Palestine

11/12/2017, 22 Rabiulawwal 1439H

Al-Quds

Surat Al-'Isrā' (The Night Journey), Chapter 17, Verse 1-7:

"Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel that you not take other than Me as Disposer of affairs,

O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.

And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture that, "You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice, and you will surely reach [a degree of] great haughtiness.

So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.

Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower

[And said], "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to yourselves." Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the temple in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.

[Then Allah said], "It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment]. And We have made Hell, for the disbelievers, a prison-bed."

Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.

And that those who do not believe in the Hereafter - We have prepared for them a painful punishment." (Quran 17:1-10)

Surat Al-Mā'idah (The Table Spread), Chapter 5, Verse 82:

"You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah ; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant." (Quran 5:82)

Surat An-Naĥl (The Bee), Chapter 16, Verse 41-42:

"And those who emigrated for [the cause of] Allah after they had been wronged - We will surely settle them in this world in a good place; but the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they could know.

[They are] those who endured patiently and upon their Lord relied." (Quran 16:41-42)

Masjidil Aqsa

The Wailing Wall for the Jewish faith

1This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2He said: “The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. (Bible > NIV > Deuteronomy 33: 1-2)

Prophet Muhammad was of Ishmael ancestors. Prophet Ishmael and his mother, Hagar lived in Mount Paran.

20God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. (Bible > NIV > Genesis 21: 20-21)

"21“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”" (Bible > NIV > John 4: 21-24)

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 142-156:

"The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."

And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.

We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

And if you brought to those who were given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qiblah. Nor will you be a follower of their qiblah. Nor would they be followers of one another's qiblah. So if you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, indeed, you would then be among the wrongdoers.

Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it].

The truth is from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.

For each [religious following] is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muhammad] turn your face toward al- Masjid al-Haram, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided.

Just as We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know.

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.

And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah , "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,

Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return." (Quran 2:142-156)

 

 

The First Qiblah (direction for prayer)

It was narrated that Al-Bara' said:

"We prayed toward Bait Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for sixteen or seventeen months - Safwan was not sure - then it was changed to the Qiblah." [Sunan an-Nasa'i: 488]

Narrated Al-Bara' (bin 'Azib):

When the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina, he stayed first with his grandfathers or maternal uncles from Ansar. He offered his prayers facing Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months, but he wished that he could pray facing the Ka'ba (at Mecca). The first prayer which he offered facing the Ka'ba was the 'Asr prayer in the company of some people. Then one of those who had offered that prayer with him came out and passed by some people in a mosque who were bowing during their prayers (facing Jerusalem). He said addressing them, "By Allah, I testify that I have prayed with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) facing Mecca (Ka'ba).' Hearing that, those people changed their direction towards the Ka'ba immediately. Jews and the people of the scriptures used to be pleased to see the Prophet (ﷺ) facing Jerusalem in prayers but when he changed his direction towards the Ka'ba, during the prayers, they disapproved of it.

Al-Bara' added, "Before we changed our direction towards the Ka'ba (Mecca) in prayers, some Muslims had died or had been killed and we did not know what to say about them (regarding their prayers.) Allah then revealed: And Allah would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost (i.e. the prayers of those Muslims were valid).' " (2:143). [Sahih al-Bukhari 40]

Narrated Al-Bara:

The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed facing Bait-ulMaqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months but he wished that his Qibla would be the Ka`ba (at Mecca). (So Allah Revealed (2.144) and he offered `Asr prayers(in his Mosque facing Ka`ba at Mecca) and some people prayed with him. A man from among those who had prayed with him, went out and passed by some people offering prayer in another mosque, and they were in the state of bowing. He said, "I, (swearing by Allah,) testify that I have prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) facing Mecca." Hearing that, they turned their faces to the Ka`ba while they were still bowing. Some men had died before the Qibla was changed towards the Ka`ba. They had been killed and we did not know what to say about them (i.e. whether their prayers towards Jerusalem were accepted or not). So Allah revealed:-- "And Allah would never make your faith (i.e. prayer) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered (towards Jerusalem). Truly Allah is Full of Pity, Most Merciful towards mankind." (2.143) [ Sahih al-Bukhari: Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 13]

 

 

Anas said:

The Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions used to pray in the direction of Jerusalem. When the following verse was revealed: “ So turn thy face towards the inviolable mosque”; and Ye (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your face towards it”(ii. 144), a man passed by the people of Banu Salamah. He called them while they were bowing in the morning prayer facing Jerusalem: Lo, the qiblah (direction of prayer) has been changed towards the ka’bah. He called them twice. So they turned their faces towards the Ka’bah while they were bowing. [Sunan Abi Dawud 1045]

Masjid Al-Qiblatain (Mosque of the Two Qiblas)

Narrated Anas:

None remains of those who prayed facing both Qiblas (that is, Jerusalem and Mecca) except myself. [ Sahih al-Bukhari: Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 16]

Masjid Al-Qiblatain in Medina, Saudi Arabia

 

 

Al-Qiblatain Mosque: Shifted Qibla from Jerusalem to Kaabah Masjidil Haram in Mecca.

Al-Qiblatain Mosque: the former Qibla facing towards Jerusalem

Al-Qiblatain Mosque: Qibla facing towards Kaabah Masjidil Haram in Mecca

 

 

 The superiority of offering As-Salat in the Mosque of Makkah and Al-Madina

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques i.e. Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Mosque of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) , and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, (Mosque of Jerusalem)." [Sahih al-Bukhari 1189]

Abu Dharr reported:

I said: Messenger of Allah, which mosque was set up first on the earth? He said: Al-Masjid al-Haram (the sacred). I (again) said: Then which next? He said: It was the Masjid Aqsa. I (again) said: How long the space of time (between their setting up)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It was forty years. And whenever the time comes for prayer, pray there, for that is a mosque; and in the hadith transmitted by Abu Kamil (the words are):" Whenever time comes for prayer, pray, for that is a mosque (for you)." [Sahih Muslim 520 a]

Isra' Mikraj (The Night Journey)

 Malachi 3, Verse 1:
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts."  (Malachi 3: 1)

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Regarding the Statement of Allah" "And We granted the vision (Ascension to the heavens) which We made you see (as an actual eye witness) was only made as a trial for the people." (17.60) Ibn `Abbas added: The sights which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was shown on the Night Journey when he was taken to Bait-ulMaqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) were actual sights, (not dreams). And the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Qur'an is the tree of Zaqqum (itself). [Sahih al-Bukhari 3888]

 

Narrated Zirr bin Hubaish:

"I said to Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman: 'Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform Salat in Bait Al-Maqdis?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'But he did.' He said: 'You say that, O bald one! Based upon what do you say that?' I said: 'Based upon the Qur'an, (the Judge) between you and I is the Qur'an.' So Hudhaifah said: 'Whoever argues using the Qur'an, then he has indeed succeeded.'" (One of the narrators) Sufyan said: "He means: 'He has indeed proven'" - and perhaps he (Sufyan) said: "He triumphed." He (Zirr) said: "Glorified is He Who took His slave for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (17:1).' He (Hudhaifah) said: 'Do you see (this proves that) he (ﷺ) performed Salat in it?' I said: 'No.' He said: 'If he had performed Salat in it, then it would have been required upon you that you perform Salat in it, just as it is required that you perform Salat in Al-Masjid Al-Haram.' Hudhaifah said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was brought a beast with a long back - stretching out like this - one stride of it, is as far as his vision. So, the two of them remained upon the back of Al-Buraq until they saw Paradise and the Fire, and all of what has been prepared for the Hereafter, then they returned back to where they began.' He said: 'They say that he was fettered, but for what? Because he might flee? The Knower of the unseen and the witness subdued him.'' [Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3147]

The Pact of Umar and Christian Elia (The Umariyya Covenant)

"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. This is the assurance of safety which the servant of God, Umar, the Commander of the Faithful, has given to the people of Jerusalem. He has given them an assurance of safety for themselves  for their property, their churches, their crosses, the sick and healthy of the city and for all the rituals which belong to their religion. Their churches will not be inhabited by Muslims and will not be destroyed. Neither they, nor the land on which they stand, nor their cross, nor their property will be damaged. They will not be forcibly converted. No Jew will live with them in Jerusalem.

The people of Jerusalem must pay the taxes like the people of other cities and must expel the Byzantines and the robbers. Those of the people of Jerusalem who want to leave with the Byzantines, take their property and abandon their churches and crosses will be safe until they reach their place of refuge. The villagers may remain in the city if they wish but must pay taxes like the citizens. Those who wish may go with the Byzantines and those who wish may return to their families. Nothing is to be taken from them before their harvest is reaped.

If they pay their taxes according to their obligations, then the conditions laid out in this letter are under the covenant of God, are the responsibility of His Prophet, of the caliphs and of the faithful." – Quoted in Ibn Jarir al-Thabari, Tarikh al-Umam wa al-Muluk, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1997, jilid II, hlm. 449

 

References:

1. Peristiwa Pertukaran Kiblat Di Dalam Taurat, Bible dan Al-Quran, https://shafiqolbu.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/peristiwa-pertukaran-kiblat-di-dalam-taurat-bible-dan-al-quran/, published 17th June 2014.
2. Kisah Saidina Umr Al Khattab Membuka Kota Al Quds, https://muhdhazrie.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/kisah-saidina-umar-al-khattab-membuka-kota-al-quds/, published 6th August 2011.
3. Isra' Mikraj, Quran.com/17, viewed 11th December 2017.
4. Hadiths on Masjidil Aqsa, https://sunnah.com/search/?q=aqsa, viewed 11th December 2017.
5. Hadiths on Jerusalem, https://sunnah.com/search/?q=jerusalem, viewed 11th December 2017.
6. Hadiths on Qiblah, https://sunnah.com/search/?q=qiblah, viewed 11th December 2017.
7. Masjid Qiblatain, https://www.islamiclandmarks.com/madinah-other/masjid-qiblatain, viewed 11th December 2017.