Qur'an Stories > The Sacrificed
Taken from al-islam.com
When Abraham (peace be upon him) left his people's land, he asked his Lord to bless him with a pious son. Therefore, Allah gave him glad tidings that he would be the father of a gentle son, Ishmael (peace be upon him).
Ishmael was born when Abraham, the Close One to Allah, was eighty-six years old. When Ishmael was old enough to walk, Abraham saw in a dream that he sacrificed his son. As prophets' dreams are revelations, Abraham's dream was a great trial with which Allah afflicted him.
The Qur'an says, "He [Abraham] said; 'O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you, so look, what do you think?'"
In reply, Ishmael said, "O my father! Do what you have been commanded. Allah willing, you shall find me of the steadfast."
Then, they were commanded to submit themselves to Allah's Will.
The Qur'an says, "When they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice)." As Abraham and Ishmael submitted to Allah's Will and began to carry out His commandment, Allah sent angels with glad tidings.
The Qur'an says, "We called out to him, `O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!' Thus indeed We reward those who do right.
This was obviously a trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We left (blessing) for him among generations (to come) in Later times.
Peace and salutation to Abraham! Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For he was one of Our believing servants."
When Abraham and his son Ishmael passed the trial successfully, Allah redeemed Ishmael's life with a white ram that had sound eyes and horns which Abraham found tied to a tree near Thabir Mount. So he sacrificed it at Mina. Afterwards, this act has been perpetuated by the rituals of Hajj, especially the rite of sacrifice.
Friday, 16 November 2007
Qur'an Stories : The Sacrificed
HAJJ - Useful Media Clips
Here's some nice clips of Hajj I've found from the Internet
1. Hajj Videos - Hajj-videos
This is a very good website with information on what to do and what to avoid during Hajj. Most of the videos are the same as (or maybe taken from?) al-islam.com step by step interactive web programme. It's worth a look. Make sure you have real-player installed!
2. Hajj - A Journey of the Heart (Source: Youtube jannah7)
This clip from Youtube has lots of pictures of the Hajj Pilgrimage.
3. The Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah (Source: Youtube akakakakakah)
This is a clip of Hajj pilgrimage from new muslims from North America, which they explain their feelings about Hajj and their new life.
4. A Guide to Hajj in English (Source: idauk.org)
Lectures on Hajj by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullah
Please visit http://idauk.org/dawah/hajj_english.html to licten/ download for your convenience.
Note to readers:
If you find any interesting video's/ pictures of Hajj please let me know and I'll post them here.
When Hajj becomes Fard & The different types of Hajj
HAJJ
Taken from fisabilillah.org
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It means pilgrimage, effort, and to set out for a place. It is an act of worship during the Hajj season. It is an obligation to be performed once in one’s life; more than that will be Nafl (supererogatory).
WHEN DOES HAJJ BECOME FARD?
For Hajj to become Fard the following conditions have to be found in an individual:
1. To be a Muslim.
2.To be physically matured.
3.To be physically capable of travelling, and performing Hajj, or at least having the support to be able to do so.
4. To have sufficient expenses for travelling, food, medication, accommodation, and any other necessary requirements.
5. To have sufficient wealth for one's dependents (if they are left behind) while performing the Hajj.
6. A route available being secure, (i.e. not dangerous).
7. A woman must not be in `Iddah. (3 menstrual periods after a divorce or 4 months and 10 days after the death of her spouse).
8. A woman must be accompanied by her husband or a mahram (an adult male whom she is not permitted to marry due to being closely related).
Once all the conditions are met the Hajj should be performed at the earliest possible opportunity. Failure to do so will mean that one is accountable to Allah for neglecting His Command.
If someone else alleviates an obstacle (e.g. provides the money), then too the Fard becomes established.
click picture to enlarge
THE THREE TYPES OF HAJJ
In regards to one’s own Hajj, there are three types that one can perform.
1. Qiran:
This is when a pilgrim enters Ihram with the intention of performing both `Umrah and Hajj together with one Ihram. The pilgrim, on arriving in Makkah, will first perform `Umrah followed by Hajj in the same Ihram; thus one remains in the same state of Ihram till the end of Hajj.
2. Tamattu`: The pilgrim dons the Ihram with the intention of both `Umrah and Hajj but with two separate states of Ihram. After `Umrah is completed the state of Ihram is lifted and one will have to re-enter Ihram before Hajj starts.
3. Ifrad:
The pilgrim, intends Hajj only. He enters the state of Ihram from the Miqat for Hajj, and stays in that state until Hajj.
Note: Whenever `Umrah, Ihram, Tawaf or Sa`y are referred to it is assumed that one has already read about them in the `Umrah section of this book, therefore their details will be omitted unless there are specific rules that apply for Hajj.
Note: Essentially the different types of Hajj are very similar. Besides the intention of the Ihram and the maintaining or shedding of it, there are very few differences. These will be pointed out in the following pages.
Note: If one enters the Miqat with the intention of either Ifrad or Qiran then one cannot change the intention to another type without giving Dam (Sacrifice). In the case of Tamattu` one can either give dam (sacrifice) or leave the Miqat and re-enter with another intention and Ihram.
(Recommended Reading):
1. Fisabilillah Publications Website: Your complete guide to Hajj & Umrah (easy to read and understand)
2. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da‘wah and Guidance: Guide to Hajj
3. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da‘wah and Guidance: Hajj Illustrated - step by step (this is a bit complex to operate but very interactive)
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Rogue travel agents cheat British pilgrims to Mecca
Taken from The Independent Newspaper, UK, Published: 02 November 2007
By Arifa Akbar and Nadeem Badshah
A rising number of British Muslims who pay thousands of pounds to make the annual Haj to Mecca are being cheated by rogue travel companies.
Community leaders are warning travellers to the Haj next month to be vigilant after almost 1,000 British pilgrims were conned out of their savings by travel agents and tour operations last year, more than double the number of complaints in previous years, according to the Association of British Hujjaj UK (ABH).
An investigation by Eastern Eye newspaper found that travellers were sent forged airline tickets for non-existent flights, and some were forced to sleep on the floor of cramped rooms despite having paid for five-star hotels.
Khalid Pervez, the general secretary of ABH, said the problem had escalated as unlicensed tour operators sought to cash in. Mr Pervez has sent a petition with 5,000 signatures to the foreign and home offices, demanding action against rogue agents.
"Tour operators and travel agents want to make money through Haj trips. Normally it is a one-man show working from home, he is not licensed. The majority of people who travel are not very literate, people aged 70-plus, who are not fully aware of their rights. They are very easy targets for leaflets with false promises," he said.
Lord Ahmed, who hosted a Haj Awareness Event at the House of Lords this week focusing on rogue travel agents, highlighted the problem, saying that most of the scams were led by travel agents in the south of England.
"Last year was one of the worst because the demand was bigger than supply. Visas are given free by the Saudi authorities but agents are charging £500 to £700 per visa. When people complain, the agent says 'Haj means struggle. You shouldn't complain or your Haj will be void'.
That is complete nonsense. Haj means comfort, worship, being in touch with your creator. It is the minority [of agents]. Most of them are south-based. There must be a zero tolerance towards these illegal, unscrupulous agents. People must report them to the police and Trading Standards," he said.
Up to 25,000 British Muslims are estimated to go to Haj this year. More than 80 per cent of them are aged over 65, and many have saved for many years to meet the cost of the trip.
The Foreign Office has launched a website offering advice to British Muslims. Its guidelines include booking airline tickets through a company which holds an Air Travel Organiser's License (Atol), as well as using a tour operator who has been accredited by the Saudi embassy. The Foreign Office also advised that copies of passports and travel insurance policies should be left with family members in Britain, and receipts for airline tickets obtained from travel agents.
Naheed Kayani, who fell victim to a Haj scam, paid £9,000 to travel to Mecca with her mother and 22-year-old son with a tour operator approved by the Saudi embassy. She said the trip left her traumatised. "We were promised direct return flights to Jeddah, but a week before travel, we were told we have to pay £1,000 more. When we refused, we were sent by chartered plane to Medina and we had to make our own way to Mecca.
"[The agent] would not give us our plane tickets [to London]. We were stranded in Medina for 18 days. My son is a medical student and didn't get the results he expected because he missed 10 days of lectures," she said.
Qaisar Rizvi, 68, also had a bad experience after travelling with a group of 80 people last year.
"[The agent] said it was £2,000 if we wanted to go by British Airways and £1,800 with any other airline. We chose BA. My wife stressed that I am a diabetic, I have asthma, and had a heart bypass. When we got to the airport, it was some Italian airline with a small plane. We got to Jeddah airport. We didn't know where to go, where our luggage was. It was absolute chaos.
"We got to the hotel in Mecca and I haven't seen anywhere more dirty. According to [the agent] it would be a five-star hotel. There was waste all over the place. We used our suitcases as tables. The food was really awful."
Friday, 9 November 2007
Salatul Tasbih
Salatul Tasbih
Taken from islamicacademy.org
For forgiveness of All Sins
Benefits of Salat-Ul-Tasbih
Our Beloved Prophet Mohammed (Sallallaho Alihiwassallam) said to his uncle (father’s brother) Sayyiduna Abbass (may Allah be pleased with him) Oh uncle shall I not give you Shall I not grant you Shall I not award you Shall I not do mercy on you When you do 10 things Allah will forgive your sins: of the future and of the past; new and old; those you have forgotten and those you did knowingly; big and small; hidden and revealed. Then he (Sallallaho Alihiwassallam) explained the taught the way to pray Salatul Tasbih and then said if you can pray this salah once a day, if you can not pray once a day then every Friday, and even if this is not possible then once a month and even if this is not possible then once a year and even if this is not possible then at least once in a lifetime (Abu’Dawood & Tirimzi)
How to perform Salatul Tasbih?
This salaat (namaz) is offered in four rakat at a time and can be read in any part of the day and night besides Zawal and Sunrise and Sunset makrooh times, keeping in mind the forbidden times for performing Salat (namaaz). But is is preferred before Zuhr (Fatawa Alamgeeri)
The Tasbih to be read in Salaat-Ul-Tasbeeh:
" Subhaan Allahi Wal Hamdulillahi Wa Laa ilaha illal Laahu Wallahu Akbar "
Method:
Goal is to recite above Tasbih 300 times in Four Rakah with the following method.
In the first rakaat, after reading Sana "Subhaana Kallahumma...", read the above tasbih 15 times.
Now recite Aaoz "Aoozubillah...", Bismillah "Bismillah...", Then read sura Fatiha and a Surah or minimum of three small Ayayhs then read the tasbih 10 times again.
Go to ruku saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar), after reciting "Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem" minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in Ruku.
Saying "Samee Allahu Liman Hamidah Rabbana Lakal Hamdh" get up from ruku to qiyam position.
Now read the tasbih 10 times.
Go to Sajdah saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar) and after reciting "Subhaana Rabbiyal A'la" minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in Sajdah.
Now go after first Sajdah go to Jalsa (sitting position) saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar).
Sitting in Jalsa read tasbih 10 times.
Go to sajda again saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar) and after reciting "Subhaana Rabbiyal A'la" minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in Sajdah again.
Get up to begin 2nd rakat saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar).
Do rakah #2 in same fashion, but before reading Bismillah "Bismillah...", and Surah Fatiha, read the tasbih 15 times. Follow the rest as you did in first Rakat.
After second Sajdah of Second Rakat sit in Qaidah Oola (first sitting) read Attahiyat, Durood and Dua then get up for 3rd rakaat without saying Salam.
Begin third Rakat, just like the first Rakat, with Sana "Subhaana Kallahumma...", read the above tasbih 15 times. Follow the rest as you did in first Rakat untill you sit for Qaidah Akihra (last sitting) after second sajdah of fourth Rakah.
In Qaidah Akihra Attahiyat, Durood, Dua finish Salah with Salam.
Special notes for Salat-Ul-Tasbih:
1) Do not count loudly. It will break Salah
2) Do not count on fingers or by holding a Bead Tasbih in hand. It is Makruh.
3) You may count by pressing the fingers as a reminder. For example if you are in Ruku. You me press pinky of your right hand first for the first count, then the finger next to it for second count, then the middle finger for third count, following this method untill you reach the pinky of left hand will give you an exact count of ten. Use the same method in Qayam, Sajdah and Jalsa.
4) If missed a count then make it up in the next posture. For example if forgot to recite Tasbih after Surah in Qayam. Then you may recite Tasbish 20 times instead of 10 in Rukuh after "Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem". Missed Tasbih cannot be recited in Qayam after ruku and Jalsa between Sajdah. If you missed the Tasbih in Ruku then recite 20 in the first Sajdah instead of the Qayam after rukuh. Similarly if missed the Tasbih in first Sajdah then do not make it up in Jalsa. Instead recite missed tasbih in the second Sajdah. If Tasbih has been missed in last sajdah of second or fourth Rakah then you can recite the missed ones before Attahiyat in Qaidah.
5) If you miss a wajib in Salah and have to do Sajdah Sahaw. You dont have to recite Tasbih in Sajdah sahoo, since the 300 count has been estalished. But if you had missed Tasbih in any of the postures and remeber it now. Then you may recite the missed Tasbih in Sajdah Sahaw now.
6) It is preferable to recite after Surah Fatiha Sura Takathuur in the first raka’, Surah Wal A’sr in the second raka’, Surah Kaferoon (qul ya aiyuhal Kafiroon) in the third and Surah Akhlas (Qul hu Allah-hu ahd) in the fourth raka’. If one does not remember these surah they can recite the ones they prefer.
May Allah accept this dua’ (supplication) for the sake of the trustworthy PROPHET MOHAMMED (Allah’s Grace & Peace be upon him)
Forgivness (as mentioned in Qur'an)
Forgivness (as mentioned in Qur'an)
Taken from qmt.org.au
Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah [109]
Many of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) wish that if they could turn you away as disbelievers after you have believed, out of envy from their ownselves, even, after the truth (that Muhammad Peace be upon him is Allah's Messenger) has become manifest unto them. But forgive and overlook, till Allah brings His Command. Verily, Allah is Able to do all things.
Surah An-Nisa Ayah [48]
Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.
Surah An-Nisa Ayah [110]
And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Surah An-Nisa Ayah [116]
Verily! Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him, but He forgives whom he pleases sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, has indeed strayed far away.
Surah Al-A'raf Ayah [198 - 199]
And if you call them to guidance, they hear not and you will see them looking at you, yet they see not.
Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't punish them).
Surah Az-Zumar Ayah [53]
Say: "O 'Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Surah Ash-Shura Ayah [5]
Nearly the heavens might rent asunder from above them (by His Majesty), and the angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth, verily, Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Surah Ash-Shura Ayah [40 - 43]
The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. Verily, He likes not the Zalimun (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.).
And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.
The way (of blame) is only against those who oppress men and wrongly rebel in the earth, for such there will be a painful torment.
And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah.
Surah Al-Jathiyah Ayah [14]
Say (O Muhammad) to the believers to forgive those who (harm them and) hope not for the Days of Allah (i.e. His Recompense), that He may recompense people according to what they have earned (i.e. to punish these disbelievers, who harm the believers).
Surah An-Najm Ayah [32]
Those who avoid great sins (see the Qur'an, Verses: 6:152,153) and Al-Fawahish (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) except the small faults, verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness. He knows you well when He created you from the earth (Adam), and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs. So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allah and keep his duty to Him [i.e. those who are Al-Muttaqun (pious - see V.2:2)].
Surah Al-Hadid Ayah [21]
Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord (Allah), and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Masjid Al-Aqsa - "The Farthest Mosque"
The Aqsa Mosque
(extracted from convertingtoislam.com)
The Aqsa Mosque, in Arabic: Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, literally means "the Farthest Mosque". The sacred mosque is mentioned by name in the Holy Qur'an. It was the first Qibla (the direction to which Muslims faced when offering prayers) before the revelation from God of the new Qibla for prayers: toward the Ka'bah in the sacred City of Makkah.
The Aqsa Mosque is also called the Farthest Mosque because it was place of worship in the farthest west known to Arabs in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and was sacred to both Jews and Christians. Historically, the Mosque was originally built by Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). Prophet Ibraheem (peace be upon him) rebuilt it. Prophet Daud (David - peace be upon him) began the reconstruction which was completed by Sulayman (Solomon -peace be upon him). The City of Jerusalem is Holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims world-wide as it has their sacred sites.
Today the Aqsa Mosque is part of a large complex of religious buildings in Jerusalem's old city known to the Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and to the Jews as the Temple Mount. For the Jews, the Temple Mount is the place where, according to the Jewish belief, redemption will take place when the promised Messiah arrives. There are also Christian sacred sites in Jerusalem including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - believed to be - the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Church of John the Baptist and other religious sites.
Why is Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and the Aqsa Mosque Sacred to Muslims?
The City of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque is sacred to all Muslims because its significance is related directly to God, God's Holy Book: the Qur'an and God's Final Messenger: Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is more than sufficient reason for every Muslim to consider the City of Jerusalem and it's Holy sites to be sacred, particularly the Aqsa Mosque.
Further more, according to the basic Muslim belief the Holy Qur'an is the final Word of God. Every word and every verse of the Qur'an is from the True God - Allah, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. Therefore people who appreciate and follow truth in their daily lives believe that the Qur'an is the highest authority and the clearest guidance for mankind.
Muslims take guidance from the Holy Qur'an, and God has verified clearly the significance of Mi'raj (the Night Journey) of the final Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Qur'an.
The Night Journey - one of the most important events in the life of Muhammad (peace be upon him) - took place from the Ka'bah in Makkah to the Farthest Mosque (Al-Aqsa) in Jerusalem.
The Aqsa Mosque is the only site in the world where all the Prophets performed Salah prayer at one given time. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led the prophets in that very prayer during the night journey of al Isra and al Mi'raj referred to in the Qur'an and hadith.
It was from the Aqsa Mosque that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ascended through the heavens visiting the prophets again on his way to the Sidrat al-Muntaha (the Lote Tree) of the furthest limit.
We learn from the Holy Qur'an:"Glory be to Allah who did take His Servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) to the Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) the precincts of which We have blessed, so that we might show hm some of our signs. Indeed Allah is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing."
The Hadith books and literature provides details of the Night Journey of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Blessed Land
The land around the Aqsa Mosque is referred to as the Blessed Land in the Holy Quran. [The Holy Qur'an, Surah 17:1]
Jerusalem is the holiest Islamic city after Makkah and Madina. Located in East of this great city is Al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary). The entire complex is regarded as a mosque. In the middle is the Dome of the Rock, and glorious Al-Aqsa Mosque is situated at its southernmost end. The Dome of the Rock was built in 687 AD by Caliph Abd al-Malik. The first wooden Al-Aqsa Mosque was constructed by the Umayyads which completed in 710. The last major reconstruction was during 1035. Al-Aqsa is the largest mosque in Jerusalem where approximately five thousand people can worship in and around the mosque.
Al-Haram al-Sharif has been a very important place of worship for the Muslims. Also a great religious and educational centre throughout Islamic history for the Muslims, the Jews and the Christians, attracting great teachers from all over the world. The Islamic Waqf Foundation is in charge of the Aqsa Mosque, along with most of the major mosques.The Haram al-Sharif is of very important religious and political significance to Palestinians and to the Muslims around the world. Having the capital in East Jerusalem is a fundamental element of Palestine.
Prophet Ibraheem (peace be upon him) is buried near Aqsa Mosque in the city of Khalil, now called Hebron and many other Prophets' bodies (may peace be upon them) and some of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are buried in the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave the area of Khalil (Hebron) as waqf (charitable trust) to the companion Tamim al Dari.
The last prophet of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him), while in Medina prophesied that the Aqsa Mosque will be in the hands of Muslims.
Visiting and Donating towards the Aqsa Mosque
Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged Muslims to visit the Aqsa Mosque and pray therein. Abu Hurairah is quoted as saying that the Prophet said:"Set out deliberately on a journey to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah), this mosque of mine (in Medina) and the Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem)." [Bukhari and Muslim]
Maimunah bint Sa'd is reported as saying that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) being asked about a person who is unable to travel to the Aqsa Mosque. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "He should make a gift of oil to be burnt therein, for he who gives a gift to the Aqsa Mosque will be like the on who has prayed Salah therein." [Ahmad and Ibn Majah]
Abu Umamah al Bahili reported that the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) as 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 Bait al-Maqdis and its surrounding areas." [Ahmad]
Quick info about the al-Aqsa complex
Extracted from ouraqsa.com
Al-Aqsa mosque (or Al-Aqsa sanctuary/ complex) is the name for the whole area enclosed by the wall southeast Old Jerusalem. It houses nearly 200 ancient monuments, foremost among which are the Dome of the Rock (with the golden dome) at the heart of Al- Aqsa, and the Qibly mosque (commonly known as the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the one with the lead dome) - is the main Prayer Hall in the southern part of Al-Aqsa compoud.
The other monuments are minor prayer halls, domes, mihrabs (=chambers for prayer), schools, corridors, mastabas (=slightly raised grounds constructed for several uses including education), fountains, trees, pulpits, gates, wells, libraries, and other buildings.
The whole compound is a semi rectangle of 144 donums (=144,000 square meters); that is about 1/6 of the walled city of Jerusalem. Its western wall is 491 meters long, its eastern wall is 462m, its northern wall is 310m, and its southern wall is 281m. These boundaries have not changed since the area was first made a place for prayer, unlike those of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca and Prophet Mohammad’s Mosque in Medina , which underwent several changes over history.
Some pictures of of Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock
Taken from Flickr: computerguru and other Flickr publishers.
Al-Aqsa (Qibly Mosalla)
This is the entrance to the underground (basement) of old Masjid Al-Aqsa
Dome Of The Rock
For more Pictures of Al-Aqsa and the rest of Palestine Click Here!
The link will take you photographs by Nadia El-Awady (IslamOnline.net’s deputy editor-in-chief and managing science editor) titled "A Journey Through the Holy Lands". These beautiful pictures with written text was taken in 2006 - a must see for everyone!
Quick Facts
Taken from Friends of Al-Aqsa (aqsa.org.uk)
1. That Masjid Al Aqsa was the second Masjid on earth.
2. That it was built 40 years after the Ka’ba in Makkah.
3. That most scholars are of the opinion that Masjid Al Aqsa was first built by Prophet Adam [as].
4. That Ibrahim [as] rebuilt the Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem with his son Ishaq [as] as he and Ismail [as] rebuilt the Ka’ba in Makkah.
5. That Prophet Daud [as] began the rebuilding of Masjid Al Aqsa.
6. That it was Prophet Sulayman [as] who finally completed the building of Masjid Al Aqsa.
7. That the Masjid Al Aqsa built by Sulayman [as] was destroyed in 587 BC by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon.
8. That the Jewish people call this same Masjid Al Aqsa built by Sulayman [as] their Temple.
9. That the Jewish people re-built their Temple on the same site in 167 BC but this was destroyed in 70 AD and Jews were banished from Jerusalem at the same time.
10. That the site of Masjid Al Aqsa remained barren and was used as a rubbish tip for nearly 600 years until the Great Khalifah Umar bin al-Khattab liberated Jerusalem in 637/8 AD.
11. That the caliph Umar bin Khattab ordered the foundations of Masjid Al Aqsa to be laid and a timber mosque was built on the site.
12. That the Umayyad caliph, Abd’ al Malik ibn Marwan in 691/2 [72/73 AH] began the construction of the Dome of the Rock (the Golden Domed Mosque).
13. That the al Buraq wall or Western Wall where Prophet Muhammad [saas] tied al-Buraq on the night journey of al Isra is what the Jewish people call the wailing wall.
14. That Muslims consider the land or the Haram Sharif area to be sacred and holy, not the Masjid buildings that exist there -although these do have historical significances.
15. That the land of the Masjid Al Aqsa contains tow main buildings called Al-Aqsa [Black Domed Mosque] and the Dome of the Rock [the Golden Domed Mosque].
16. That Israel occupied Masjid Al Aqsa in 1967.
17. That fundamentalist Jews have made 100’s of attempts to destroy Al Aqsa since 1967 when they occupied it. A fire in 1967 destroyed the 900 year old Mimbar installed by Salah'ideen Ayubi, the Great Muslim Hero.
18. That many fundamentalist Jews want to re-build their Temple within Masjid Al Aqsa and destroy what exists there now.
May Allah (S.W.T) liberate our beloved al-Aqsa Mosque and save it from the occupation - Ameen.
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Dr Ilan Pappe, a Jewish historian believes that the majority of Jews in Israel are not religious. He estimates that only 15-20 % of the Jews in Israel are observing their religion. It is a very small portion of the society, and it became smaller because of immigration from the ex Soviet Union, whom a vast majority are secular.
Whilst that may be true (with all these good people and pressure groups highlighting the Palestinian cause) it is unfortunate to note that little is being done to help the Palestinians against the Zionist regime and that history of how these Terrorists took over Palestine (here's some quotes) is slowly being wiped off our history records. Palestine is the only country to be wiped off the map!
There are many books by Muslims detailing the Massacres by Zionist when they physically took over the land (using force) but the book I would recommend you read would be "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" by Dr Pappe, a Jewish person not afraid to write the truth.
The book tries to show that in 1948, the Zionist movement waged a war against the Palestinain people in order to implement its long term plans of ethnic cleansing (whereas Israeli historians, including 'new historians', claimed that the war was waged by the Arab world against the state of Israel in order to eliminate it and it resulted in expulsions of Palestinians). And since that ethnic cleansing was successfully implemented in almost 80% of Palestine without any global or regional repercussions - the ethnic cleansing policy continues ever since 1967 in the remaining 20% of the country. Creating a Jewish state in historical Palestine cleansed of Palestinians is still the ideolgoical infrastructure on which the state of Israel is based. How to achieve this goal is a divisive issue between Left Zionists - hoping to negotiate a settlement that would leave a small number of Palestinains in a greater Israel and the Right Zionsts willing to implement a more direct cleasning policy from the same area even today. Here is a link to this website http://www.ilanpappe.org/.
Palestine was a place where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in peace (until the Zionist took control). So my second reading of choice Blessed are the Peacemakers: The story of a Palestinian Christian, has the story of Father Audeh Rantisi a Palestinian Christian Click here for book details.
Here are some extracts: The horror began when Zionist soldiers deceived us into leaving our homes, then would not let us go back, driving us through a small gate just outside Lydda. I remember the scene well: thousands of frightened people being herded like cattle through the narrow opening by armed soldiers firing overhead. In front of me a cart wobbled toward the gate. Alongside, a lady struggled, carrying her baby, pressed by the crowd. Suddenly, in the jostling of the throngs, the child fell. The mother shrieked in agony as the cart's metal-rimmed wheel ran over her baby's neck. That infant's death was the most awful sight I had ever seen. Outside the gate the soldiers stopped us and ordered everyone to throw all valuables onto a blanket. One young man and his wife of six weeks, friends of our family, stood near me. He refused to give up his money. Almost casually, the soldier pulled up his rifle and shot the man.
The last book again from a Jewish point of view to read would be "Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience" by Alice Rothchild - Click here for extracts of the book.
Useful Links & Further Reading:
1. Al-Aqsa to Muslims: A Lost Tie? - islamonline.net
2. Significance of Al-Israa' and Al-Mi`raj - readingislam.com
3. Did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) see his Lord on the night of the Mi’raaj? - Answer from islam-qa.com
4. The reason why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led the other Prophets in prayer during the Isra’ (Night Journey) - Answer from islam-qa.com
5. The importance of al-Quds for the Muslims – and do the Jews have any right to it? - Answer from islam-qa.com
POLITICAL
1. Friends of Al-Aqsa - http://www.aqsa.org.uk/ (probably the the best resource available on the net - please spend some time on this website)
2. Did you Know?.. Facts - Palestinian/Israeli conflict