Saturday, 28 July 2018

Dome of the Rock

The building which is called 'Dome of the Rock' is located in Palestine, Jerusalem. It is in the Old City in the middle of the 'Noble Sanctuary' or Temple Mount. It is within the limits of the Masjid Aqsa Complex but it is not considered Masjid al Aqsa.

The Dome of the Rock is not a masjid. It is considered a 'shrine'. It is simply a very old beautiful building dating back to 692CE/ 66AH.

Definition of a 'dome' from Wikipedia:

A dome is an architectural element that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere.
Domes have a long architectural lineage that extends back into prehistory and they have been constructed from mud, snow, stone, wood, brick, concrete, metal, glass, and plastic over the centuries.


The symbolism associated with domes includes mortuary, celestial, and governmental traditions that have likewise developed over time.


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The 'rock' that the dome covers has been seen as special for many reasons (although none of the reasons come from authentic Islamic sources and therefore the rock does not have a religious significance in Islaam according to the most correct opinion - see below for further explanation).


Geography

Find the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Palestine on the map:https://goo.gl/maps/s6FSnK5HqJx


To understand the place of the Dome of the Rock within the Masjid Aqsa Complex Click here

 For an historical account of the Dome of the Rock see below the following pictures:








History of the Dome of the Rock[1]

The building which is called the Dome of the Rock is blue and gold. It is an octagonal shape. It is not a masjid – it is only a structure over a rock. There is no religious significance to this building. The ‘Dome of the Rock’ building is seen as a masterpiece in Islamic architecture. However it is simply a structure built over the rock and not a masjid to pray in which many people are unaware of.
Masjid al Aqsa is not just the building with the silver dome today which the Khalifah ‘Umar رضي الله عنه built. It covers the whole walled area of the Complex with the Dome of the Rock in the middle. This area is where Prophet Sulaymaan built his place of worship for Allaah previously. However, when the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was taken to Jerusalem on the ‘Night Journey’ he prayed at the spot where ‘Umar later prayed and built the masjid which is now called ‘Masjid al Aqsa’. Some people mistakenly believe that the blue and gold building (The Dome of the Rock) is Masjid al Aqsa which is incorrect even though it is on the grounds of Masjid al Aqsa.

Shar’ee Benefits about the Rock in Jerusalem فوائد شرعية عن صخرة القدسby Sulaymaan bin Saalih al Khuraash. (selected, translated and abridged by Umm ‘AbdirRahmaan)

The ‘rock’ is one of the high rocks of Jerusalem. It is found in the centre of the Masjid Aqsa Complex. It measures approximately 18m x 13m. Some sides of the rock rise about one metre. There is an opening to a cave below it. The rock is above it and appears to be suspended between the sky and the earth.
v  The rock used to be the prayer direction for the Jews and the Muslims in the beginning of Islaam until it was abrogated and the Muslims faced Makkah as their Qiblah.
v  There is no specific significance of this rock in Islaam. It is just located within the limits of Masjid al Aqsaa.[2]
v  Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said the the rock used to be a Qiblah then it was abrogated and it is the Qiblah of the Jews. There is nothing remaining in our Sharee’ah to specify a ruling for it. Just as there is nothing in our Sharee’ah which obligates anything special about Saturdays (the Sabbath). (2/11)
v  Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said “It is not mustahabb (recommended) to visit the rock. It is mustahabb to pray in the front part of Masjid al Aqsaa which ‘Umar ibnul Khattaab built for the Muslims.”
v  There is no tawaaf (circling) anything except the Ka’bah. No tawaaf of the Prophet’s room, the graves of the Prophets or righteous people, the rock in Jerusalem or other than these.
v  ‘Umar رضي الله عنه conquered Jerusalem (Quds) in 15 AH.
v  He cleaned the rubbish on the rock with his own cloak and ordered the Muslims to help clean it. The Christians had dumped rubbish there to disgrace the Jews as they venerated that place.
v  The Companion Ka’b al Ahbaar who reverted to Islaam after being a Jewish Rabbi suggested to ‘Umar رضي الله عنه that he pray behind the rock so that the original qiblah and the new qiblah would both be covered but ‘Umar رضي الله عنه prayed in front of the rock saying that this is where the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed.
v  The ahaadeeth regarding Israa wal Mi’raaj (The Night Journey and the Ascension) do not specify the place where the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ascended from (not from the rock or otherwise).
v  There are many ahaadeeth on the virtue of the ‘rock’ but none are authentic. Imaam ibnul Qayyim says they are ‘lies and fabricated’.
v  Why was the dome placed over the rock? Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said that it was built at the time of the fitnah between ‘Abdullaah bin az Zubayr and ‘Abdul Malik al Marwaan. In 66AH ‘Abdul Malik ordered the Dome to be built and covered it with a cloth in winter and summer to encourage people to visit Jerusalem so as not to gather in Makkah with ‘Abdullaah bin az Zubayr and be influenced by him.
v  Some people say that the footprint of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is in the rock which Imaam ibnul Qayyim says is a lie.

See some pictures on the blog: www.learnstoriesoftheprophets.blogspot.com

Historical Notes based on Wikipedia

(Just for information purposes only as not all the information coincides with what is said from an Islamic perspective backed up by evidences):

Qubbat as Sakhrah قبة الصخرة  The Dome of the Rock
It is located in the Old City of Jerusalem on the Temple Mount (Masjid al Aqsa Complex).
It was built in 688-692 by the Umayyad Caliph ‘Abdul Malik al Marwan.
820s it was expanded.
1020s, 1545, 1721, 1817, 1874, 1959, 1993 It was restored many times.

It is considered one of the oldest existing works of Islamic Architecture. It is not a masjid. It is only a building.
The Dome of the Rock was built on the site of a Roman Temple which in turn was built on the site of the 2nd Jewish Temple.
It is octagonal in shape and its architecture and mosaic patterns follow the Byzantine Churches and palaces of that time.

The Jews venerate the site of the rock for the following reasons (only number 4 has evidence in Islaam):

1.       The ‘Foundation Stone’ from which the world expanded.
2.       The place where the dust was gathered to create the first human Aadam.
3.       The site where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son (Muslims believe this happened in Makkah).
4.       The place where Jews face to pray.

The Dome of the Rock is situated in the centre of the Temple Mount – the site of the Temple of Solomon and the Jewish 2nd Temple which was expanded by King Herod in 1BC. The Temple was destroyed in 70CE by the Romans and a Roman temple was built there in 135CE. Christians went there for pilgrimage.


Timeline of the Dome of the Rock

687-691                Construction of the Dome of the Rock (cost 7 times the yearly income tax of Egypt)
808                        
846                         4 earthquakes damaged the Dome of the Rock   
1015                      
1927                      

1099                      Crusaders captured Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock was given to the Christians                         who turned it into a Church. Masjid al Aqsa was turned into a Palace.
1187                       Jerusalem was recaptured by Salahuddeen and the Dome of the Rock returned to                              the Muslims.
1520-1566            The exterior of the Dome of the Rock was covered in tiles with Surah Yaseen and                               Surah Israa inscribed in the interior. It took 7 years to complete.
1874                       All the tiles on the West and South West sides were replaced with tiles from Turkey.
1955                       Jordan renovated the tiles.
1965                       The Dome was covered with durable aluminium bronze alloy from Italy and covered                        in gold leaf. (Previously the dome was blackened lead).
1993                       The dome was refurbished with gold leaf costing 8 million dollars (80kg of gold).

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Interesting fact:                Imaam Shaafi’ee was born in Gaza, Palestine then travelled to Makkah.



Sources used:

The Qur’aan
Sunnah.com
Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo’ Fataawa 27/43; 2/60-64; 2/808-9; 2/811; 26/150;
Ibn Katheer, Bidaayah wan Nihaayah, 7/56; 7/58
Mawsoo'ah Filistiniyyah Encyclopeadia of Palestine
“Shar’ee Benefits about the Rock in Jerusalem”  فوائد شرعية عن صخرة القدس by Sulaymaan bin Saalih al Khuraash
Wikipedia





[1] Compiled by Umm ‘Abdir Rahmaan Tara Hashim. 2018


Masjid Al Aqsa

Contents

Qur'aan
Pictures
History
Ahaadeeth
What the Scholars say



Jerusalem is mentioned in the Qur’aan in Suratul Israa 17:1-7

{سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ (1وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا مِن دُونِي وَكِيلًا (2) ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا (3) وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي الْكِتَابِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا (4) فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ أُولَاهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَا أُولِي بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا خِلَالَ الدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا (5) ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ الْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَاكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا (6) إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ الْآخِرَةِ لِيَسُوءُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَلِيَدْخُلُوا الْمَسْجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَلِيُتَبِّرُوا مَا عَلَوْا تَتْبِيرًا (7)} [الإسراء : 1-7]

1. Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) [above all that (evil) they associate with Him] [Tafsir Qurtubi, Vol. 10, Page 204] Who took His slave (Muhammad ) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad ) of Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.
2. And We gave Musa (Moses) the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel (saying): "Take not other than Me as (your) Wakil (Protector, Lord, or Disposer of your affairs, etc).
3. "O offspring of those whom We carried (in the ship) with Nuh (Noah)! Verily, he was a grateful slave."
4. And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture, that indeed you would do mischief on the earth twice and you will become tyrants and extremely arrogant!
5. So, when the promise came for the first of the two, We sent against you slaves of Ours given to terrible warfare. They entered the very innermost parts of your homes. And it was a promise (completely) fulfilled.
6. Then We gave you once again, a return of victory over them. And We helped you with wealth and children and made you more numerous in man power.
7. (And We said): "If you do good, you do good for your ownselves, and if you do evil (you do it) against yourselves." Then, when the second promise came to pass, (We permitted your enemies) to make your faces sorrowful and to enter the mosque (of Jerusalem) as they had entered it before, and to destroy with utter destruction all that fell in their hands.








Everything within the red line is considered 'Masjid al Aqsa'




Picture of Masjid al Aqsaa:

Masjid Aqsa originally built by 'Umar at the place where the Prophet Muhammad prayed during the Night Journey

The picture that follows IS NOT MASJID AQSA as many people believe. Plus it is not even a masjid! Click here to learn more about the Dome of the Rock.

Dome of the Rock - NOT A MASJID




 Ahaadeeth Mentioning Masjid al Aqsaa

(6)
Chapter: The Virtue Of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa And Praying Therein

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"When Sulaiman bin Dawud finished building Bait Al-Maqdis, he asked Allah for three things: Judgement that was in harmony with His judgement, and he was given that. And he asked Allah for a dominion that no one after him would have, and he was given that. And when he finished building the Masjid he asked Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, that no one should come to it, intending only to pray there, but he would emerge free of sin as the day his mother bore him."

أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُسْهِرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِدْرِيسَ الْخَوْلاَنِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا بَنَى بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خِلاَلاً ثَلاَثَةً سَأَلَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حُكْمًا يُصَادِفُ حُكْمَهُ فَأُوتِيَهُ وَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُلْكًا لاَ يَنْبَغِي لأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَأُوتِيَهُ وَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حِينَ فَرَغَ مِنْ بِنَاءِ الْمَسْجِدِ أَنْ لاَ يَأْتِيَهُ أَحَدٌ لاَ يَنْهَزُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ فِيهِ أَنْ يُخْرِجَهُ مِنْ خَطِيئَتِهِ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 693
In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 6
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 8, Hadith 694




(94)
Chapter: The virtue of praying in the Masajid of Makkah and Al-Madinah


Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported that a woman fell ill and she said:
In case Allah cures me I will certainly go and observe prayer in Bait al-Maqdis. She recovered and so she made preparations to go out (to that place). She came to Maimuna. the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ). and after greeting her she informed her about it, whereupon she said: Stay here. and eat the provision (which you had made) and observe prayer In the mosque of the Messenger (ﷺ). for I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say: Prayer In it is better than a thousand prayers observed in other mosques except the mosque of the Ka'ba.

وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ اللَّيْثِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، - قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، - عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً اشْتَكَتْ شَكْوَى فَقَالَتْ إِنْ شَفَانِي اللَّهُ لأَخْرُجَنَّ فَلأُصَلِّيَنَّ فِي بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ ‏.‏ فَبَرَأَتْ ثُمَّ تَجَهَّزَتْ تُرِيدُ الْخُرُوجَ فَجَاءَتْ مَيْمُونَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهَا فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا ذَلِكَ فَقَالَتِ اجْلِسِي فَكُلِي مَا صَنَعْتِ وَصَلِّي فِي مَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ صَلاَةٌ فِيهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ مِنَ الْمَسَاجِدِ إِلاَّ مَسْجِدَ الْكَعْبَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Reference : Sahih Muslim 1396
In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 587
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 7, Hadith 3217
  (deprecated numbering scheme)


Tirmidhee

Narrated Ibn Buraidah:
from his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When we reached Bait Al-Maqdis, Jibra'il pointed with his finger causing a crack in the rock, and he tied Al-Buraq to it."

حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو تُمَيْلَةَ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ جُنَادَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لَمَّا انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ بِإِصْبَعِهِ فَخَرَقَ بِهِ الْحَجَرَ وَشَدَّ بِهِ الْبُرَاقَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏

Grade : Hasan (Darussalam)
English reference : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3132
Arabic reference : Book 47, Hadith 3424


Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When the Quraish disbelieved me (concerning my night journey), I stood up in Al- Hijr (the unroofed portion of the Ka`ba) and Allah displayed Bait-ul-Maqdis before me, and I started to inform them (Quraish) about its signs while looking at it."

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ لَمَّا كَذَّبَنِي قُرَيْشٌ قُمْتُ فِي الْحِجْرِ، فَجَلَّى اللَّهُ لِي بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَطَفِقْتُ أُخْبِرُهُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ وَأَنَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ زَادَ يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَخِي ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ عَمِّهِ ‏"‏ لَمَّا كَذَّبَنِي قُرَيْشٌ حِينَ أُسْرِيَ بِي إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ ‏"‏‏.‏ نَحْوَهُ‏.‏ ‏{‏قَاصِفًا‏}‏ رِيحٌ تَقْصِفُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ‏.‏

USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 233
Arabic reference : Saheeh Bukhaari Book 65, Hadith 4710




Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Said ibn al-Musayyab said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed towards the Baytal-Maqdis for sixteen months after arriving in Madina. Then the qibla was moved, two months before the battle of Badr. "

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ أَنْ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا نَحْوَ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ ثُمَّ حُوِّلَتِ الْقِبْلَةُ قَبْلَ بَدْرٍ بِشَهْرَيْنِ ‏.‏

USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 14, Hadith 7
Arabic reference : Muwatta Malik Book 14, Hadith 464


Narrated Abu Dhaar:

I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Which mosque was built first?" He replied, "Al-Masjid-ul-Haram." I asked, "Which (was built) next?" He replied, "Al-Masjid-ul-Aqs-a (i.e. Jerusalem)." I asked, "What was the period in between them?" He replied, "Forty (years)." He then added, "Wherever the time for the prayer comes upon you, perform the prayer, for all the earth is a place of worshipping for you."

حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ أَوَّلُ قَالَ ‏"‏ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ كَمْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ ‏"‏ أَرْبَعُونَ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ حَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ، وَالأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3425
In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 97
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 636



(95)
Chapter: The virtue of the Three Masajid
(95)
باب لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ ‏‏

Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) reported it directly from Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) that he said:
Do not undertake a journey to visit any Mosque, but three: this Mosque of mine, the Mosque of al-Haram and the Mosque of Aqsa (Bait al-Maqdis).

حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، - قَالَ عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، - عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ مَسْجِدِي هَذَا وَمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Reference : Sahih Muslim 1397 a
In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 588
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 7, Hadith 3218
 
Hadeeth Regarding the Night Journey (al Israa wal Mi'raaj)

(74)
Chapter: The night journey on which the messenger of Allah (saws) was taken up into the heavens and the prayers were enjoined


Anas b. Malik reported on the authority of Malik b. Sa sa', perhaps a person of his tribe, that the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said:
I was near the House (i. e. Ka'bah) in a state between sleep and wakefulness when I heard someone say: He is the third among the two persons. Then he came to me and took me with him. Then a golden basin containing the water of Zamzam was brought to me and my heart was opened up to such and such (part). Qatada said: I asked him who was with me (i e. the narrator) and what he meant by such and such (part). He replied: (It means that it was opened) up to the lower part of his abdomen (Then the hadith continues): My heart was extracted and it was washed with the water of Zamzam and then it was restored in its original position, after which it was filled with faith and wisdom. I was then brought a white beast which is called al-Buraq, bigger than a donkey and smaller than a mule. Its stride was as long as the eye could reach. I was mounted on it, and then we went forth till we reached the lowest heaven. Gabriel asked for the (gate) to be opened, and it was said: Who is he? He replied: Gabriel. It was again said: Who is with thee? He replied: Muhammad (ﷺ). It was said: Has he been sent for? He (Gabriel) said: Yes. He (the Prophet) said: Then (the gate) was opened for us (and it was said): Welcome unto him! His is a blessed arrival. Then we came to Adam (peace be upon him). And he (the narrator) narrated the whole account of the hadith. (The Holy Prophet) observed that he met Jesus in the second heaven, Yahya (peace be on both of them) in the third heaven, Yusuf in the third, Idris in the fourth, Harun in the fifth (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them). Then we travelled on till we reached the sixth heaven and came to Moses (peace be upon him) and I greeted him and he said: Welcome unto righteous brother and righteous prophet. And when I passed (by him) he wept, and a voice was heard saying: What makes thee weep? He said: My Lord, he is a young man whom Thou hast sent after me (as a prophet) and his followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers. Then we travelled on till we reached the seventh heaven and I came to Ibrahim. He (the narrator) narrated in this hadith that the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) told that he saw four rivers which flowed from (the root of the lote-tree of the farthest limits): two manifest rivers and two hidden rivers. I said: ' Gabriel! what are these rivers? He replied: The two hidden rivers are the rivers of Paradise, and as regards the two manifest ones, they are the Nile and the Euphrates. Then the Bait-ul-Ma'mur was raised up to me. I said: O Gabriel! what is this? He replied: It is the Bait-ul-Ma'mur. Seventy thousand angels enter into it daily and, after they come out, they never return again. Two vessels were then brought to me. The first one contained wine and the second one contained milk, and both of them were placed before me. I chose milk. It was said: You did right. Allah will guide rightly through you your Ummah on the natural course. Then fifty prayers daily were made obligatory for me. And then he narrated the rest of the hadith to the end.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، - لَعَلَّهُ قَالَ - عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ صَعْصَعَةَ، - رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ - قَالَ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ بَيْنَا أَنَا عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ بَيْنَ النَّائِمِ وَالْيَقْظَانِ إِذْ سَمِعْتُ قَائِلاً يَقُولُ أَحَدُ الثَّلاَثَةِ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ ‏.‏ فَأُتِيتُ فَانْطُلِقَ بِي فَأُتِيتُ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِيهَا مِنْ مَاءِ زَمْزَمَ فَشُرِحَ صَدْرِي إِلَى كَذَا وَكَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ فَقُلْتُ لِلَّذِي مَعِي مَا يَعْنِي قَالَ إِلَى أَسْفَلِ بَطْنِهِ ‏"‏ فَاسْتُخْرِجَ قَلْبِي فَغُسِلَ بِمَاءِ زَمْزَمَ ثُمَّ أُعِيدَ مَكَانَهُ ثُمَّ حُشِيَ إِيمَانًا وَحِكْمَةً ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ بِدَابَّةٍ أَبْيَضَ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْبُرَاقُ فَوْقَ الْحِمَارِ وَدُونَ الْبَغْلِ يَقَعُ خَطْوُهُ عِنْدَ أَقْصَى طَرْفِهِ فَحُمِلْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا فَاسْتَفْتَحَ جِبْرِيلُ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَمَنْ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قِيلَ وَقَدْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ - قَالَ - فَفَتَحَ لَنَا وَقَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِهِ وَلَنِعْمَ الْمَجِيءُ جَاءَ - قَالَ - فَأَتَيْنَا عَلَى آدَمَ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِقِصَّتِهِ ‏.‏ وَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ لَقِيَ فِي السَّمَاءِ الثَّانِيَةِ عِيسَى وَيَحْيَى - عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ - وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ يُوسُفَ وَفِي الرَّابِعَةِ إِدْرِيسَ وَفِي الْخَامِسَةِ هَارُونَ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَسَلَّمَ - قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّادِسَةِ فَأَتَيْتُ عَلَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزْتُهُ بَكَى فَنُودِيَ مَا يُبْكِيكَ قَالَ رَبِّ هَذَا غُلاَمٌ بَعَثْتَهُ بَعْدِي يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ الْجَنَّةَ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي ‏.‏ - قَالَ - ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ فَأَتَيْتُ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَحَدَّثَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ رَأَى أَرْبَعَةَ أَنْهَارٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَصْلِهَا نَهْرَانِ ظَاهِرَانِ وَنَهْرَانِ بَاطِنَانِ ‏"‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا جِبْرِيلُ مَا هَذِهِ الأَنْهَارُ قَالَ أَمَّا النَّهْرَانِ الْبَاطِنَانِ فَنَهْرَانِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَأَمَّا الظَّاهِرَانِ فَالنِّيلُ وَالْفُرَاتُ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ رُفِعَ لِيَ الْبَيْتُ الْمَعْمُورُ فَقُلْتُ يَا جِبْرِيلُ مَا هَذَا قَالَ هَذَا الْبَيْتُ الْمَعْمُورُ يَدْخُلُهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ إِذَا خَرَجُوا مِنْهُ لَمْ يَعُودُوا فِيهِ آخِرُ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ بِإِنَاءَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا خَمْرٌ وَالآخَرُ لَبَنٌ فَعُرِضَا عَلَىَّ فَاخْتَرْتُ اللَّبَنَ فَقِيلَ أَصَبْتَ أَصَابَ اللَّهُ بِكَ أُمَّتُكَ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ فُرِضَتْ عَلَىَّ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسُونَ صَلاَةً ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ قِصَّتَهَا إِلَى آخِرِ الْحَدِيثِ ‏.‏

Reference : Sahih Muslim 164 a
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 323
USC-MSA web (English) reference



What the Scholars say about Masjid al Aqsa  (in English)

Palestine does not belong to the Jews or the Arabs it belongs to the Muslims ‼️

Tafseer  Shaykh  Uthaymeen

O  Children  of  Israel,  remember  My  favor  that  I  have  bestowed  upon  you  and  that  I  preferred you  over  the  worlds. (Soorah  Al  Baqarah  2:47) 

Shaykh  Uthaymeen: From  the  benefits  of  this  verse:   
1.  It  is  obligatory  upon  the  children  of  Israel  to  remember  Allah’s  favor  upon  them  and  to show  gratitude  for  it.  And  from  showing  gratitude  is  for  them  to  follow  Muhammad peace  be  upon  him.   
2.  Clarifying  that  this  favor  was  not  earned  by  them,  or  due  to  their  hard  work,  nor  was  it inherited  from  their  fathers;  rather  it  was  only  a  favor  from  Allah  upon  them.  Thus  Allah said:  ‘I  have  bestowed  upon  you.’   
3.  The  children  of  Israel  were  the  best  of  mankind  during  their  era,  based  upon  the statement  of  the  Exalted:  ‘I  preferred  you  over  the  worlds.’  This  is  because  during  that time  they  were  people  of  faith.  As  a  result  victory  was  decreed  for  them  over  their enormous  enemies.  It  was  said  to  them:  

Enter  the  Holy  Land  which  Allah  has  assigned  to  you (Soorah  Al  Maidah  5:21) 

And the  Holy  Land  is  Palestine. And  Allah  only  assigned  the  land  of  Palestine  to  the  children  of Israel  during  the  time  of  Musa  because  they  were  righteous  slaves  of  Allah.  And  Allah  the Exalted  said:

And indeed  We  have written  in  Psalms  after  (We  have  already  written  in)  Al-Lauh  Al-Mahfuz, that  My  righteous  slaves  shall  inherit  the  land.  (Soorah  Al  Anbiyah  21:105) 

And Musa said  to  his  people: 

Indeed,  the  earth  belongs  to  Allah.  He  causes  to  inherit  it  whom  He  wills  of  His  servants. (Soorah  Al  ‘Araf  7:218) 

Then  he  said:

And the  [best  outcome  is  for  the  righteous.

Therefore  the  righteous  shall  inherit  the  earth;  but  the  children  of  Israel  today  do  not  deserve the  Holy  land,  because  they  are  not  righteous  slaves  of  Allah;  as  for  during  the  time  of  Musa, they  were  more  deserving  of  it  than  those  who  lived  there.  And  it  was  written  for  them,  and they  were  the  most  deserving  of  it.  But  when  Islam—which  was  brought  by  the  Prophet  peace be  upon  him—came,  then  the  most deserving  people  of  this  land  became  the  Muslims.  Not the  Arabs;  because  Palestine  is  not  Arab  such  that  the  people  deserving  Palestine  can  be described  as  Arabs;  rather  the  people  deserving  of  Palestine  are  Muslims,  their  description  is Muslim.  They  have  no  other  description.  And  they  can  be  called  righteous  slaves  of  Allah  the Exalted.  For  this  reason  the  Arabs  will  never  succeed—according  to  what  I  believe  and  the knowledge  is  with  Allah—in  recovering  Palestine  in  the  name  of  Pan-Arabism.  It  is  not possible  to  recovery  it  except  with  the  name  Islam  upon  what  the  Prophet  peace  be  upon  him and  his  companions  were  upon.  As  the  Exalted  said:

Indeed,  the  earth  belongs  to  Allah.  He  causes  to  inherit  it,  whom  He  wills  of  His  servants. (Soorah  Al  ‘Araf  7:218) 

Regardless  of  what  the  Arabs  try;  and  regardless  of  how  they  fill  the  earth  with  speeches  and protest;  they  will  never  be  susuccessful  until  they  call  for  the  Jews  to  exit  from  it  with  the  name of  Islam;  after  they  apply  it  (Islam)  in  themselves.  If  they  do  this  then  they  shall  actualize  what the  Prophet  peace  be  upon  him  has  informed  us  of:

The  hour  will  not  be  established  until  the  Muslims  fight  the Jews.  The  Muslims  will  kill  them such  that  the  Jews  will  hide  behind  rocks  and  trees.  So  the  rock  or  the  tree  will  say:  O  Muslim,  O slave  of  Allah,  here  is  a  Jew  behind  me,  come  and  kill  him. 

Thus  the  trees  and  rocks  will  direct  the  Muslims  to  the  Jews  saying  O  slave  of  Allah;

calling  him by  the  name  of  servitude  to  Allah;  and  it  will  say:  O  Muslim;  calling  him  by  the  name  of  Islam. The  Messenger  peace  be  upon  him  said:  ‘The  Muslims  will  fight  the  Jews.’  He  did  not  say  the ‘Arabs’.   

For  this  reason  I  say:  We  will  never  remove  the  Jews  by  the  call  of  Pan-Arabism,  we  will  only remove  them  with  the  name  of  Islam.  Whoever  wants  let  him  recite  the  statement  of  the Exalted:

And indeed  We  have  written  in  Psalms  after  (We  have  already  written  in)  Al-Lauh  Al-Mahfuz, that My  righteous  slaves  shall  inherit  the  land. (Soorah  Al  Anbiyah  21:105) 

Thus  He  made  the  inheritance  for  His  righteous  slaves.  And  that  which  is  connected  to  a description  will  occur  when  the  description  is  present,  and  it  will  be  negated  when  the description  is  negated.  If  we  are  righteous  slaves  of  Allah  we  will  inherit  it  with  complete  ease, without  any  hardship,  toil  or  difficulty  and  without  long  drawn  out  speeches  which  never  end! We  will  seize  it  with  the  help  of  Allah  the  Exalted  with  what  Allah  has  decreed  for  us.  And  how easy  is  this  for  Allah!  We  know  that  the  Muslims  did  not  rule  Palestine  during  the  illustrious  era of  Islam  except  due  to  their  Islam.  And  they  did  not  conquer  the  capital  cities  of  Persian,  and the  capital  of  Rome,  and  the  capital  of  the  Coptic  except  due  to  their  Islam.  Thus  if  only  our youth  were  conscious  and  aware  that  absolute  victory  is  not  possible  except  with  real  Islam;  not Islam  which  is  identified  by  an  I.D.  card!   

And perhaps  some  of  you  have  heard  the  story  of  Sad  ibn  Abi  Waqas  may  Allah  be  pleased  with him.  The  Persians  had  destroyed  the  bridge  over  the  Tigris  River  and  sank  the  ships  so  the Muslims  would  not  cross  (the  river)  and  reach  them.  So  Allah  subjugated  the  river  for  them. Thus  they  started  walking  on  top  of  the  water  with  their  horses,  their  men,  and  their  camels. They  walked  on  top  of  the  water  just  as  they  walked  on  top  of  the  land.  The  water  did  not  cover the  hooves  of  the  camels.  When  the  horses  became  tired  Allah  facilitated  a  raised  boulder  so they  could  rest  upon  it.  And  this  was  from  the  signs  of  Allah  no  doubt.  And  Allah  the  Exalted  has power  over  all  things.  Thus  the  One  who  split  the  sea  for  Musa  peace  be  upon  him  and  his people  such  that  it  instantly  became  a  dry  path  for  them  and  they  walked  therein  safely;  has the  ability  to  do  greater  than  that.   

The  point  is;  the  children  of  Israel  no  doubt  were  the  best  of  mankind  when  they  were righteous  slaves  of  Allah,  but  when  they  were  afflicted  with  humiliation,  and  cursed,  and debased,  then  they  are  no  longer  the  best  of  mankind;  rather  some  of  them  are  monkeys  and pigs.  And  they  are  the  most  debased  slaves  of  Allah  based  upon  the  statement  of  the  Exalted:

Indignity  is  put  over  them  wherever  they  may  be,  except  when  under  a  covenant  (of  protection) from  Allah,  and  from  men;  they  have  drawn  on  themselves  the  Wrath  of  Allah,  and  destruction is  put  over  them. (Soorah  Aali  Imraan  3:112) 

And the  Exalted  said:

They  will  not  fight  you  all  except  within  fortified  cities  or  from  behind  walls. Their  violence among  themselves  is  severe.  You  think  they  are  together,  but  their  hearts  are  diverse.  That  is because  they  are  a  people  who  do  not  reason.

http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/books/article_16812.shtml 

Translated  by  Rasheed  ibn  Estes  Barbee 

http://mtws.posthaven.com/palestine-does-not-belong-to-the-jews-or-the-arabs-it-belongs-to-the-muslims


*****
The History of Masjid Al Aqsa and Palestine by Shaykh Uthaymeen.. rahimahullah (Arabic mp3 with Written Translation):
http://mtws.posthaven.com/the-history-of-masjid-al-aqsa-and-palestine-by-shaykh-uthaymeen


                                                 *****

Palestine will not be liberated except by that which opened it by Shaykh Rabee Bin Haadhee al-Madhkalee ‼️

(The Sheikh hafidhahullah begins by praising Allah and sending prayer and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad with the sermon of need, then he says…)

Welcome to our children and our brothers to this gathering that we ask Allah the Blessed and Exalted to make it a blessed gathering. And we ask Allah the Blessed and Exalted to give us and all the Muslims success and correctness in holding firm to the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, prayer and peace are upon him, and clinging to His rope; because I swear by Allah there is no happiness and no strength for the Muslims except if they hold firm to the rope of Allah and to the Sunnah of His Messenger, prayer and peace are upon him. 

And there is no exit for them from this humiliation and this disgrace except by returning to true Islam, by the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, prayer and peace are upon him. 

You know that the Ummah has split into scattered fractions, and Allah’s refuge is sought, being torn apart due to the desires, therefore the Ummah was afflicted with what it deserved from the punishments; such as being overcome by the enemies of Allah, (Allah says) ‘And whatever affliction befalls you, it is on account of what your hands have wrought, and (yet) He pardons most (of your faults).’ {Chapter 42 verse 30}

And as I have said in some of my writings and in some of my advice to the Palestinians, and as I have said to you, ‘That I swear by Allah, Palestine will not be liberated except by that which opened it.’ It was opened with the Koran and the Sunnah and it will not return to this condition unless its inhabitants are holding firm to the book and the Sunnah. 

And when Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, went to open Baitul Muqaddas, a youth went with him; and when he reached Sham and Abu Ubaida met him there, he came to a shallow body of water so he descended off of his camel and placed its muzzle on his back and he began to wade in the shallow body of water; and he was wearing shabby clothes. So Abu Ubaida, may Allah be pleased with him, said ‘Oh leader of the believers, I don’t like that the people should see you in this condition.’ So (Umar) said, ‘Oh Ubaida, if someone other than you said this. (Then he said) Verily Allah the Blessed and Exalted has given us strength with Islam and if we seek strength with other than it, Allah will humiliate us.”

So now, those that fight in Palestine don’t seek strength from the book of Allah nor from the Sunnah of His Messenger, nor from Islam rather they only seek it from the east and the west and from the Christians and from the Rafida and other than them. And they travel upon methodologies far from Islam, so their jihad is on a path other than an Islamic path. 

And the Scholars have advised them to return to the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and to cultivate themselves and their children upon the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, prayer and peace is upon him… 

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Abu Hakeem relating the Night Journey (25 mins) Click here



Abu Khadeejah on Palestine and Masjid al Aqsa (11.33mins) Click here


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Saudi Arabia's Position regarding Palestine (Government website - Arabic) Click here


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