e3nane
المــــديـــــر الـــــــعـــــام
عدد المساهمات : 21049
النقاط : 25172
تاريخ التسجيل : 06/01/2010
العمر : 40
الموقع : شيكاغو chicago
نشاط العضو :
الاوســـــمة : 
 | | موضوع: Al-Aqsa Mosque, 2010-03-15, 18:02 | |
| تذكير بمساهمة فاتح الموضوع :
In the Name of Allah, the
Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
"Glory
be to Him (God) who did take His servant (Muhammad) for a journey by
night from Al Masjid Al Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Mecca) to Al Masjid
Al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem) whose surroundings We did bless”
(17: 1)
Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Blessed
Facts in a nutshell
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Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Blessed: It must be emphasized that the whole area enclosed by the wall is sacred to Muslims and not even a centimeter is negotiable.
| Introduction
This
paper aims at establishing facts about Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Blessed, in
the Old City of Jerusalem (Al-Quds). When people know better about the
geography, history and status of this important site, all will
recognize its significance and influence upon the hearts of Muslims who
would then be ready to sacrifice all for its liberation from Zionists.
This very approach is derived from the traditions of Prophet Muhammad
[peace be upon him] who was as attached to this place as many other
former prophets, as emphasized by his miraculous night journey to
Al-Aqsa. This attachment laid down the basis for the liberation of
Al-Aqsa from the Romans 15 years after Prophet Muhammad’s death, by his
companions and followers who knew that the holy Mosque belongs to
Muslims, at all times and places, who would and should maintain its
integrity. {Only he shall tend the mosques of Allah who believes in
Allah and the last day, and keeps up prayer and pays the poor-due and
fears none but Allah} (9:18)
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| Identification
Al-Aqsa mosque is the name for the whole area enclosed by the wall in
southeast Old Jerusalem. It houses nearly 200 archeological buildings,
foremost among which are the Dome of the Rock (with the golden dome) at
its heart, and Al-Qibly Prayer Hall (with the lead dome) at its
southernmost part, nearer to the Qiblah at Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Other
buildings include minor prayer halls, domes, mihrabs (=chambers for
prayer), schools, corridors, mastabas (=slightly raised grounds
constructed for several uses including education), fountains, trees,
minbars (=pulpits), gates, wells, libraries, among other buildings, in
addition to the open yards enclosed by the wall.
The Site of Al-Aqsa Mosque in old Jerusalem: Al-Aqsa Mosque is the whole area surrounded by the wall in southeastern walled Old City of Jerusalem
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| Area and
Dimensions
Al-Aqsa Mosque is a semi rectangle of 144 donums (=144,000 square
meters); that is about 1/6 of the walled old city of Jerusalem. Its
western wall is 491 meters long, its eastern wall is 462m, its northern
wall is 310m, and its southern wall is 281m.(1)
These boundaries have not significantly changed since the place was
first chosen as a place for worship of Allah at the dawn of history.
Anyone who enters this area and performs “Tahyat al-masjid” Sunna
Prayers, whether inside one of its prayer halls, under one of its domes
or trees, above one of its mastabas, or at one of its corridors or
yards, will be rewarded as many as 250 prayers performed at any other
place, except the Sacred Mosque, in Mecca, and Prophet Muhammad’s
Mosque, in Madina, in Saudi Arabia (the first and second most important
Sacred Places in Islam). Abu tharen [Allah’s pleasure be upon him}
said: we debated – at the presence of Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon
him]- which is more important: the Prophet’s Mosque or Baytul- Maqdes
(Al-Aqsa Mosque)? The Prophet said: “a prayer at my mosque is worth
four prayers at it (Al-Aqsa Mosque). Yet, it is a most worthy prayer
place.“ (Attributed and considered as correct by Al-Hakem, and agreed
as such by Al-thahaby)
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| History and
Construction
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the second place of worship to be built in history.
Abu Tharen Alghifary [Allah’s pleasure be upon him] said: ‘I asked the
Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] which was the first mosque on
earth?’ ‘The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah),’ he replied. ‘And then which?’,
I asked. ‘Masjid al Aqsa,’ he replied. I further asked, ‘what was the
time span between the two?’ ‘Forty years,’ the Prophet [peace be upon
him] replied. (Bukhary). As for the identity of the first builder, it
is argued that it was Adam [peace be upon him], who was first ordained
by Allah to lay down the bases of both the Sacred Mosque, and Al-Aqsa
Mosque(2).
Around 1800 BC, Prophet Abraham [peace be upon him] migrated from Iraq
to the precincts of Al-Aqsa, (called as the Blessed Lands in Qur’an).
He raised the foundations of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, and, with
Prophets Ishaq and Yaqub [peace be upon them all], also maintained the
integrity of Masjid Al-Aqsa. These facts should prove that these two
first Mosques were not built over any church, temple, or synagogue.
Around 1000 BC, Al-Aqsa was reconstructed by Prophet Solomon [peace be
upon him]. Abdul-Allah Ibn Amr narrated that Prophet Muhammad said:
“when Solomon, the son of David, completed the construction of Bait
AlMaqdis (Al-Aqsa Mosque), he asked Allah for three (characteristics):
a judgment that is consistent with Allah’s, a kingdom that may not be
envisaged by anyone who comes after him, and (a promise) that anyone
who enters this mosque for no other reason than praying shall be
relieved from their sins as much as they were at their birthday”. And
the Prophet [peace be upon him] went on: “As for the first two
(characteristics), he was granted both, and I hope he has been rewarded
the third (as well).” (Ibn Majah, Nisa’eey, Ahmad)
In 637 AC (=15 higri), at the beginning of the Islamic Rule of
Jerusalem, the Caliph Umar Ibn Elkhattab [may Allah be pleased with
him] built the Qibly Prayer Hall(3)
inside Al-Aqsa Mosque. Between 686-710 (=66-96 hijri), the Omayyads
built the Dome of the Rock and reconstructed the Qibly Prayer Hall as
well, to complete the whole compound of Al-Aqsa in its present shape(4).
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| Most Important parts of Al-Aqsa Mosque:
The Qibly Prayer Hall:
People
wrongly call it “Al-Aqsa Mosque”, but it is only the southernmost part
of Al-Aqsa Mosque; nearer to Qiblah (in Mecca), hence its name, The
Qibly. It was at this site that Caliph Umar Ibn El-Khattab [may Allah
br pleased with him] built a simple prayer hall right after the Islamic
conquest of Jerusalem in 15 hijri (636 AC). However, Its current
building dates back to the Omayyad Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan and
his son, Al-Walid who rebuilt it in 86-96 Hijri (705-715 AC).
| The Dome of the Rock:
It
is the magnificent octagonal-shaped golden-domed building at the heart
of Al-Aqsa Mosque. It was built by the Omayyad Caliph Abdul Malik
during the years 66-86 hijri (685-705) as an architectural masterpiece
to represent great Islamic State at that time.
The dome
is built over a rock of an irregular shape which was probably the place
from where Prophet Muhammad [Peace be upon him] ascended into the
heavens. This rock was also the Qiblah for the Prophets sent to the
Children of Israel. However, it shouldn’t be glorified, kissed, or
sought for blessings, as Islam hasn’t distinguished it.
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| Some of Al-Aqsa Mosque’s Virtues
·
Al-Aqsa Mosque was the Qibla for many Prophets before Prophet Muhammad
[peace be upon them all], and Muhammad’s first Qiblah for nearly 14
years. In the 17th month of his Hijra to Medina, he was ordained to
turn his face towards the Sacred Mosque. It was narrated that Ibn Abbas
said: ‘The Messenger of Allah was praying in the direction of Bait
Almaqdis, while in Mecca, with the Ka’ba before him, and also for 16
months after his immigration to Medina. Then, he was directed to face
the Ka’aba’. (Ahmad)
· Al Aqsa was the destination of
the miraculous night journey of Prophet Muhammad (Israa), as described
in the following Qur’anic verse which mentions Al-aqsa Mosque in its
proper name, “Glory be to Him (God) who did take His servant (Muhammad)
for a journey by night from Al Masjid Al Haram (the Sacred Mosque in
Mecca) to Al Masjid Al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem) whose
surroundings We did bless” (17: 1). It was there and then that all
the Prophets [peace be upon them] performed a prayer in congregation
after Prophet Muhammad, to emphasize the significance of this mosque
for all Muslims and true followers of prophets!
·
Al-Aqsa Mosque was the starting point of Prophet Muhammad’s journey to
the heavens (Al-Miraj). Anas [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated
that the Messenger of Allah [Peace be upon him] said: “I was given
Al-Buraq (a special heavenly animal), I took it up to Bait Al-Maqdis.
There, I fastened it to the ring to which Prophets (usually) fasten
animals. Later, I entered the mosque and performed Prayers. Then I was
taken to the heavens.”(Muslim) The Lord Almighty had it at His power to
have taken Prophet Muhammad from Mecca straight up to the heavens.
However, to impress the importance of Jerusalem upon Muslims, the
journey was made from Al-Aqsa. Its status as a gate of the earth to the
heavens was again emphasized by the following narration. Maimona,
Prophet Muhammad’s maid said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, set the status of
Bait Al-maqdis for us’. He said: ‘it is the land of resurrection and
gathering (for the Day of Judgment).’ (Abu-Dawood, Ibn Majah, and
Ahmad).
· Al-Aqsa is third of the three holiest Mosques to which Muslims are
encouraged to undertake journeys solely for the purpose of worship. Abu
Huraira [may Allah be pleased with him] was quoted as saying that
Allah’s Messenger [peace be upon him] said, ‘don’t set out deliberately
on a journey (for the purpose of worship) except to three mosques: the
Sacred Mosque (in Mecca), the mosque of the Messenger [peace be upon
him] (in Medina) and the Masjid al Aqsa (in Jerusalem).’ (Bukhary) The
other two most significant places in Islam are the Sacred Mosque, and
the Prophet’s Mosque. However, unlike these two, Al-Aqsa Mosque is not
a “sanctuary” or “haram”. In Islam, these two are the only sanctuaries,
where certain taboos on visitors are applied; such as the prohibition
of hunting animals and birds(5)
. Thus, the common use of the terms “Haram Sharif”, and “the third
Haram” in reference to Al-Aqsa Mosque is wrong. In fact, these terms
were coined at latest Islamic eras as a means of showing respect, but
were never mentioned in the Qur’an or the Prophet’s traditions.
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| Its Current Status
For
long, Jews have been claiming that Al-Aqsa Mosque was built at the site
of a so-called “Jewish temple”. Since the occupation of east Jerusalem
by the Zionist state in 1967, Al-Aqsa mosque, with its Muslim
worshippers, has been suffering:
- bloody
attacks and incursions by occupation forces that led to massacres of
tens of men, women, and children, while they were worshipping. One of
these massacres left 34 Muslims martyrs and 115 wounded on 8-10-1990.
Several
acts of aggression against Al-Aqsa buildings, including the famous Fire
of 21-8-1969 which destroyed one third of the Qibly prayer hall inside
Al-Aqsa, as well as several bombing attempts by Jewish extremists.
Seizure
of some parts of Al-Aqsa Mosque by occupation authorities to prevent
Muslim access to them, such as Al Magharba gate (since 1967, it has
been used to let Jewish extremists and tourists only inside the holy
compound), the Tankuzia School (which was turned into a military
building, and the buraq wall (a part of Al-Aqsa’s western wall which
was turned into a Jewish shrine known as the “wailing wall”).
Siege
of the other gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque by occupation forces who
frequently block the entry of many Muslims, specially youth, on
security pretexts, for several weeks or months.
Dangerous
diggings and excavations around and under the walls of Al-Aqsa Compound
by occupation authorities, in order to destruct the place, and build
Jewish structures instead. The most recent and largest such acts have
led to a demolition of the road leading up to the Magharba gate
starting on 6-2-2007.
Ban for all Islamic renovations and repair works inside the walls of Al-Aqsa Mosque by occupation authorities since
2001.
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| Conclusion
Al-Aqsa
Mosque belongs to all Muslims at every time and every place, as it has
been a symbol for the one and same message of the oneness of God, which
was preached by all prophets who prayed at it. Islam, the final version
for this same message conveyed by the Last Prophet, Muhammad, has
confirmed and commanded over prior versions(6),
and made a believe in all former Prophets a pillar of faith. So,
Muslims are all willing and should be able to preserve the integrity of
such a place that is central to all Prophets, and to make true and real
peace prevail at the city of Jerusalem, that is so dear for all
Prophets’ followers.
Prepared by: Sisters For Al-Aqsa Group
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