Masjidul Aqsa - First Qiblah

On a daily basis, five times a day, and even on the important occasion of Jumuah, we gather, facing the Qibla. We pray five times a day facing the Qiblah. We sit during Jumuah facing the Imam who is standing in the direction of the Qiblah. It is recommended to make du’a facing the Qiblah. The dead are buried facing the Qiblah. It is also recommended to slaughter an animal facing the Qiblah. So, the Qiblah is essential in Islam. Currently, the Qiblah is the direction towards the Kabah. But did you know that before the obligation to direct ourselves towards the Kabah during prayer, the Qiblah was actually towards Masjid Al Aqsa, in Al-Quds, the city referred to as Jerusalem in English?

So, the Prophet Muhammed ﷺ and the Sahabahs were praying towards Masjidul Aqsa for around 11-12 years since receiving Prophethood. The change of the Qiblah direction from Masjidul Aqsa to the Kabah occurred two years after the Hijra, two years after the Prophet Muhammed ﷺ migrated from Makkah to Madina. The command to change the direction of the Qiblah is documented in the Quran. Allah said;

…. فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ….

"So turn your face toward Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah). And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it”. [2:144]

The fact that the first Qiblah was Masjidul Aqsa emphasises the importance of Masjidul Aqsa. So, we should make extra effort to study the many other virtues and importance of Masjidul Aqsa. We should give it its due rights and be part of freeing it from oppression. Just as we, 2 billion Muslims, are united during worship, and in actions that require facing the Qiblah, we should also be 2 billion strong in speaking against injustice facing the people of Masjidul Aqsa and the surrounding area. We should be 2 billion strong and boycott the things that contribute towards the suffering and persecution of those who defend Masjidul Aqsa.

May Allah give us the ability to be part of those who free Masjidul Aqsa.

Second Part

We often hear delightful news from our friends and families when they are off to Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah. We even respond to them with positive affirmations acknowledging that they are doing amazingly good deeds. We even ask them to make du’a for us when doing Umrah. But my question to you and me is, what happened to the Muslims visiting Masjid Al-Aqsa? What happened to even making the intention to visit Masjidul Aqsa? What happened to making sincere du’a for Allah to allow us to visit Masjidul Aqsa? Did not the Prophet Muhammed ﷺ and his beloved companions pray towards Masjidul Aqsa for almost 11-12 years? Did not the Prophet ﷺ lead salah with all the prophets, in Masjid al Aqsa on the night of Isra-wal-Miraj? My dear brothers and sisters, we need to revive the love and urge of visiting Masjidul Aqsa, obviously, when it is safe to do so.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not undertake a journey but to three mosques: the Masjidul Haram (in Makkah), the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (in Madinah), and Masjidul Aqsa. [Bukhari]

This hadith is encouraging us to visit Masjidul Aqsa. Our connection with Majidul Aqsa should be so strong that we should start a discussion at home to see whether it is possible to save up money and go to Masjidul Aqsa one day when it is safe to do so. There are plenty of registered tourist companies that take people to Masjidul Aqsa, just like there are tourist companies that take people to Makkah and Madinah and other places. Even if it is not possible to go there, we should check out videos of the beautiful designs of the various mosques in Masjidul Aqsa. We should check the history behind the architectural monuments in that blessed land. And just to clarify, Masjidul Aqsa comprises of the whole land. Masjidul Aqsa is not just the dome of the rock mosque, but there are actually few mosques on that blessed land.

In summary, Masjidul Aqsa was the first Qiblah and it is a masjid we are encouraged to visit. Our connection with Masjidul should get stronger and stronger, and we should use our social media to raise awareness about the importance of Masjidul Aqsa. We should help stop the injustice and oppression taking place there by making du’a, using our social media, attending marches, signing petitions, writing to our MPs, boycotting products that contribute towards the oppression, raising awareness, and taking any other legal actions.

May Allah give us the ability to be part of those who free Masjidul Aqsa. Ameen.