Jerusalem And Its Significance:
Crusades – A war which took place for about 400 years – exactly 397 years – from 1095 AD – 1492 AD. Every muslim and every seeker of truth should be aware of these wars.A war aiming the power of Jerusalem – aiming the destruction of innocent muslim community has a long atrabilious story of blood and crisis. It takes a very long duration to explain each and every topic of this naration. Hence I’ll just concentrate on very important topics of this narration – about which we all must be aware of – Insha allah.As this is a war aiming Jerusalem – it is obvious that the knowledge of ‘why the Jerusalem is such a significant?’ is a fundamental requirement to understand this topic clearly.
Jerusalem:
A city in the middle of the middle east nation Palestine is very popular in the name of ‘JERUSALEM’. The city whose name means the ‘CITY OF PEACE’ has been destructed more than 100 times. And yet it stands bravely. The reason behind its stability is its religious significance.The world’s biggest all the three Abrahamic religions- Jewish, Christianity and Islam have a great sacred significance relationship with Jerusalem.
Jews And Jerusalem:
Jews have a long history in relation with Jerusalem. They began to live in Jerusalem after vanquishing the canaanites(an arab tribe). But yet the most significant subject that relates Jews with Jerusalem till now is the “The temple of Solomon(pbuh)”.According to Bible, in 10 BC Solomon(pbuh) builds a temple for Jews in JERUSALEM -(1 kings 9:1). And this temple is named as “First Solomon Temple”. Solomon built this temple on ‘Mount Moriah‘ -(2 Chronicles 3:1). Mount Moriah is the place where Prophet Abraham(pbuh) almost sacrificed his son -(Genesis 22:2). And this temple was completely demolished by Babylonians in 586 BC -(2 Kings 24:13, 2 kings 25:8-9).
3d Model of First Solomon Temple:
Herode Temple(Second Solomon Temple):
【The years which I mention here are refered by Historians】
Again a second temple was built on the same place in 515 BC -(Ezra 6:14-16) and was named as ‘Second Solomon Temple’. This temple was completely renewed by The King – Herod in 20 BC. This second temple was completely demolished by Romans in 70 AD. This temple was surrounded by walls in all the four west,east,north and south directions. After the Romans destroyed the temple the only remains was the wall of west side of the temple. And this wall is called as ‘The Western Wall’. Till now millions of Jews pray at the western wall and consider it as a very sacred place. Thus Jews have a very significant connection with Jerusalem.
Western Wall:
Christians And Jerusalem:
According to Bible Jesus(pbuh) was crucified in a place called Golgotha -(Luke 23:33/ Mathew 27:33/ Mark 15:22/ John 19:17) And was burried near Golgotha -(John 19:41-42).
But the truth is he wasn’t crucified. As Allah(swt) clearly states in Al-Quran 4:157-158 that Jesus(pbuh) wasn’t crucified. Here we aren’t discussing on this topic. Hence we move further.
The exact place of Golgotha is unknown. When the Roman emperor Constantine converted to christianity in 312 AD he sent his mother Empress Helena to Jerusalem in search of Golgotha and Jesus Tomb. So when Helena went Jerusalem she found a place and believed it as Golgotha. So Constantine built a Church at that site. The construction began from 326 AD and completed in 335 AD. And this Church is called as ‘The Church Of The Holy Sepulchre’. And till to this day this church is the Holiest site for Christians all over the world.
Church Of The Holy Sepulchre:
But some christians reject that The church of Holy sepulchre is not the site of Golgotha and claim that the “Garden Tomb” is the real Golgotha.
When asked about this, Christian scholars say that,
“Where he(Jesus) did is not necessary but we have to focus on What he did.”
An unique matter that has to be noted is that the key of the church of the holy sepulchre is holded by two muslim families.
When sultan Salahudin Ayubi captured Jerusalem in 1187 AD – He wanted peace – As there was always collisions among different sects christians on considering the church of the holy sepulchre – In order to bring peace among Chritianity the muslim king Salahudin consigned the key of the church in the hands of Mulims under the approval of Christians in his period and it is maintained till now. And thus Jerusalem plays a significant role in Christianity.
Islam And Jerusalem:
Islam has a very strong relationship with Jerusalem. Islam considers Jerusalem as a ‘Blessed Land’-(Jamiat Thirmidhi vol.1/B.46/3954)(Al Quran 21:71,21:81). Many prophets mentioned in Quran- Ibrahim, Musa, Haroon, Dawood, Sulaiman, Zakariyah, Yahya, Isa(May peace be on all of them) are from Jerusalem.
Bait-ul-Muqadis or masjid al-aqsa or Haram al-sahrif which is also known as Solomon Temple, located in Jerusalem,is the third holiest mosque in Islam-(Abu Dawood 2033/sahih)(Sahih Al Buhari 1189,1197,1864, 1995/sahih).
It is the second mosque built on earth to praise Allah(swt) -(SahiBuhari 3366/sahih). Based on the hadith of (Buhari 3366/sahih) it is believed that Prophet Adam(pbuh) began to buit Masjid al-aqsa and based on the hadith of (Sunan ibn maja vol.1/Book:5/Hadith:1408/sahih) the construction of Al-Aqsa was completed by Prophet Sulaiman(pbuh) Quran also indirectly speaks about the Solomon(pbuh)’s construction in Chapter no.17 verse no.4 – 7 and chapter no.34 verse no.13.
In first muslims used to pray in the direction of Masjid al-aqsa which is called as First qibla – (Al Quran 2:143-149) (Sahih Buhari Hadith no. 4486,4490,4492,4494,7252/sahih)(Sunan Nasai 23/sahih) (Abu dawood 1045/sahih).
Prophet Muhammed(saw) was taken to a miraculous night journey from Mecca to masjid al Aqsa, Jerusalem and then to heaven in 621 AD and all this happened in one night and this journey is called as Isra and miraj -(Al Quran 17:1, 53:11-17,17:60)(Sahih Buhari 3886,4709,5576,6613/ Sahih)(Sahih Muslim 162/sahih).
In this miraculous journey prophet Muhammed(saw) travelled on Buraq (a flying animal). When he reached Masjid al-Aqsa,which was early demolished in 70 AD by Romans, he tied Buraq with a wall of the al-aqsa mosque which is known as Buraq wall by muslims and western wall by jews -(Jamiat Tirmidhi vol:5/Book:44/Hadith;3132/Hasan)(Sahih muslim 162/sahih)
It is believed that the exact place from where prophet(saw) ascended to heaven from Al-Aqsa is known as Qubbat-al sakhrah and which today is known as Dome Of the Rock.
And when prophet(saw) descended in Al-aqsa, he prayed there -(Sahih Muslim 162/sahih)(Sunan Nasai 450/Hasan) and this place is known as The Dome Of Prophet.
And thus Jerusalem plays a significant role in Islam.
Overall View Of Sacred Places:
Jerusalem is a city of Palestine
In the below picture we will get an idea where the Al-Aqsa quater is located in Jerusalem.
The outer border is the border of city Jerusalem.And the small border within Jerusalem is the Al-Aqsa border.
Many believe that the Golden tower(Dome of Rock) is masjid al aqsa. The truth is that the Dome Of Rock is just a part of Al-Aqsa. The complete Quarter is called as Al-Aqsa Quarter and the Qibly mosque is known as Al Aqsa Mosque.
The muslim prayer Hall in Al-Aqsa is Masjid al-Qibly. The silver domed building(look at the above picture).
In the above picture we will get a clear understanding of where the sacred places of Jews and Muslims is located in Al-Aqsa. Western wall is also shown there.
The Church of Sepulchre is outside the Al-Aqsa border.
In the above picture we see that the church is located quite far from Al-Aqsa Quarter.
Thus we have clearly understood the significance of Jerusalem and the reason behind the stability of Jerusalem. May Allah(swt) grant us understanding.
Maharibullah yahya 