Status of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, President of the Fiqh Council of North America, states the following:
The city of Jerusalem was chosen at the command of Allah by Prophet Dawud (David) (peace and blessings be upon him), in the tenth century B.C. After him his son Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) (peace and blessings be upon him) built a mosque in Jerusalem according to the revelation that he received from Allah. For several centuries this mosque was used for the worship of Allah by many Prophets and Messengers of Allah. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 586 B.C., but it was soon rebuilt and was rededicated to the worship of Allah in 516 B.C. It continued afterwards for several centuries until the time of Prophet `Isa (Jesus) (peace and blessings be upon him). After he departed this world, it was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 C.E. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken there in his miraculous journey of Al-Israa' and from there he went for Al-Mi`raj. When Muslims took the city of Jerusalem in 636 C.E. during the caliphate of `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) he ordered for the building of this mosque again and it stands until now as a Masjid for the worship of Allah as it was originally built by our Prophet Sulayman (peace and blessings be upon him).
The significance of Jerusalem is that it is the city of many Prophets of Allah as Makkah is the city of Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma`il (Ishmael) and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon all of them). The Mosque of Al-Aqsa is one of the ancient mosques and in the Qur'an Allah called it and its land "the blessed surroundings" (Surat Al-Israa': 1).
When Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Makkah and also for about 17 months after his Hijrah to Madinah, he and his followers used to pray towards the direction of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This was to establish in the minds of Muslims the link between the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and other Prophets of Allah (peace and blessings be upon them all). When this principle was established in their minds then Allah ordered Muslims to turn to the Ka`bah and pray towards its direction.
Now, we are not allowed to pray to the direction of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, but we must respect and honor the city of Jerusalem and its blessed mosque. It is also the duty of all Muslims to guard and protect this mosque from any harm and damage, for the mosque belongs to those who believe in all the prophets and messengers of Allah
Confusion About Al-Aqsa Mosque
Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Muslim lecturer and author, in which he states the following:
Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) was the first of the two qiblahs (prayer direction), and is one of the three mosques to which people may travel for the purpose of worship. It is said that it was built by Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him), as stated in Sunan an-Nasa'i and classed as authentic by al-Albani. And it is also said that it existed before Sulayman (peace be upon him) and that Sulayman rebuilt it; this is based on the hadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which mosque was built on earth first?' He said, ‘Al-Masjid Al-Haram [in Makkah].' I said, ‘Then which?' He said, ‘Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.' I said, ‘How much time was there between them?' He said, ‘Forty years. So wherever you are when the time for prayer comes, pray, for that is the best thing to do.'"
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken on the Night Journey (isra') to Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), where he led the Prophets in prayer in this blessed mosque. Allah says: "Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Haram) to the farthest Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Aqsa), whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things)." (al-Isra': 1)
The Dome of the Rock was built by the caliph `Abd Al-Malik ibn Marwan in 72 AH. It is mentioned in Al-Mawsu`ah al-Filastiniyyah (4/203): "The name Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa was historically applied to the entire sanctuary (Al-Haram Al-Sharif) and the buildings in it, the most important of which is the Dome of the Rock which was built by `Abd Al-Malik ibn Marwan in 72 AH/691 CE, which is regarded as one of the greatest Islamic historical buildings. But today the name is applied to the great mosque which is situated in the southern part of the sanctuary plateau."
It also says in al-Mawsu`ah (3/23): "The Dome of the Rock is situated in the middle of the plateau of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, which is in the southeastern part of the city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem). It is a spacious rectangular plateau which measures 480 meters from north to south, and 300 meters from east to west. This plateau occupies approximately one-fifth of the area of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The mosque which is the place of prayer is not the Dome of the Rock, but because pictures of the Dome are so widespread, many Muslims think when they see it that this is the mosque. This is not in fact the case. The Mosque is situated in the southern portion of the plateau, and the Dome is built on the raised rock that is situated in the middle of the plateau."
We have already seen above that the name of the mosque was historically applied to the whole plateau. The Muslims' fondness for the picture of the Dome may be because of the beauty of this building, but this does not excuse them from the resulting mistake of not distinguishing between the Mosque and the buildings that surround it.
This may be one of the plots and tricks of the Jews in order to give importance to the Rock so that they can fulfill their desire to build the so-called Temple of Solomon on the ruins of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. This is by making the Muslims think that Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa is the Dome of the Rock, so that if the Jews start to destroy Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa and the Muslims denounce them for that, they will tell them, "Al-Masjid al-Aqsa is fine," and will show them a picture of the Dome of the Rock. Thus they will achieve their aims and be safe from the Muslims' criticism.
Source : Islam Online
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