IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE MOST COMPASSIONATE
FIRST SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF JUMADA AL-AWWAL, 6/5/1446 AH (8/11/2024 AD)
TOPIC: WHY THE CONCERNS FOR AL-AQSA MOSQUE, AND THE ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN ITS RESTORATION
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. We praise Him, glorify Him, seek His guidance and help, and repent to Him. Whomever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whomever He misguides, no one can lead them aright. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O Allah, send blessings, peace, and grace upon him, his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
Servants of Allah, I advise you and myself to observe piety toward Allah, both in private and public, for it is the ultimate aim of all acts of worship and commands. Allah the Exalted has said, (يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ) “O people, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous” (Al-Baqarah 2:21).
The Importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims
Al-Aqsa Mosque holds a lofty and significant position in Islam. It has a prominent place in the hearts of Muslims, as the Qur’anic verses and Prophetic traditions have indicated several virtues of Al-Aqsa in Islamic law, as explained below:
Historians differ on who laid the first foundation stone of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Some say it was the Prophet Adam, the father of humanity, others suggest it was Sam, son of Noah, and others believe it was the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) who initiated its construction.
Some hadiths suggest that Adam (peace be upon him) was the first to build it, setting its boundaries 40 years after establishing the foundations of the Sacred House (Kaaba) by Allah’s command, without any synagogue, church, temple, or place of worship preceding them. Just as continuous construction took place at the Sacred Mosque, so too was the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque built and renewed. Prophet Ibrahim renovated it around 2000 BCE, followed by his sons Ishaq and Ya’qub (Isaac and Jacob), and later, Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) reconstructed it around 1000 BCE.
In one of the most famous Islamic conquests in the year 15 AH (636 AD), Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab came from Madinah to Jerusalem and took it peacefully from its inhabitants under the famous “Covenant of Umar.” He personally cleaned the Sacred Rock and the area around Al-Aqsa Mosque and built a small mosque at the far southern end of Al-Aqsa. Many companions accompanied Umar, including Abu Ubaydah Amir ibn al-Jarrah, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Khalid ibn al-Walid, and Abu Dharr al-Ghifari.
The term “Al-Masjid al-Aqsa” refers to the entire rectangular area of approximately 144 dunums, along with its structures, most notably the Dome of the Rock, which was built by Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan in 72 AH (691 AD) along with the Qibli Mosque. These structures are some of the most remarkable Islamic monuments. Later, Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik completed the Qibli Mosque during his reign from 86 to 96 AH (705–714 AD).
The Dome of the Rock has remained in its original form to this day. However, the Qibli Mosque has been rebuilt several times due to earthquakes, beginning with one in the late Umayyad period in 130 AH (747 AD) and including another during the Fatimid era in 425 AH (1033 AD).
The Reward of Praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque
Praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque holds a multiplied reward. Various narrations mention differing amounts for this reward; it is said to equal 500 prayers, and in some narrations, 250 prayers. Al-Tabarani and Al-Hakim reported from Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) that he asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) whether prayer in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) was better than in his mosque (Madinah), to which he replied, “A prayer in my mosque is better than four prayers there, and it is indeed a blessed place. It is the land of resurrection and gathering, and a time will come upon people when a length of whip—or he said: the bow of a man where he can see Bayt al-Maqdis—is better for him, or more beloved to him, than the entire world” (Reported by Al-Hakim and authenticated by Al-Albani).
Al-Aqsa’s Connection to Hajj and Umrah
Al-Aqsa has historically been associated with the rituals of Hajj and Umrah for Muslims in various eras. This practice may be based on the hadith reported by Abu Dawood from the Mother of the Believers, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), who heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say, “Whoever enters ihram for Hajj or Umrah from Al-Masjid al-Aqsa to Al-Masjid al-Haram, his past and future sins will be forgiven, or Paradise becomes obligatory for him.”
While the chain of this hadith has been subject to scrutiny, Abu Dawood supported it through practice, saying, “May Allah have mercy on Waki’, he entered ihram from Bayt al-Maqdis, meaning toward Makkah.” Imam al-Baghawi (d. 516 AH/1122 AD) mentioned in Sharh al-Sunnah that several companions practiced this ihram from Al-Aqsa. This tradition appears to have been established since the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and continued among Muslims across generations until the occupation of Al-Aqsa by Zionists.
One of the most beautiful stories of entering ihram from Al-Aqsa is about a group of mujahideen who came to Jerusalem from various parts of the Muslim world and participated in liberating Al-Quds (Jerusalem) from the Crusaders in 583 AH (1187 AD). Al-Fath ibn Ali al-Isfahani mentioned in Mukhtasar Sana al-Barq al-Shami: “When the liberation of Jerusalem was completed, the time for Hajj approached, and the mujahideen said, ‘We will enter ihram from Al-Aqsa Mosque to the Sacred Mosque, combining the virtue of reclaiming Jerusalem this year with performing the pillars of jihad and Hajj.’”
Visiting Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) at the end of the Hajj journey also became a widespread tradition. Many Muslims would perform Hajj, then visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to pray there, and would feel that their Hajj was not complete without also visiting Al-Quds and praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Some researchers attribute this practice to the Ottoman era, but it has deeper roots in Islamic history, known before the Ottoman Empire. It is based on the famous hadith: “Traveling should only be undertaken to three mosques,” which lists these three mosques together, inspiring Muslims to visit all three during their Hajj journey.
Al-Aqsa Mosque was named “Al-Aqsa” for its distance from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca; “Aqsa” means “far.” This name appears in the beginning of Surah Al-Isra, where Allah Almighty says: (سُبحانَ الَّذي أَسرى بِعَبدِهِ لَيلًا مِنَ المَسجِدِ الحَرامِ إِلَى المَسجِدِ الأَقصَى الَّذي بارَكنا حَولَهُ) “Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from Al-Masjid al-Haram to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed.” (Al-Isra 1). Another name is “Bayt al-Maqdis,” meaning “the purified or sanctified house,” frequently mentioned by Islamic scholars and poets. Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani praised it, saying: “The gift of eternity, a descent from the Most Generous, we have arrived at the sanctified house.”
Other names include “the Blessed Land,” due to Allah’s blessing mentioned in the opening verse of Surah Al-Isra, and “Bayt al-Maqdis,” used in most of the hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him), such as his words on the night of Isra and Mi’raj: “Then I, along with Gabriel, entered Bayt al-Maqdis, and each of us prayed two rak’ahs.”
Other names include “Al-Aqsa al-Sharif,” “the First Qibla,” and others. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and companions.
THE SECOND SERMON
All praise is due to Allah alone, with no partner, and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, after whom there is no prophet. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him and upon his family and companions, in abundant salutations.
O servants of Allah! Muslims have various roles to play in reclaiming Al-Aqsa Mosque, including the following:
- Reminding people of Al-Aqsa Mosque, its virtues, and its esteemed position in Islam, to encourage them to strive, protect, and defend it.
- Working to intensify and unify efforts to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque, liberate it, and defend the sacred sites of Muslims.
- Making earnest and relentless efforts to support Al-Aqsa Mosque, its people, and those steadfast in its defense, using all available means and methods.
- Prioritizing the visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque and praying there for those who are able.
- Defending Al-Aqsa Mosque financially, whereby a Muslim contributes money towards liberating Al-Aqsa Mosque and protecting it.
- Increasing supplication and earnest prayer to Allah to safeguard this blessed mosque and return it to the hands of Muslims.
- Defending Al-Aqsa Mosque with the pen and tongue, through writing and speaking out in its defense.
Prayer: O Allah, grant victory to those striving in Your path. Unite their hearts, unify their ranks, and guide them to follow Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet. O Allah, prepare for us the means to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque, and guide Muslims, rulers, and ruled alike, to uphold Your Sharia and support Your religion. O Allah, deal with the oppressive Jews and those who support them among the Christians and hypocrites. O Allah, take revenge on them, scatter their unity, shake their positions, and bring upon them Your severe punishment, which cannot be turned away from the criminals. Truly, You are the Hearer of supplications and able to respond. Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.