaughter the first sheep with the intention of Aqiqah (the newborn's sacrificial offering) and distribute it entirely [uncooked], and to slaughter the second sheep and have it cooked at a restaurant to bring home for the household. However, it must be noted that it is obligatory to give some portion of the Aqiqah in charity to the poor, even if it is a small amount, though it is preferable to send the food cooked to them.

Buying a pre-cooked, ready-made sheep from a restaurant does not suffice as an Aqiqah. However, if an agreement is made with the restaurant to explicitly slaughter a sheep with the intention of Aqiqah for the newborn, and then cook it afterward, this is permissible.

In conclusion, slaughtering the sheep and distributing it with the intention of Aqiqah is permissible, and through it, the foundational prophetic tradition (Sunnah) is fulfilled. As for simply buying a cooked sheep from a restaurant that was not specifically slaughtered with the intention of Aqiqah, it will not count as such. Conversely, if the restaurant owner is commissioned (Wakala) to handle both the slaughtering and the cooking as an Aqiqah, it is valid. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

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.

Is it valid to share in the 'aqīqah by contributing a seventh share of a camel or cow?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
Yes, it is permissible. If a group of people jointly share in the slaughter of a camel or a cow on behalf of seven individuals, this is valid — regardless of whether all of them intend the 'aqīqah, or some intend the 'aqīqah, others the uḍḥiyyah, and others simply the purchase of meat. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on entering the toilet with something containing the remembrance of Allah?

It is disliked to bring into the toilet anything containing a reminder of Allah, such as the Quran or a sacred name (like the name of Allah, Muhammad, etc.). If one does that, etiquette dictates that he conceal it so it is not visible while entering the toilet, either by cupping his hands over it, putting it in his pocket, or inside his shirt if it is a necklace or ring. And Allah  the Almighty knows best.