An Occupation of a Country Will ONLY Become LEGITIMATE When the Resistance to
it STOPS. In this Context the Jewish OCCUPATION of Palestine Will ONLY Become
LEGITIMATE When the Resistance to it STOPS. AB
The Exalted Status of Al-Aqsa Mosque
AL-AQSA is the first Qiblah (direction of prayer) of Muslim s, and the land
of Al-Israa ' and Al-Mi'raj. Our hearts bleed for all the sacrilegious acts
been perpetrated against Al-Aqsa. The status of Al-Aqsa is clearly explained in
the Hadith that reads: "People are not to travel except to three mosques: The
Sacred Mosque (in Makkah), Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem ), and my Mosque (in
Madinah)." (Reported by Muslim )
The city of Jerusalem was chosen at the command of Allah by Prophet Dawud
(David, peace be upon him), in the 10th century B.C. After him his son Prophet
Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him) built a mosque in Jerusalem according to
the revelation that he received from Allah. For several centuries this mosque
was used for the worship of Allah by many Prophets and Messengers. It was
destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 586 B.C., but it was soon rebuilt and
was rededicated to the worship of Allah in 616 B.C.
It continued afterwards for several centuries until the time of Prophet Isa
(Jesus, peace be upon him). After he departed this world, it was destroyed by
the Romans in the year 70 C.E. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken
there in his miraculous journey of Al-Israa' and from there he went for
Al-Mi'raj. When Muslim s took the city of Jerusalem in 636 C.E. during the
caliphate of Umar he ordered for the building of this mosque again and it
stands until now as a Masjid for the worship of Allah as it was originally
built by our Prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him).
The significance of Jerusalem is that it is the city of many Prophets of
Allah as Makkah is the city of Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael)
and Muhammad (peace be upon all of them). The Mosque of Al-Aqsa is one of the
ancient mosques and in the Qur'an Allah called it and its land "... the
neighborhood whereof We have blessed..." (17: 1)
When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was in Makkah and also for about 17
months after his Hijrah to Madinah, he and his followers used to pray toward
the direction of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This was to establish in the minds of Muslim s
the link between the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and other Prophets of Allah
(peace be upon them all). When this principle was established in their minds
then Allah ordered Muslim s to turn to the Ka'bah and pray toward its
direction.
Now, we are not allowed to pray to the direction of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa
Mosque, but we must respect and honor the city of Jerusalem and its blessed
mosque. It is also the duty of all Muslim s to guard and protect this mosque
from any harm and damage, for the mosque belongs to those who believe in all
the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.
· Compiled from various sources.
· Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and
groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title
in not-for-profit publications.
· Note that an English translation of the Qur'an is an interpretation
of the Qur'an, and does not have the perfect status as the Qur'an in its
original Arabic form.
AB
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"For to us will be their return; then it will be for us to call them to
account." (Holy Quran 88:25-26)
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