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Jerusalem in the Muslims Eyes
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 06-12-2017

Jerusalem in the Muslims Eyes

 

 

An Article by His Grace Mufti Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

 

The relationship between Muslims and Al-Aqsa Mosque is religious since it is the place from where our Prophet (PBUH) embarked on his nocturnal journey (Israa wal Me’raaj), the Mosque of the Two Qiblas, the third holiest site in Islam, a blessed place where good deeds are multiplied, the reward of one Raka in Al-Aqsa Mosque equals the reward of five hundred Rakas and its environs are blessed since it is where Prophets (PBUT) settled and the angels descended. Allah, The Exalted, Said (What means): "whose precincts We did bless," [Al-Isra`/ 1]. Moreover, in Jerusalem and its environs, a group of the Muslim Ummah (Nation) will continue to prevail and they will never be harmed by those who forsake them, until the Hour begins.

 

This significant status of Al-Aqsa Mosque has settled in the hearts of  all Muslims, so it became an integral part of their creed since every morning and evening they recite the verse (What means): "Glory to (God) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque" [Al-Isra`/1].

 

In these difficult times, which the Muslim Ummah is experiencing, Allah, The Almighty, admonishes His salves to obey Him and His Prophet (PBUH) in all that they say and do, and forbids disobeying Him or His Prophet (PBUH). Almighty Allah has also warned the Ummah against disputing among themselves because that weakens their position and makes them vulnerable. Therefore, He, The Almighty, Said (What means): "And obey God and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For God is with those who patiently persevere:" [Al-Anfal/46].

 

When the Prophet (PBUH) immigrated from Makkah to Medina, leaving a land so dear to his heart, he aimed, first, to unite Muslims by building his mosque. Next, he established brotherly ties between the Muhajirin and the Ansar, so he managed to put affection in  their hearts instead of animosity and hatred. Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts" [Al-Anfal/63]. Commenting on this verse, Al-Qortobi said: "Managing to put affection between the hearts of the Arabs is among the miracles and signs of the Prophet (PBUH)."

 

The Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians, and banning them from praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque are indicative of a greater good to come since Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "And who does greater evil than he who bars God's places of worship, so that His Name be not invoked in them, and strives to ruin them?; such men might never enter them, save in fear; for them in this world is degradation; and in the Hereafter a mighty chastisement." [Al-Baqarah/114]. This verse condemns such a heinous crime and shows that none does greater evil than he who bars God's places of worship, so that His Name be not invoked in them, and strives to ruin them.

 

When Israel exercises its atrocities in Jerusalem, it targets Muslims as well as Christians. Nonetheless, both will protect their sanctities by tooth and nail.

 

Al-Aqsa Mosque will remain a symbol of Islam regardless of the trials and the killings. It will remain alive in the hearts of all Muslims and liberating it will remain on top of their priorities no matter what the case may be. Actually, this is embodied in the moral and financial support provided by the Hashemite leadership, emanating from their custodianship to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the other sanctities of Jerusalem. This wise leadership has made available all means of support to the Palestinians in order to remain steadfast in Jerusalem in addition to providing guards for the Mosque.

 

Clearly, His Majesty King Abdullah the 2nd has played a key role in bringing the Palestinian question to the forefront of the international arena. His prime concern is to unite the international views in favor of the Palestinian question in order to reach a comprehensive and just solution to this thorny issue.

 

We pray that Allah safeguards Al-Aqsa Mosque against all plots, and liberates it from the Jews. Amen to that.

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on praying alone (munfaridan) in a row, and what should I do if I enter the mosque together with another person, and there is only a single gap in the first row with no second row present — should I fill that gap in the first row, or should I stand together with him in a new second row?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If a person enters [the congregation] and finds no space available in the row, it is recommended for him — after making his opening takbīr for the prayer — to gently pull someone from the row in front of him to pray alongside him, provided he senses that this person would be agreeable to it. If that person does not agree, then he prays alone, and there is no dislike attached to his doing so in that case.
If he ends up praying alone [behind the row], it is sunnah for him to stand directly behind the imam. Then, if someone else arrives, that person stands to his right; and whoever comes after them stands to his left — and so on — such that the imam remains centered in the middle of the row. This is done so that everyone attains the reward of congregational prayer.
As for the case where two people enter the prayer together, and there is a gap in the row wide enough for only one person, then the two of them should pray together in a new row [of their own], and whoever arrives after them should fill that original gap. This is because if only one of the two fills the gap, the other would end up praying alone [which is to be avoided when it can easily be prevented].
Al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.1/P.494): "If he does not find space, then it is recommended for him, while still standing, to gently pull a single person from the row toward himself after making his opening takbīr — out of caution, so as to avoid the position held by some scholars that a person's prayer standing alone behind the row is not valid.
Az-Zarkashī and others said: this should only be done if it seems he would agree to it; otherwise, he should not pull anyone — indeed, doing so becomes impermissible, out of fear of causing discord (fitnah). It is recommended for the person being pulled to cooperate and agree, so that he may attain the reward of assisting in righteousness and piety (al-birr wat-taqwā). However, he should not pull one of two people [praying together] from the row, since this would cause one of them to end up praying alone. This is why the 'pulling' described here takes place only after the opening takbīr [i.e., once the person doing the pulling has already validly begun his own prayer]."
Accordingly: it is sunnah for you to pray alongside the person praying alone, and then, if someone else arrives afterward, you may go and fill the gap in the original row. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the amount of food to be given to a needy person for fidyah and kaffarah?

The amount of food to be given to a needy person is 600 grams of wheat or rice.
According to the Hanafi school, it is permissible to give the monetary equivalent instead, and this is the ruling issued by the General Iftaa` Department.

What is the ruling on waiving a debt owed by a debtor and counting it toward zakāh?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Waiving a debt owed by a debtor, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh, does not fulfill the zakāh obligation. Rather, it constitutes an ordinary act of charity, for which Allah rewards the giver generously — since one of the conditions for the validity of zakāh is that the person paying it must form the intention of zakāh at the actual moment the wealth is paid out. In this case, the debt has already been established as a standing obligation upon the borrower, so it is not valid to simply redirect the intention toward zakāh after the fact.
It is preferable, instead, for the creditor to first collect the debt from the debtor, and then return to him the amount of money he is required to pay as zakāh — or a portion of it — if the debtor happens to fall under one of the eight categories that Allah, the Exalted, has commanded be given from zakāh.
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik, from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling of islamic law on statutory (legal) interest awarded by a court?
 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible for a person in whose favor a judge has awarded statutory (legal) interest to deduct the actual litigation costs incurred in filing and prosecuting the lawsuit from these interest funds.
 
Any remaining balance beyond those actual expenses must be returned to the party upon whom the payment was imposed, provided that party is a specific individual. If, however, the paying party is a public entity or state institution, the remaining amount should be spent on the general public interests of Muslims—such as schools, mosques, roads, and similar public utilities shared by the community—or given in charity (Sadaqah) to the poor and needy. And Allah Almighty knows best.

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