Great scenes of iftar gatherings at Al-Aqsa

Thursday 01st, August 2013 / 22:16 Written by Oman Observer

in Features

By Hasan Kamoonpuri — Our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace 
be upon 
him, said: “Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like 
that 
of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward”. 
A number of 
charity organisations from different countries are providing iftar 
meals 
for thousands of Muslims during the month of Ramadhan in 
Jerusalem 
al Qud’s Al-Aqsa mosque. Unlike in the past, this year during 
the month 
of Ramadhan, hundreds and thousands of Palestinians offer 
prayers at 
Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem Al Quds with the Grand Mufti 
of Al Quds 
Shaikh Mohammed Hussein. This Ramadhan, Masjid Al-Aqsa 
wears a 
different look with people offering prayers and organising iftar 
gatherings daily. They also listen to the sermons of Shaikh 
Mohammed 
Hussein.
In fact, every Muslim regardless of his nationality has a dream 
to visit 
Masjid Al-Aqsa and offer prayer there. The city of Jerusalem Al 
Quds 
commands great respect in the world of Islam for it is the land 
of great 
prophets. Many prophets, including Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham),
Lut (Lot), 
Dawood (David), Suleiman (Solomon), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), 
(peace 
be upon them all) and the Leader of all Messengers of Allah, 
Prophet 
Muhammad, (peace and blessings be upon him) are associated 
with 
this city in different significant ways.

Prophet Abraham, the patriarch of all the believers, built the Ka’abah in 
Mecca with his son Ismael. Similarly, in Jerusalem Al Quds, Abraham 
(peace be upon him) established a place of worship and named it 
“Masjid Al-Aqsa”, which means the farthest place of worship west of 
Ka’abah.
The city of Jerusalem Al Quds (also called Bait al Muqaddas — the 
House of Holiness) assumes special significance for the world of Islam 
because Masjid Al Aqsa located in its centre was the first Qibla 
(direction in which Muslims face when praying). Muslims prayed facing 
Al Quds for around 14 years, after which 
Allah the Exalted ordered the Qibla to be changed towards the Ka’abah 
in Mecca.

It was 16 months after the Hijrah (emigration of the Prophet from Mecca

 to Madina in 622 AD) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 

was instructed to change the Qibla from Jerusalem Al Quds to Mecca 

(Quran 2:142-144).
Palestine is also unique because of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) 

ascension to heaven from Jerusalem Al Quds, and Prophet Noah’s 

resting place for the Ark. Jerusalem Al Quds was the centre of Isra’ 

(journey from Mecca to Masjid Al Aqsa) and Miraj (ascension to heaven) 

of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It was at Al Aqsa Mosque that the Prophet 

Muhammad (pbuh) led all of the messengers of Allah (from Adam to Jesus) 

in prayer. In the Glorious Quran, Allah the Exalted and Glorified says: 

“Glory be to the One who took his servant on a journey by night from 

Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Mecca) to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem Al Quds) 

whose precincts we have blessed…” 17/1).
Jesus Christ, one of the mightiest messengers of Allah, was born in 

Palestine 2000 years ago. The presence of Christianity, Islam and 

Judaism in Jerusalem Al Quds has made it a potential meeting place 

for people of all faiths, and a powerful potential centre for dialogue 

among civilisations. Palestine can be the hub for all believers. 

Jerusalem Al Quds can be the world centre for dialogue among civilisations. 

That will happen when enemies of humanity are defeated to ensure peace 

in the holy land.
Importance of Masjid Al Aqsa: Al Aqsa was the second Mosque 

established on earth after Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca. In a Hadith 

Abu Dhar said: “Once I asked the Prophet which was the first mosque 

established on the earth; he said Al-Masjid Al-Haram. Then I asked him: 

then, which mosque? He replied “Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa”.
Praying in Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa is equivalent to 500 times the prayers in 

any other mosque, except for Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca and 

Al-Masjid An-Nabawi in Madina.
In a Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Prayers in Al-Masjid Al-Haram 

are equivalent to 100,000 prayers, and prayers in my Masjid (in Madina) 

are equivalent to 1000 prayers, and prayers in Bait al Muqaddas are 

equivalent to 500 prayers.”
In addition, there are several verses in the Quran and several Ahadith 

of the Prophet that describe both the significance of Bait al Muqaddas 

and the fact that Allah has blessed the land around it.
The various Quranic revelations and Prophetic statements concerning 

Palestine has made this blessed land so dear to the companions of

the Prophet that when Omar ibn Al-Khattab, the second Caliph of 

Muslims, entered the area for the first time he announced that the 

entire land of Palestine is part of the Islamic Waqf for the Muslim 

generations to come. Palestine (as a blessed and holy land) is 

therefore extremely important to all Muslims.
Jerusalem Al Quds is the key issue of the world of Islam. In fact, 

several key and powerful Muslim leaders have said that the liberation 

of Jerusalem Al Quds is nearing with every passing year, particularly 

after the Arab Spring and the time is not far when world Muslims will 

celebrate its liberation and offer prayers at Masjid al Aqsa.