Articles

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.

 

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes recommended for the person offering the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
There are several Sunnahs and etiquettes that are recommended for the person offering the Udhiyah (sacrifice) to observe, including:
 
1-It is Sunnah for the one intending to sacrifice to refrain from removing any hair or nails once the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the ten days [of Dhul-Hijjah] begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not touch [remove] any of his hair or skin." [Narrated by Muslim]. If someone does remove any hair or nails, they have not committed a sin, and their sacrifice remains valid.
 
2-It is recommended for the person offering the sacrifice to slaughter the animal themselves. If they are unable to do so, they should witness the slaughter. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her): "Stand and witness your sacrifice, for indeed, with its first drop of blood, your [previous sins] are forgiven." [Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Tabarani; it is classified as a weak (da'if) hadith].
 
3-The animal should be positioned to face the Qiblah at the time of slaughter, as the Qiblah is the most noble of directions.
 
4-The slaughterer should say: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful). Even if one forgets to say it, the sacrifice is still permissible to eat. Allah (Blessed and Exalted be He) says: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned" [Al-An'am: 118]. It is also recommended to send blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and to say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest) after the Tasmiyah.
 
5-The slaughterer should pray for the sacrifice to be accepted by saying: "O Allah, this is from You and for You, so please accept it from me." (Allahumma hadhihi minka wa ilayka, fataqabbal minni). And Allah the Almighty knows best.

If someone fasts on the White Days with the intention of making up for missed fasts (qada), will they receive the reward for both voluntary and obligatory fasting?

Making up missed obligatory fasts (qada) is mandatory, and the intention for qada must be specified.
If a person makes up their missed Ramadan fasts on the White Days, they must intend qada, but they may also intend to fast the White Days, and Allah willing, they will receive the reward for both.
This is similar to entering a mosque and praying an obligatory prayer, where the person also earns the reward of Tahiyyat al-Masjid (greeting the mosque) if they intend both.
● If the person missed their fasts due to a valid excuse, they may wait and fast on the White Days.
● However, if they missed the fasts without a valid excuse, they must make up the fasts immediately and should not delay them until the White Days.

What are the conditions for the validity of the slaughtering process according to Sharia?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Regarding the Sharia-mandated conditions for the validity of the slaughtering process (Adh-Dhabh), they are as follows:
 
The Identity of the Slaughterer: The person performing the slaughter must be either a Muslim or from the People of the Book (Christian or Jewish).
 
The Required Cuts: Both the trachea (windpipe/breathing passage) and the esophagus (food passage) must be completely severed.
 
Stability of Life: The animal must possess stable life at the start of the slaughtering process. This is identified by clear signs, such as vigorous movement or the forceful gushing of blood after the throat and esophagus are cut.
 
The Tool of Slaughter: The tool used must be sharp, capable of cutting or piercing by its edge and not by its sheer weight or blunt force.
 
And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on a person in a state of major impurity (junub) or a menstruating woman (ha'id) reciting the Quran from memory?

It is not permissible for a menstruating woman, a postpartum woman, or a person in a state of major impurity to recite anything from the Quran, whether from memory, from the Quran, from a phone, or a computer. It is also not permissible for them to touch the Quran, based on what was reported from Ali bin Abi Talib that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was not prevented from anything regarding the Quran except major impurity (janabah). (Reported by al-Tirmidhi who said it is a hasan sahih hadith). Menstruation and postpartum bleeding are analogous to major impurity (janabah) as they are all major impurities (hadath akbar).
For those mentioned, it is permissible to mention Allah and supplicate even with verses from the Quran, provided they do not intend them as recitation of the Quran, but intend them as remembrance (dhikr) or supplication (du'a). And Allah the Almighty knows best.