Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa: The Cause of Every Muslim

28/02/2024| IslamWeb

Author: IslamWeb

Today’s discussion revolves around Palestine, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa, focusing on the plight of our Muslim brothers and sisters there. They endure atrocities such as killings, missile strikes, house demolitions, and displacement amidst daily obstinacy, insults, abuses, aggressions, and betrayal.

Based on the principle that those who do not concern themselves with the affairs of Muslims are not counted among them, and the principle that all Muslims are brothers who do not betray or abandon one another, it is incumbent upon us to support our oppressed Muslim brethren in Palestine. We must stand in solidarity with them, offer our assistance, and unite in advocating for their cause.

This duty is even more significant considering that their suffering is inflicted by the usurping Jews, the tyrannical occupiers who are enemies of both Allah the Almighty and humanity. They are the killers of Prophets and Messengers, and are the most hostile towards believers.

The Cause of Every Muslim

Some Muslims may feel disconnected from the ongoing events in the Occupied Land. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness, educate the uninformed, awaken the indifferent, and remind the forgetful.

The responsibility of a Muslim towards any cause is magnified by its sanctity and significance. The cause of Palestine, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa is among the most critical issues, intricately tied to principles of loyalty and disavowal (al-wala’ wa’l-bara’), the rights of brotherhood and solidarity among believers, and the defense of the oppressed.

Hence, the cause of Palestine, Al-Aqsa, and Jerusalem is not solely the cause of Palestinians, though they are most directly affected. Nor is it exclusively the cause of Arabs, though they have a rightful claim to defend and support it. Rather, it is the cause of every Muslim, regardless of their geographical location, whether in the east or west of the world, and irrespective of their status, whether they are rulers or subjects, affluent or impoverished, knowledgeable or uninformed, male or female.

Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque: Their Significance to Muslims

To Muslims, Jerusalem holds a special place as the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque, not only revered as one of the houses of Allah the Almighty but also recognized as the first mosque established on Earth after the Sacred Mosque in Mecca. Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “I asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which mosque was established first?’ He replied: ‘The Sacred Mosque.’ I inquired: ‘Then which?’ He said: ‘Then Al-Aqsa Mosque.’ I asked: ‘How long was there between them?’ He said: ‘Forty years” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].

Al-Aqsa Mosque carries immense significance for Muslims as it served as our initial Qiblah (direction of prayer) before the Ka’bah. The Prophet () and the Muslim community prayed towards it for seventeen full months until Allah the Almighty decreed the change of Qiblah towards the Ka’bah. Allah the Almighty revealed: “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” [Quran 2:144].

Jerusalem's Significance to Muslims

Jerusalem is the site of Al-Isra and Mi’raj (the Miraculous Night Journey and Ascension). It is the place where the earthly journey of the Prophet () concluded, marking the beginning of his heavenly ascension, where the Prophet () met with other prophets, leading them in prayer, symbolizing the transfer of spiritual leadership to him and his nation. This is a responsibility entrusted to us by Allah the Almighty.

To us, Jerusalem is revered as the third holiest city in Islam, following Mecca and Medina. Its mosque holds a position of great virtue, ranking after the Sacred Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. After these two mosques, Al-Aqsa Mosque is the only destination to which long journeys may be undertaken by worshippers. Allah has designated the reward for prayers offered in Jerusalem to be equivalent to 500 prayers offered elsewhere.

To us, Jerusalem is the land of prophethood and divine messages. It was home to numerous prophets, including Zakariyya (Zechariah), Yahya (John), ‘Isa (Jesus), Dawood (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Maryam (Mary), and the family of ‘Imran. Ibrahim (Abraham) and Lut (Lot) migrated to Jerusalem, and Musa (Moses) was commanded to enter it. Our Prophet Muhammad () also visited Jerusalem during his miraculous Night Journey (Israa’) and prayed in its Mosque.

It is the blessed and holy land, as described by Allah the Almighty in the Quran: “Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed” [Quran 17:1]. Regarding His prophet Ibrahim, Allah, the Exalted, says: “And We delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds” [Quran 21:71]. Further, Musa said to his people: “O my people, enter the Holy Land” [Quran 5:21]. Allah the Almighty also says: “And We caused the people who had been oppressed to inherit the eastern regions of the land and the western ones, which We had blessed” [Quran 7:73].

To us, Jerusalem is the land of steadfastness until the Day of Judgment. In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, Abu Umamah narrated that the Prophet () said: “There will always be a group from my Ummah manifest upon the truth, prevailing over their enemies, unaffected by those who oppose them, until the command of Allah comes while they are in this state.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, where are they?” He replied, “In Jerusalem and its surroundings” [Also reported by At-Tabarani. Al-Haythami stated in Majma’ Al-Zawa'id that its narrators are trustworthy].

Jerusalem is the land of assembly and resurrection on the Last Day. The Prophet () stated that the Levant (Al-Sham) is the place of resurrection.

From all that has been mentioned above and beyond, it becomes clear to us that the conflict between the usurping, occupying Jews and our believing Muslim brothers is distinctly a religious battle. This is underscored by the Israeli government instilling this awareness in the minds of its citizens and by some attempting to erase it from the consciousness of Muslims, reducing it to merely a battle between two groups over a piece of land.

One confirmation of the religious nature of this battle is that the West stands with the Jews and supports them against the Muslims. Without their assistance and collusion, Israel would not have arisen at all. This was evident in the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the UN Partition Plan of 1947, which were the greatest gifts to the Jews, granting them the right to establish a homeland in Palestine. This unjust decision wrongfully transferred land from its rightful owners to those undeserving. Subsequently, the Nakba (Catastrophe) occurred, followed by the setback in 1967 when Israel occupied Jerusalem. Since then, it has persistently pursued Judaization efforts and the displacement of its indigenous population, with the ultimate goal of demolishing the Al-Aqsa Mosque to construct the purported Temple Mount. Despite these egregious actions, the world remains passive and indifferent, turning a blind eye to the injustice unfolding before them.

Our Duty towards Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem

First: Having proper understanding of the Cause and awareness of its religious nature, recognizing it as a matter concerning every Muslim.

Second: Spreading awareness among people of the fact that it is a matter between an occupying, criminal usurper and an oppressed people defending their rights and land.

Third: Educating our children and the next generation to love Palestine and Al-Aqsa and to stand up for this cause.

Fourth: Exposing the practices of the Jews, highlighting their injustice, racism, and oppression of the oppressed people before the international public opinion.

Fifth: Boycotting any party that supports the Jews. Every penny spent on them turns into a bullet aimed at the chest of our Muslim brothers.

Sixth: Providing all possible support to our brothers financially, intellectually, and morally. If we are unable to do so, we must not neglect to supplicate to Allah, asking Him to grant them victory over their enemy, who is also His enemy.