Virtues of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Its Surroundings

In the Holy Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s traditions

• Mubarak (blessed):
  
  “Glory be to Him (God) who did take His servant (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al Masjid Al Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Mecca) to Al Masjid Al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem) whose surroundings We did bless.” [17:1]
  
  Scholars said: If it has no other virtue but this one (mubarak or blessed), it would be most sufficient and comprehensive for all virtues, because when its surroundings are blessed, then its own blessings are doubled. 

• Moqaddas (holy, purified from blasphemy) and Moqaddis (purifying from sins):
  
  “O my people! Enter the holy land which God has assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then you will be overthrown to your own ruin.”
  [5:21]

• Refuge and Abode for Prophets:
  
  “And We delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds.” [21:71]
  
  “And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.” [21:81]
  
  “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. And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people were producing and what they had been building.”[7:137]
  
  “And We placed between them and the cities which We had blessed [many] visible cities. And We determined between them the [distances of] journey, [saying], "Travel between them by night or day in safety." [34:18]
  
  “And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level [areas] and flowing water.” [23:50]

• One of the most venerable places which witnessed revelations of Holy Books:
  
“By the fig and the olive, And [by] Mount Sinai, And [by] this secure city [Makkah]” [95: 1-2-3]

Interpreters of the Qur’an said: the land of the fig and the olive is Bayt Al-Maqdis (Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings)

• Its final conquest is promised in the Qur’an:

“Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the Mosque (in Jerusalem), as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.” [17:7]

• The destination of Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey and the starting point of his journey upto the heavens (Al-Miraj):
  
  Anas [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated that the Messenger of Allah [Peace be upon him] said: “I was brought Al-Buraq (a special heavenly animal), I took it up to Bayt Al-Maqdis. There, I fastened it to the ring to which Prophets (usually) fasten animals. Later, I entered the mosque and performed Prayers… Then I was taken to the heavens.”[Muslim: 234]

• The first Qiblah (the direction Muslims face when praying) for Prophet Mohammad and his followers:
  
  It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: ‘The Messenger of Allah was praying in the direction of Bayt Al-Maqdis, while in Mecca, with the Ka’ba before him, and also for 16 months after his immigration to Medina. Then, he was directed to face the Ka’aba’. [Ahmad: 2836]

• The Second Mosque established on Earth:
  
  Abu Tharen Alghifary [Allah’s pleasure be upon him] said: ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] which was the first mosque on earth?’ ‘The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah),’ he replied. ‘And then which?’, I asked. ‘Masjid al Aqsa,’ he replied. I further asked, ‘what was the time span between the two?’ ‘Forty years,’ the Prophet [peace be upon him] replied. [Bukhary: 3115]

• The third holiest Mosque to which journeys for the purpose of worship should be undertaken:
  
  Abu Huraira [may Allah be pleased with him] was quoted as saying that Allah’s Messenger [peace be upon him] said, ‘don’t set out deliberately on a journey (for the purpose of worship) except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca), the mosque of the Messenger [peace be upon him] (in Medina) and the Masjid al Aqsa (in Jerusalem).’ [Bukhary:1115]

• A most desired resting place for the Prophets:
  
  Narrated Abu Huraira: The angel of death was sent to Moses and when he went to him, Moses slapped him severely, spoiling one of his eyes. The angel went back to his Lord, and said, "You sent me to a slave who does not want to die." Allah restored his eye and said, "Go back and tell him (i.e. Moses) to place his hand over the back of an ox, for he will be allowed to live for a number of years equal to the number of hairs coming under his hand." (So the angel came to him and told him the same). Then Moses asked, "O my Lord! What will be then?" He said, "Death will be then." He said, "(Let it be) now." He asked Allah that He bring him near the Sacred Land at a distance of a stone's throw. Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Were I there I would show you the grave of Moses by the way near the red sand hill." [Bukhary:1253]

• Glad Tidings were given about its final conquest:
  
  Narrated Auf bin Malik: I went to the Prophet during the Ghazwa of Tabuk while he was sitting in a leather tent. He said, "Count six signs that indicate the approach of the Hour: my death, the conquest of Jerusalem, ... “ [Bukhary:2940]

• Visits for prayers are rewarded with forgiveness of sins:
  
  Abdul-Allah Ibn Amr narrated that Prophet Muhammad said: “when Solomon, the son of David, completed the construction of Bayt Al-Maqdis (Al-Aqsa Mosque), he asked Allah for three (characteristics): a judgment that is consistent with Allah’s, a kingdom that may not be envisaged by anyone who comes after him, and (a promise) that anyone who enters this mosque for no other reason than praying shall be relieved from their sins as much as they were at their birthday”. And the Prophet [peace be upon him] went on: “As for the first two (characteristics), he was granted both, and I hope he has been rewarded the third (as well).” [Ibn Majah: 1398]

• Prayers inside it are double-rewarded:
  
  Abu tharen [Allah’s pleasure be upon him} said: we debated – at the presence of Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him]- which is more important: the Prophet’s Mosque or Baytul- Maqdes (Al-Aqsa Mosque)? The Prophet said: “a prayer at my mosque is better than four prayers at it (Al-Aqsa Mosque). Yet, it is a most worthy prayer place. Soon, there will be times when one may hardly have a strip of land from where Bayt El-Maqdis can be seen, which will be far better for them than the worldly life and all that it offers. “ [Mustadrak Al-Hakem:8695]

• Setting out for pilgrimage form Al-Aqsa Mosque is meritoriou:
  
  Umm Salamah, Umm al-Mu’minin, related that she heard the Prophet saying, “If anyone puts on ihram for Hajj or ‘Umrah from Masjid al-Aqsa and then proceeds to the sacred Masjid, his former and latter sins will be forgiven, or he will be guaranteed Paradise”. [Sunan Abu Dawud: 1479]

• Allah’s Chosen Land:
  
  Narrated Ibn Hawalah that the Prophet said: “It will turn out that you will be armed troops, one in El-Sham, one in Yemen and one in Iraq”. Ibn Hawalah said: “Choose for me, Apostle of Allah, if I lived to that time.” He replied: “Go to El-Sham, for it is Allah's chosen land, to which his best servants will be gathered, but if you are unwilling, go to your Yemen, and draw water from your tanks, for Allah has on my account taken special charge of El-Sham and its people.”[Sunan Abu Dawud: 2124]

• The land of the truly firm Muslims:
  
  Abu Umamah al Bahili reports that the Prophet of Allah saying, 'A group of my ummah will remain firm upon the truth, dominating their enemies. They will not be harmed by their opponents until Allah's decree arrives upon them. They asked, 'Oh Prophet of Allah! Where will they be?' He replied, 'In Bayt Al-Maqdis and its surrounding areas.” [Ahmad:21286]

• The land of resurrection:
  
  Maimona, Prophet Muhammad’s maid said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, set the status of Bayt Al-Maqdis for us’. He said: ‘it is the land of resurrection and gathering (for the Day of Judgment).’ [Ahmad:26343]
  
  

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