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All praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon Allah’s Messenger, his Companions and whosoever follows his guidance.
However, in Islam they are honoured as Allah’s great Prophets. The Qur’an not only narrated their stories, but also restored their honour by removing some of the charges and allegations that were made against their characters by earlier communities. Historically and theologically it believes itself to be the true inheritor of the earlier traditions of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah. It is for this reason that the Qur’an called for Palestine – the land associated with the lives of many of Allah’s Prophets – al-ard al-Muqaddasah and called its surroundings barakna hawlaha .
Due to its theological and religious status, Jerusalem had a very important place in the life of the Prophet Muhammad himself. After these experiences the Prophet was taken back to Makkah. The story of Isra’i and Mi’raj is full of wonderful signs and symbols. Muslim scholars, thinkers, mystics and poets have interpreted it in deep an meaningful ways. There is, however, one essential point and that is it serves as an example of every Muslim’s deep devotion and spiritual connection with Jerusalem.
It is a lengthy subject that we cannot discuss in detail here. Suffice it to say that the change of the Qiblah in no way diminished the status of Jerusalem in Islam. Once monotheism was fully established in the minds and hearts of the believers and once the Ka’abah’s position with Prophet Ibrahim and with monotheism was made clear, the way was open to restore the Ka’abah as the direction of prayers .
It is interesting to note that the Ka’abah in Makkah was the original direction of prayers for all the Prophets of Allah. Furthermore, it is important to note that the Bible says that the early Israelites in Jerusalem used to turn to the southern direction when making their most sacred prayers and offerings . The Ka’abah is in the southern direction of Jerusalem. Thus we can say that the Ka’abah was also a Qiblah for the earlier Israelite communities as well.
The site was a desolate place at that time. Romans had destroyed the so-called Second Temple in the year 70 CE and no non-Christian or Christian ruler of that city after that ever tried to build any place of worship there. Muslim leaders and philanthropists built many hospitals, schools, and religious centers in and around the city. They purchased land in and around the city and dedicated it as a Waqf for religious purposes. The whole city is virtually Waqf land that is non-salable and nontransferable.
After the re-conquest of Jerusalem by Salahuddin Al-Ayubi in the time of the Crusades, Jews were again permitted by Muslims to come back and live in the city. The Crusaders during their 90-year rule had banned both Jews and Muslims from that city. “There are only three Mosques to which you should embark on a journey: the sacred Mosque , this Mosque of mine , and the Mosque of Al-Aqsah .”As I said, it is Jerusalem that Prophet Muhammad visited during his night journey and ascension . In one evening, legend tells us that the angel Jibril miraculously took the Prophet Muhammad from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to the Furthest previously Mosque in Jerusalem.
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