IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST COMPASSIONATE, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THE FIRST SERMON FOR JUMADA AL-THANIYAH. DATED: 7/6/1447 AH (28/11/2025 CE)
TOPIC: WHY THE ATTENTION ON AL-MASJID AL-AQSA AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE MUSLIM IN RESTORING IT?
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the One who established a strong and unbreakable bond between the Muslims in the East and the West of the world and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Palestine. We praise Him, exalted is He, we thank Him, seek His help and guidance, seek His forgiveness, and repent to Him. Whoever Allah guides is truly guided, and whoever He leaves astray—there is no guide for him.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
O Allah, send Your peace, blessings, and benedictions upon him, his family, his companions, and all who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed: I advise you, servants of Allah, and myself to fear Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Fear your Lord in private and in public, in times of ease and difficulty, so that you may prosper in this world and attain Paradise in the Hereafter.
Allah, exalted is He, says:
﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ ﴾
“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.” (Qur’an 3:102)
Dear brothers in faith,
Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, in our religion and creed, is an inseparable part of our sacred sites, and it is the most important of them after the Two Holy Mosques. It is the mosque associated with the great event in the history of Islam—the Isra’ (Night Journey) of the Prophet ﷺ.
Allah the Most High says:
﴿ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَى ٱلَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَاتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ﴾
“Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” (Qur’an 17:1)
This divine miracle and heavenly sign was a special honor granted by Allah to our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Al-Masjid al-Aqsa is also the first Qiblah. When prayer was first made obligatory, the Muslims used to face Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“We prayed with the Prophet ﷺ facing Bayt al-Maqdis for sixteen or seventeen months, then he was directed toward the Ka‘bah.” (Narrated by al-Nasa’i)
Praying in Masjid al-Aqsa carries multiplied reward. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Prayer in Al-Masjid al-Aqsa is better than five hundred prayers elsewhere.” (See: Majmu‘ Fatawa Ibn Baz 17/409)
It is also one of the three mosques to which one may intentionally travel for worship. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Do not undertake a journey except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque, this mosque of mine, and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa.”
(Narrated by Ahmad with a sound chain according to the conditions of al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Today, this blessed mosque groans under the oppression of the occupying Zionist Jews.
OUR DUTIES TOWARDS AL-MASJID AL-AQSA
O noble Muslims, among the essential means of liberating Al-Masjid al-Aqsa is freeing ourselves from servitude to anything other than Allah, upholding pure Tawheed in its complete form, and protecting it from every form of deficiency or corruption.
Beyond that, every Muslim must feel a sense of responsibility toward Al-Aqsa and the city of Jerusalem by fulfilling his duty of supplication, material support, spreading the cause across available media platforms, and abstaining from sins.
We must understand that a duty does not fall except due to a valid excuse. Every Muslim must offer whatever is within his capacity to support and liberate Al-Aqsa. Indeed, Al-Aqsa is in dire need of rescue before it is demolished and their alleged temple is built in its place. This liberation is something every Muslim ardently hopes for—yet hope alone is not enough; it must be followed by action.
Here, therefore, we lay out specific points for the return of Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem, and Palestine. Practical steps must be taken toward achieving these goals, and they include:
1. Freeing oneself from servitude to anything other than Allah
In order to realize Tawḥīd in its complete and perfect form, and to preserve it from any deficiency or corruption.
2. Ruling our affairs by the Book of Allah
We must follow the guidance of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and accept the rulings of Allah in the disputes that occur among us. The implementation of Sharī‘ah must begin with ourselves—before demanding it from others—in transactions, rulings, business dealings, marriage, divorce, and beyond.
3. Striving for unity
Allah the Exalted says: ﴿وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا﴾
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” (Āl ‘Imrān 3:103)
And He says:
﴿وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ﴾
“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute lest you lose courage and your strength depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Al-Anfāl 8:46)
Enough of division, disputes, and tensions. Enough of fanaticism for groups, parties, and ethnicities. Our loyalty must be to Islam and the divine methodology, fulfilling true brotherhood for the sake of Allah.
4. Establishing clear distinction between Muslims and others (al-walā’ wa’l-barā’)
We must present the concept of coexistence in a balanced and moderate manner—neither excessive nor negligent. This includes understanding what is permissible and impermissible in interactions with the People of the Book:
Giving them gifts and accepting theirs, visiting their sick, offering condolences, buying and selling, renting, giving charity when beneficial, returning greetings appropriately, seeking assistance from them, forming alliances for legitimate sharʿī interests, eating their lawful food, marrying their chaste women, congratulating them on permissible worldly occasions, and benefiting from their sciences and technologies.
The sphere of coexistence with the People of the Book is broad, without compromising matters of creed. Some among us wrongly prohibit every form of interaction with them, while others go to the opposite extreme and prohibit nothing at all.
This is a defining issue- one that has distinguished believers from hypocrites throughout history. Allah did not separate the believers from their enemies except after the Muslims themselves established this distinction. The Qur’an gives this topic extensive attention.
5. Reforming oneself and one’s family:
The family is the strongest building block of the Ummah. A Muslim family must transform into a strong spiritual nucleus. Islam spread at the beginning with only a few individuals—yet it prevailed through the strength of righteous families. This is evident from the biographies of families such as the household of ʿAmmār ibn Yāsir and the family of Abu Salamah and Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them).
6. Following the path of those who liberated it before us. Such as ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn al-Ayyūbī, and Qutuz, who liberated Palestine from the Tatars. These heroes revived the cause of defending the sanctities with their souls, blood, and wealth.
7. Every Muslim must feel a sense of responsibility toward Al-Aqsa and the city of Jerusalem by fulfilling his duties, which include: supplication, material support, spreading the cause through available media platforms, and staying away from sins.
8. Parents must fulfill their duty toward Al-Aqsa by raising their children to love Al-Aqsa Mosque and remain attached to it, teaching them its history and the history of the sacred city, keeping the cause alive in the hearts of the younger generation, and clarifying to them the difference between the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
9. Scholars and preachers must adopt this cause and spread it among the people—so that the cause of Al-Aqsa becomes the cause of the entire Ummah, and the foremost issue for individuals, nations, and governments.
10. Everyone must know that the issue of Al-Aqsa Mosque is not merely a Palestinian issue, but rather an Islamic issue—for it is connected to the creed of every Muslim.
11. Efforts must be made to support and strengthen the continuous presence (ribāṭ) of our brothers from the people of Palestine in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to increase their numbers there.
12. We must beware of normalization with the Zionist entity, for through such normalization the cause is lost. Governments and institutions must monitor and follow up on the excavations carried out by the Jews around Al-Aqsa Mosque.
13. Arab and Islamic media in all its forms must adopt this cause. Media professionals must fully understand the subject, ensuring that their speech is not casual or improvisational—because the media today has a profound impact, either in serving the cause or in undermining it.
14. Historians, researchers, and writers must fulfill their responsibility by authoring and documenting works on the history of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
THE SECOND SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and those who follow them with righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
O Muslims, one of the most important matters Islam calls to after Tawḥīd is unity of word, harmony of hearts, unity of purpose, oneness of goals, and holding fast to the firm rope of Allah.
Allah the Most High says:
﴿وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا﴾
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” (Āl ‘Imrān 3:103)
And He says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ﴾
“And those who disbelieve are allies of one another. If you do not do so, there will be turmoil in the land and great corruption.” (Al-Anfāl 8:73)
In compliance with this divine command, the scholars of Southern Nigeria convened the Summit of Scholars of Southern Nigeria, titled:
“Confronting the Economic and Security Challenges in Nigeria”
This summit was held on Wednesday, 28 Jumādā al-Ūlā 1447 AH, corresponding to 19 November 2025, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, with the participation of more than 350 scholars, leaders, and delegates from the South-West, South-East, and South-South regions, in addition to a high-level delegation representing scholars from Northern Nigeria.
Many Islamic organizations were also present at this summit.
After extensive and in-depth discussions on national issues concerning Muslims in Southern Nigeria, the summit concluded with the following resolutions:
1. The Summit affirms that unity is both a religious obligation and a strategic necessity. Islamic leaders and organizations must cooperate, coordinate their efforts, and protect internal cohesion from disputes and conflicts. Unity strengthens political voice, enhances community dignity, and increases national impact.
2. The Summit observes that insecurity- including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, cybercrime, gang violence, and communal conflicts — continues to hinder national development. The Summit calls for comprehensive reforms based on intelligence-driven security, border protection, strengthening the justice system, youth empowerment, and adopting socio-economic programs that address root causes, not just symptoms.
3. The Summit affirms that the Halal economy is a fundamental tool for ethical, inclusive, and sustainable national development that benefits everyone regardless of their religion.
Through mechanisms such as Islamic banking, Sukuk (Islamic bonds), Takaful (Islamic insurance), and Halal investment, Nigeria has been able to finance major infrastructure projects and expand access to non-exploitative financing for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
The Summit warns against attempts by some voices to portray the Halal economy as a religious issue, emphasizing that it is already practiced in states with Christian majorities and even in non-Muslim countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, and South Africa.
The Summit calls for broad national support and the development of Halal economic frameworks as a strategic pillar for Nigeria’s development.
4. The Summit reaffirms that Islam rejects all forms of terrorism, extremism, insurgency, and violence against innocent people.
No individual or group is permitted to use Islam to justify criminality, nor is it acceptable to attribute the crimes of a few to the entire Muslim community.
5. The Summit observes that Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges result from corruption, mismanagement, weak institutions, and failures of leadership.
It calls for financial transparency, economic diversification, improved public services, and increased investment in education, health, agriculture, and technology.
6. The Summit expresses concern over the under-representation of Muslims in political appointments, public service, the media, educational policy, and development planning in Southern Nigeria.
It was noted that Muslims in the South were not rewarded proportionately despite their strong support for the current government during the 2023 elections.
The Summit urges the government to adopt more inclusive policies that reflect the constitutional and demographic rights of Muslims in the South.
7. The Summit affirms the constitutional right of Muslims to practice their religion fully, including: Shariah courts, Islamic personal law, Islamic education, Halal financing, and Freedom of religious expression in public institutions. Any violation of these rights constitutes a constitutional breach and represents a threat to national unity.
8. The Summit rejects the claims alleging a systematic genocide against Christians in Nigeria, affirming that such narratives fuel division and foreign interference. Evidence shows that Muslims are the most affected by terrorism, killings, and displacement.
The Summit calls for a national discourse rooted in truth, verified data, and justice.
9. The Summit is of the view that Professor Amupitan’s previous endorsement of allegations of religious persecution undermines his neutrality as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Summit calls for his resignation and replacement in order to protect the credibility of the democratic process and the unity of the country.
10. The Summit expresses sorrow over the kidnapping of 25 students in Kebbi State and prays for their safe return. It also calls for proactive security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Summit extends condolences to the Nigerian Army, the family of retired Major General Uba, and all soldiers who were killed in Bula-Tulu (Butallu), asking Allah to console their families.
11. The Summit commends the sacrifices and courage of the Nigerian Armed Forces and all security agencies in defending the nation. It calls for improvements in their welfare, equipment, and operational support.
Supplication (Duʿāʾ): O Allah, unite the ranks of the Muslims, and bring their hearts together upon the truth. O Allah, grant victory to the Muslims everywhere. O Allah, nullify the plots of the enemies of Islam, and invalidate the schemes they devise. O Allah, we push back their harm by Your power, and we seek refuge in You from their evils. O Allah, grant victory to the people of Palestine and relieve them of the siege. O Allah, remove their hardship and lift their affliction. O Allah, heal their sick and the sick among the Muslims. O Allah, free the captives of the people of Palestine and the captives of all Muslims.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands, and rectify our leaders and guide them to what You love and are pleased with. O Allah, forgive our dead and the dead among the Muslims, O Most Merciful of the merciful and Lord of all creation.