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Jerusalem in the Muslims Eyes
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 06-12-2017

Jerusalem in the Muslims Eyes

 

 

An Article by His Grace Mufti Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

 

The relationship between Muslims and Al-Aqsa Mosque is religious since it is the place from where our Prophet (PBUH) embarked on his nocturnal journey (Israa wal Me’raaj), the Mosque of the Two Qiblas, the third holiest site in Islam, a blessed place where good deeds are multiplied, the reward of one Raka in Al-Aqsa Mosque equals the reward of five hundred Rakas and its environs are blessed since it is where Prophets (PBUT) settled and the angels descended. Allah, The Exalted, Said (What means): "whose precincts We did bless," [Al-Isra`/ 1]. Moreover, in Jerusalem and its environs, a group of the Muslim Ummah (Nation) will continue to prevail and they will never be harmed by those who forsake them, until the Hour begins.

 

This significant status of Al-Aqsa Mosque has settled in the hearts of  all Muslims, so it became an integral part of their creed since every morning and evening they recite the verse (What means): "Glory to (God) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque" [Al-Isra`/1].

 

In these difficult times, which the Muslim Ummah is experiencing, Allah, The Almighty, admonishes His salves to obey Him and His Prophet (PBUH) in all that they say and do, and forbids disobeying Him or His Prophet (PBUH). Almighty Allah has also warned the Ummah against disputing among themselves because that weakens their position and makes them vulnerable. Therefore, He, The Almighty, Said (What means): "And obey God and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For God is with those who patiently persevere:" [Al-Anfal/46].

 

When the Prophet (PBUH) immigrated from Makkah to Medina, leaving a land so dear to his heart, he aimed, first, to unite Muslims by building his mosque. Next, he established brotherly ties between the Muhajirin and the Ansar, so he managed to put affection in  their hearts instead of animosity and hatred. Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts" [Al-Anfal/63]. Commenting on this verse, Al-Qortobi said: "Managing to put affection between the hearts of the Arabs is among the miracles and signs of the Prophet (PBUH)."

 

The Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians, and banning them from praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque are indicative of a greater good to come since Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "And who does greater evil than he who bars God's places of worship, so that His Name be not invoked in them, and strives to ruin them?; such men might never enter them, save in fear; for them in this world is degradation; and in the Hereafter a mighty chastisement." [Al-Baqarah/114]. This verse condemns such a heinous crime and shows that none does greater evil than he who bars God's places of worship, so that His Name be not invoked in them, and strives to ruin them.

 

When Israel exercises its atrocities in Jerusalem, it targets Muslims as well as Christians. Nonetheless, both will protect their sanctities by tooth and nail.

 

Al-Aqsa Mosque will remain a symbol of Islam regardless of the trials and the killings. It will remain alive in the hearts of all Muslims and liberating it will remain on top of their priorities no matter what the case may be. Actually, this is embodied in the moral and financial support provided by the Hashemite leadership, emanating from their custodianship to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the other sanctities of Jerusalem. This wise leadership has made available all means of support to the Palestinians in order to remain steadfast in Jerusalem in addition to providing guards for the Mosque.

 

Clearly, His Majesty King Abdullah the 2nd has played a key role in bringing the Palestinian question to the forefront of the international arena. His prime concern is to unite the international views in favor of the Palestinian question in order to reach a comprehensive and just solution to this thorny issue.

 

We pray that Allah safeguards Al-Aqsa Mosque against all plots, and liberates it from the Jews. Amen to that.

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on supplicating with other than the transmitted (Ma'thur) supplications in prayer?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is permissible to supplicate (make du'a) during the prayer for anything from the affairs of religion or worldly life, and the prayer is not invalidated by doing so.
Shaykh al-Islam, the Imam an-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "Our madhhab [i.e., the Shafi'i madhhab] holds that it is permissible for a person to supplicate during it [the prayer] with anything that is permissible to supplicate with outside the prayer, from the affairs of religion or worldly life. He may say: 'O Allah, grant me wholesome sustenance, offspring, a house, and a beautiful young wife' — describing her; or: 'O Allah, free so-and-so from prison,' or 'destroy so-and-so,' and other such things — and none of this invalidates his prayer according to us. And this is also the view of Malik, ath-Thawri, Abu Thawr, and Ishaq." [Al-Majmu', Vol.3/P.454]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on doubting whether one or two prostrations were performed?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If a worshiper is in doubt regarding the number of units (rak'ahs) or prostrations (sajdahs) performed, he must build upon the minimum (i.e., assume the lower number) and perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujud al-Sahw) before the Salam at the end of the prayer. This is based on the report from ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'When anyone of you is in doubt about his Salat (prayer) and does not know how many he has prayed, three or four (Rak'at) he should cast aside his doubt and base his prayer on what he is sure of. Then, he should perform two prostrations before Taslim (salutation). If he has prayed five Rak'at, they will make his Salat (prayer) an even number for him and if he has prayed exactly four, they (i.e. two prostrations) will be humiliation for the devil..' (Narrated by Abu Dawud).
 
It is stated in Al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah: 'If one doubts [whether he performed] a bowing (ruku’), a prostration, or a rak'ah, he must perform it and prostrate [for forgetfulness], even if the doubt is removed before the Salam—unless the doubt is removed before he performs what would potentially be an addition. Thus, if he doubts whether he prayed three or four, he is obligated to build upon the minimum.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Does the intention (niyyah) of the principal (muwakkil) suffice for the sacrifice (dhabḥ) of the udhiyyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a person appoints an agent (wakīl) to perform the slaughter (dhabḥ) on their behalf, the intention (niyyah) of the principal (the one appointing the agent) suffices, and there is no need for the agent to have this intention himself. In fact, even if the agent is unaware that he is performing the sacrifice on someone's behalf as an udhiyyah (sacrificial offering), this does not affect its validity. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

Is the Saying "Whatever is Taken by the Sword of Shyness is Forbidden" an Authentic Ḥadīth?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The saying "Whatever is taken by the sword of shyness is forbidden" is not an authentic ḥadīth, though its underlying meaning is sound. The established sharʿī principle is that a Muslim's wealth is not lawful for anyone to take except with his wholehearted consent, as Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly, but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent." [Al-Nisā/ 29] And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Listen to me and you will live well: do not wrong others, do not wrong others, do not wrong others. Indeed, a man's wealth is not lawful except with his full, willing consent." (Reported by Aḥmad in his Musnad.) Whatever is taken through the pressure of shyness or social embarrassment runs directly counter to genuine, wholehearted consent.
The jurists have explicitly stated that whatever is taken by means of the "sword of shyness" carries the same ruling as that which is taken by coercion — it must be returned to its rightful owner.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states in al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā (Vol.3/P.30): "Do you not see the reported scholarly consensus that whoever has something taken from him purely out of shyness, without his genuine consent, does not pass ownership of it to the one who took it? They reasoned that this constitutes a form of coercion through the 'sword of shyness,' comparable to coercion at the point of an actual sword. Indeed, many people would rather submit to the literal sword and endure the pain of its wound than submit to this first kind of coercion, out of fear for their dignity and standing — which people of sound judgment hold dear and guard most fiercely." And Allah the Almighty knows best.