The importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque: the third holiest place in Islam

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the first Qibla of Muslims. It is the third holiest place for Muslims after Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawiﷺ this mosque is the largest mosque in the city of Jerusalem in Palestine, with a capacity for a large number of worshipers and thousands of believers can offer prayers in the outer courtyard of the mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque has precedence over other mosques and also has historical importance.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is also distinguished by the fact that on the occasion of Ascension, all the Prophets prayed in this mosque under the leadership of the Holy Prophetﷺ .

Also, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered his Companions to visit three important mosques, including the Haram Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s ﷺ Mosque in Madinah and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The reward of praying in any one of these three mosques is five hundred times more than praying in other mosques. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah, the Lord of Glory, says: “Glory be to Him Who took His servant in one night from Masjid al-Haram (i.e. the House of Kaaba) to Masjid al-Aqsa (i.e. Bayt al-Maqdis), around which We have placed blessings so that We show him Our signs, surely He is the all Hearer (and) the Seer.” (Surah Bani Israel)

In Bukhari Sharif, it is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar that “We prayed with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) for 16- or 17-months facing Al-Quds.” Then Allah commanded them to turn their faces towards the Ka’bah. It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One should travel to three mosques, the Kaaba Mosque and my Mosque, the Prophet’sﷺ Mosque, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Sahih Muslim: Vol. II: Hadith No. 893).

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Dharr that “I said, O Messenger of Allah! Which mosque was built first in the world? He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Masjid-e-Haram (of Makkah). I asked, then which one? He (peace be upon him) said (of Bait al-Maqdis) Al-Aqsa Mosque (Sahih Bukhari: Volume II: Hadith No. 601).

On the authority of Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, we had a discussion with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about whether the mosque of Bait al-Maqdis (Aqsa) is better or the mosque of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. So, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One prayer in this mosque of mine (the Prophet’sﷺ) is better (in terms of reward) than four prayers in this (Masjid-i-Aqsa) and that (Masjid-i-Aqsa) is the best place to pray.”

It is also known from the hadith of Mustadrak Hakim that the hearts of Muslims are filled with love for Al-Aqsa Mosque, which no one can remove from their hearts, but it is possible to suffer more sufferings and pains in connection with its pilgrimage. Abdullah bin Amr ra narrates that “When Sulaiman bin Dawud finished the construction of Bait al-Maqdis, he made three supplications to God.”

(1)O Lord! May my decisions be (correct) according to your decision. (2) O Lord! Give me such a government that no one will be found after me. (3) O Lord! A person who comes to this mosque only with the intention of praying, should be cleansed of sins as he was cleansed of sins on the day his mother gave birth to him. Prophetﷺ said, “Allah has accepted the first two duas of Hazrat Sulaiman (as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an), I hope that his third dua will also be accepted.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1408): Sunan-e-Nasai 693:)

Today, once again, the genocide of Palestinian Muslims by Israel and the disrespect of the first Qibla of Muslims, bait al-Maqdis, continues. In this context, apart from the support of the US, Israel also has the support of US defence equipment and manpower, while on the contrary, the rulers of other Islamic countries are limited only to the extent of statements.

However, despite Israel’s barbaric atrocities, the morale of Palestinian Muslims is high. It is our prayer that Allah Almighty will help our oppressed Palestinian brothers and grant freedom to the first Qibla of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the clutches of the Jews. Amen