The Importance of Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’ in Islām - Ramaḍān 2023

َ َ َ َٰۡ ۡ ‫ۡ َۡ َ ذ‬ ۡ ‫ـر ِامُُا َِلُُال ۡ َم‬ ۡ ۡ ‫ِهَُلۡ ًلُُم َِنُُال ۡ َم‬

َ َۡ ‫ه ۡ ٰ َ ذ‬
ۡ َ ‫ُُاَّل ِۡىُُا‬
ُ‫اُح ۡو هل‬‫ج ِدُُاۡلقصاُاَّلِىُُبركن‬ ِ ‫س‬ َ ‫ُُاۡل‬
َ ‫د‬
ِ ‫ج‬ِ ‫س‬ ‫د‬ ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬ِ ‫ب‬ُ‫ى‬ ٰ
‫ۡس‬ ‫س ب حن‬
ۡ ‫ه َ ه ۡ ٰٰ َ ذه ه‬
ُ‫ص ۡ ه‬
‫ي‬ ‫ُُه َو ذ‬
ِ َ‫ُُالس ِم ۡي هعُُاۡل‬ ‫ُِنيهُُمِنُُايتِناُُا ِنه‬ ِ ‫ُل‬

‫َْ َذه‬ َ ‫ه‬ ْ َ ُّ َ ‫َ ْ َ َ َ َ هْ ه َ َه َ ذ‬

‫ُِفُاألر ِضُأو ُل‬
ِ ‫ضع‬ ِ ‫ج ٍّدُو‬ِ ‫عنُأ ِِبُذ ٍّرُقالُقلتُياُرسولُاَّللُِأىُمس‬
َ ‫ه ْ ه َ ْ ََْه َ َ َ ََْ ه‬ َ ْ َ ‫ه ْ ه ه ذ َ ٌّ َ َ ْ َ ْ ه‬ ‫ه‬ َ َ ْ ‫َْ ْ ه‬ َ َ
ُ‫ُقلتُكمُبينهماُقالُ"ُأربعون‬.ُ"ُ‫جدُاألقَص‬ ِ ‫ُقلتُثمُأىُقالُُالمس‬.ُ"ُ‫جدُاۡلرام‬ ِ ‫ُقالُ"ُالمس‬
َ
َ ْ ََْ َ‫ه ذ َ ْه‬ َ َ َ َ ٌ ْ َ ‫ه‬ َ َ َ ‫َ ًَ َََْ َ ْ ََ ْ َ ذ َه‬
َ
ُ‫ِيثُأ ِِبَُكم ٍِّلُ"ُث ُمُحيثماُأدركتك‬ِ ‫ُو ِِفُحد‬.ُ"ُ‫جد‬ َ
ِ ‫سنةُوأينماُأدركتكُالصلةُفص ِلُفهوُمس‬
ْ ‫ُم‬ َ ‫ذ‬
َ ‫لةهُفَ َصل ِْهُفَإنذ هه‬
" ‫ج ٌُد‬ِ ‫س‬ ِ ‫الص‬

My Dear respected ʿUlamā, elders, brothers and sisters listening at home, Assalāmu ʿAlaykum Wa
Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuhu. I begin in the name of Allāh , Lord of the worlds and sending
Peace and Salutations on our beloved Rasūlullāh .

If there is one issue which affects every single Muslim around the world and in fact unites us, it is
the issue of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, the illegal occupation of their lands and our
beloved Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’, the 3rd most important Masjid in Islām.

Once again, we have seen in recent days; innocent worshippers being attacked inside the Masjid.
Scenes of desecration and damage from inside. Continued violations and incursions inside the 3rd
most holiest site in Islām. Palestinian localities being attacked and ravaged by settlers. And most
recently, the Gaza Strip being bombed once more. This cycle of violence just seems to carry on
unabated.

The situation on the ground is very fluid. Every day the illegal occupying force takes more and
more land away. Our Palestinian brothers and sisters are denied even the most basic of rights.
There houses are demolished, they are imprisoned without charge, the children are taken away
from their families, their homes are raided for no reason, the list goes on. Yet our Palestinian
brothers and sisters protect the Masjid on behalf of the Ummah. They are steadfast in the face of
oppression and illegal occupation.

We live in a world where the real victims are portrayed as aggressors. Anyone who has seen any
footage from the recent attacks inside Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’ can clearly see who the real aggressors
are. Where else in the world, could you see soldiers entering a place of worship, firing tear gas, and
stun grenades. Beating the worshippers, yet the world looks by silently. If this had taken place
anywhere else, in another country, in another religions house of worship, imagine the outcry. The
politicians would be lining up to condemn and show support and solidarity, but what do we get
here? Nothing, or words asking for restraint to be shown with no blame being apportioned to the
illegal, barbaric acts of an apartheid state. The bias media coverage, trying to portray this conflict,
as it is somehow the fault of the Palestinians. They are always seen as the instigators and the ones
to blame.

As Muslims, it is imperative that we educate ourselves about the importance of Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’,
its significance and the significance of the surrounding area. What does it mean to us, and what
position does it hold in Islām. Inshā Allāh today we will discuss this subject and also what we can
do to help our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

Allāh  tell us in Sūrah al-Isrā’:

‫له‬َۡ َ َ َٰۡ ۡ ‫ۡ َۡ َ ذ‬ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ َۡ ۡ َ ۡ َ ًَۡ َۡ ٰ ۡ َ ۡ ‫ه ۡ ٰ َ ذ‬

ُ ‫ج ِدُُاۡلقصاُاَّلِىُُبركناُحو‬ ِ
ِ ‫ج ِدُُاۡلـرامُُا ِلُُالمس‬
ِ ‫سبحنُُاَّلِىُُاۡسىُبِعبدِهَُللُُمِنُُالمس‬
ۡ ‫ه َ ه ۡ ٰٰ َ ذه ه َ ذ ۡ ه‬
ُۡ ‫ُُاۡلَص‬
‫يه‬ ِ ‫ُِنيهُُمِنُُايتِناُُا ِنهُُهوُُالس ِميع‬
ِ ‫ُل‬

“Exalted is He who took his servant from al Masjid al Ḥarām to Masjid al-Aqṣā’ whose
surroundings We have blessed, to show him from Our signs, indeed He is the all hearing all
seeing”

Allāh  has named this Masjid by its name in the Qur’ān. Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’, which means
the furthest Masjid. Even to this day, we use the same name.

This was the place Allāh  chose for our Prophet Muḥammad  to ascend to the
Heavens. If Allāh  wanted to, He could have sent Rasūlullāh  up to the Heavens
from Makkah, the holiest place on this earth, but no, instead he chose to send him from Al-Masjid
al-Aqṣā’. This was the place chosen for Al-Isrā Wal-Miʿrāj, the night journey and ascension to the
Heavens. And on the way, Allāh  would show the Rasūlullāh  many things.

Ḥadīth about Masjid al-Aqṣā’

Now let us look at a couple of Hadith showing the importance of Masjid al-Aqṣā’.

َ َ َ َ ‫َ ه َ ُّ َ ه ذ‬ َ َ ‫ذ‬ َ َ َ ْ َ ‫َ ْ َ ه‬
ُِ‫ُالرحالُإِۡلُإِلُثلثة‬
ِ ‫بُصىلُاَّللُعليهُوسلمُقالُ "ُۡلُتشد‬ ِ ِ ‫عنُأ ِِبُهريرةُُرىضُاَّللُعنهُـُع ِنُانل‬
َ َْ ْ ‫ُصىلُاَّللُعليهُوسلمُو َم‬
َ ‫ُو َم ْسجد ذ‬
‫ُِالر ه‬ ْ
َ ‫ُِاۡل َر ِام‬
َ ْ ‫َم َساج َدُال ْ َم‬
1
"ُ‫جدُِاألقَص‬ِ ‫س‬ ‫ل‬ِ ‫و‬‫س‬ ِ ‫د‬ ‫ج‬
ِ ‫س‬ ِ

1
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1189
Abū Hurayrah  narrates, that Rasūlullāh  said “A person should not set out on a
journey except to 3 Masājid, Al-Masjid al-Ḥaram, the Masjid of the Messenger of Allāh 
(Masjid Nabawī) and Masjid al-Aqṣā’.

Only 3 Masājid are named in this Ḥadīth, where a person can make an intention to go and visit
specifically. And this is an indication for us as well to go and visit? It is easier for a person who is
from this country to go and visit, than a person who is Palestinian but lives outside East Jerusalem.
Just to visit the Masjid they require a permit. There is no freedom of movement for our brothers
and sisters over there.

Now let us looks at the reward a person gets if they put on the Iḥrām from Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’?

‫َه ه‬ ‫َذَ َ َ ْ َه َ ذ‬ ‫ذ‬ ْ َ َََ َ ‫َ ْ ه‬

ُ‫بُصىلُاَّللُعليهُوسلمُأنهاُس ِمعتُرسولُاَّللُِصىلُاَّللُعليهُوسلمُيقول‬ ِ ِ ‫عنُأ ِمُسلمةُزو ِجُانل‬
َ َ ْ َ ْ َ ‫َْ َ ِ ه َ َ ه َ َ َ ذ‬ ْ َ ْ َ َ َْ ْ َ ْ َ َْ ‫َ ْ ََذ َ ذ َْ ه‬
ُ‫ج ُِدُاۡلرامُغفِرُلُماُتقدمُمِنُذنبِهُِوما‬ ِ ‫جدُِاألقَصُإِلُالمس‬ِ ‫ُِبج ٍّةُأوُعمر ٍّةُمِنُالمس‬ ِ ‫"ُمنُأهل‬
2 ‫َ ذ ه‬
ْ ‫َْ َ َ َ ْ َه‬ َ ‫ََ ذ‬
ُ‫ُأوُُ"ُوجبتُلُاْلنة‬.ُ"ُُ‫"تأخر‬

Umm Salamah the wife of The Prophet  narrates that Rasūlullāh  said, “If
anyone puts on Iḥrām for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah from Al-Masjid Al-Aqṣā’ and then proceeds to the Sacred
Masjid, their past and future sins will be forgiven, or they will be entered into Paradise”.

What an amazing reward, we should at least once in our lifetime put on our Iḥrām for ʿUmrah or
Ḥajj from Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’.

Let us look at one more Ḥadīth showing the importance of Al Aqṣā’.

َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ‫َ ذ ََ َ ْ َ ه َ ذ‬ ْ َ َ َ َ َ ْ ‫َ ذ ََ ه َ ْ ه‬
ُ‫ُعنُأبِيهُِقال‬ ُّ ْ ‫ذ‬ ‫ه‬ َ
ُ ‫حدُِحدثناُاألعمشُحدثناُإِبراهِيمُاتلي ِِم‬ ِ ‫ُح ذدث َناُعبْ هدُال َوا‬ ‫حدثناُموَسُبنُإِسماعِيل‬
َ َ ‫َْ َذه‬ َ ‫ه‬ ْ َ ُّ َ ‫َ َ هْ ه َ َه َ ذ‬ َ ََ ‫َ ْ ه‬
ُ‫ُقال‬ُ ‫ُِفُاألر ِضُأول‬ ِ ‫ضع‬ ِ ‫ج ٍّدُو‬ ِ ‫س ِمعتُأباُذ ٍّرُرىضُاَّللُعنهُُقالُقلتُياُرسولُاَّللُِأىُمس‬
َ َ َ ‫ه ْ ه َ ْ َ َ ََْه‬ َ َْ ‫َْ ْ ه‬ َ َ ٌّ َ ‫ْ َ ْ ه ْ َ َ ه َ َ ه ْ ه ه ذ‬
ُ‫ُقلتُكمَُكنُبينهماُقال‬."ُ‫جدُاألقَص‬ ِ ‫ُقالُقلتُثمُأىُقالُ"ُالمس‬."ُ‫جدُاۡلرام‬ ِ ‫"ُالمس‬
َ ْ َْ ‫ََْه َ َ ًَ ه ذ َََْ َََْ ْ َ ذ َه َ ْ ه َ َ ْ َ ذ‬
ُ ِ‫""ُأربعونُسنةُثمُأينماُأدركتكُالصلةُبعدُفصل ِهُفإِنُالفضلُفِي ُه‬
3

Abū Dhar  says, “I said O Rasūlullāh , which was the first Masjid set upon the earth,
Rasūlullāh , said ‘Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām’. I then said, then which one, he said ‘Al-Masjid al-

2
Sunan Abū Dāwūd 1714
3
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhāri 3366
Aqṣā’’. I said what was the time in between the 2, he said ‘40 years. Then he said whenever the time
comes for Ṣalāh, then read Ṣalāt there for indeed there is good in it.”

Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’ was the second Masjid to be built, 40 years after Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. This was a
brief overview of the History of Al Aqṣā’ and I hope it has illustrated the importance and unique
role this Masjid and areas plays in our religion.

Just to recap some of the important points

• It is the 2nd Masjid that was built, 40 years after Masjid al-Ḥarām
• It is the 3rd Holiest site in Islām
• It was the first Qiblah of the Muslims, until 16 or 17 months after Hijrah.
• If a person reads Ṣalāh there, they get the reward of 500 times.
• Many Prophets  and Companions  are buried there
• It is the only place where all the Prophets have gathered together and prayed Ṣalāh behind
Rasūlullāh 
• It is the place where Allāh  chose Rasūlullāh  to ascend to the heavens
• There are many virtues related to the visiting Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’, putting on your Iḥrām
from there, even donating oil to the Masjid
• Many Important Events will take place there towards the end of times.

What can we do?

The question arises, what can we do and what should we do. There are many things we can do, First
and foremost, don’t sit by idly and do no nothing. There is always something we can do. We need
to reattach ourselves to Allāh  and reattach ourselves to Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’.

Evaluate ourselves, see where we are going wrong and change for the better. It does seem that
when the Ummah is going away from the commands of Allāh  and leading lives against it,
we can easily lose everything Allāh  has given us.

The whole Ummah needs to come together for this common cause as it affects all of us.

And how do we reattach to Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’, lets learn about it, read about it, go, and visit it, see
it for ourselves and earn the reward of reading 500 Ṣalāh when you read a single Ṣalāh. If you want
to go for ʿUmrah, go from there, at least once in your lifetime go and visit this Holy Place and
Inshā’Allāh your love and connection with the Masjid, its precincts and its people will increase.
Take part in charitable activities which help our brothers and sisters in Palestine, and Al-Masjid al-
Aqṣā’. We can see the devastation the blockade has caused in Gaza. The hardships our Palestinian
brothers and sisters face all year round, donate what we can and encourage others to do so as well.

Take up the plight of Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’ and the Palestinians with our politicians, inform them,
educate them, and use them to put forward the Palestinian cause in the international arena.

There is one more action we can do at any time and as many times we want, an action which is very
easy to do yet very effective, and that is Duʿā. Make constant Duʿā to Allāh  that he liberates
Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’ and our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Everyone single one of our Duʿās should
contain a supplication for Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’ and our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Read
Tahajjud in these blessed nights and beseech Allāh  from the bottom of our hearts.

Inform other people about the real situation of what is happening over there and what the real
risks are. Things are moving very quickly; the situation is very fluid, and we are truly at a risk of
heading into a longer period of uncertainty which can prove critical to the future of our brothers
and sisters and our Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’.

May Allāh  forgive our shortcomings and remove the occupation from our Palestinian
brothers and sisters and Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā’. May he forgive us for our inaction and strengthen our
Palestinian brothers and sisters who are fulfilling an obligation on behalf of the entire Ummah. In
this blessed month of Ramaḍān, may Allāh  open his doors of Mercy on all the Ummah of
Rasūlullāh . May He unite us all together as one Ummah and keep us all steadfast in times
of hardship.