The Land of the Prophets is Inherited by the Pious

In commemoration of Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj (The Night Journey and Ascension), many occupy themselves with seeking clarity on the end of the battle between us and the Jews through the signs found in the verses that Allah revealed as a commentary on the event of the Night Journey.

The Truth, Blessed and Exalted be He, immortalized the miracle of the Night Journey by mentioning it at the opening of Surah al-Isra’. He then followed it by mentioning the covenant He took upon the Children of Israel (Bani Israel), and how they eventually broke their covenants, committed corruption on earth time and again, and were subsequently punished and disciplined each time.

Those who scrutinize the verses regarding the punishment of the Children of Israel seek to identify the identity of the people who were set over them the first and second times, attempting to apply these verses to the current state of the Children of Israel and our own situation today.

Regardless of the effort exerted in this interpretation, many overlook matters that must not be ignored; for they demonstrate the Sunnah of Allah (Divine Law) in His creation—a law whose objectives in this world, let alone the Hereafter, are attained only by those who observe it and act according to its requirements. Neglecting this Sunnah turns the contemplator of these verses into a mere spectator or researcher, concerned only with predicting future events without interacting with or influencing them in the manner that true men influence events. Among the features of the Divine Law indicated by the verses are:

First: It is well known that during the short period they spent in Palestine, Allah sent more Prophets to the Children of Israel than He sent to any other nation in many times that duration or in much larger lands. Sending Messengers to a nation is undoubtedly a great blessing.

The Sunnah of Allah regarding those upon whom He bestows blessings is that He increases them if they are grateful and punishes them if they are ungrateful (Kafaru). Allah says {what means}: "And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe"" [Ibrahim/7]. The Children of Israel were ungrateful for this blessing; the Qur’an testifies in multiple places that they disbelieved in Allah’s signs and killed the Prophets without right. How often Allah punished them for this, and how often they repeated this denial and disbelief! Anyone who reads their scriptures sees that no Prophet was safe from them; those who escaped their weapons did not escape their tongues and slanders—even Moses (peace be upon him), in whom they take pride. Allah says {what means}: "O you who have believed, be not like those who abused Moses; then Allah cleared him of what they said. And he, in the sight of Allah, was distinguished." [Al-Ahzab/69].

Allah gave them the opportunity for repentance and uprightness generation after generation, but this did not deter them from their transgression nor change their nature. Their successors followed the path of their predecessors in disbelief and tyranny. Consequently, they were no longer capable of carrying Allah’s message to humanity, nor were they trustworthy in conveying His guidance to people. How can one be trustworthy over guidance when they distort it and kill those sent to deliver it from Allah?

For all these reasons, Allah willed to transfer the honor of carrying this message to another nation. He took our Prophet on the Night Journey to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, which was the sanctuary of the Prophets of the Children of Israel, signaling his receipt of the banner from his predecessors. This marked the closing of the chapter of the Children of Israel after they were stripped of the honor of the Trust (Amanah) due to their sins, so that a new nation, led by the Master of the Night Journey (peace and blessings be upon him), could rise. This is what is understood from mentioning the corruption of the Children of Israel after mentioning the Night Journey; it serves as a justification for the transfer of the banner of Tawhid (Monotheism) from them to another nation: {And your Lord does injustice to no one} [Al-Kahf/49].

Second: It is an established tenet of faith for every believer that the earth belongs to Allah, and those upon it are His servants. Allah’s will has decreed that the final outcome belongs to the righteous and the pious (Al-Muttaqin). Allah says {what means}: "Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous." [Al-A’raf/128].

Contemplating human history reveals that the dominion of a people has never lasted long unless they were righteous. The dominion of others, no matter how great it becomes, quickly collapses; Allah uproots it from its foundations by the hands of its own people, by other nations, or by a direct command from Him. How wise is the saying: "The state of falsehood lasts an hour, but the state of truth lasts until the Hour."

If this is Allah’s Sunnah for the entire earth, it is most applicable to the Holy Land, which He has blessed, blessed its surroundings, and blessed those within and around it. Just as Allah chooses whom He wills among mankind, He chooses what He wills among the lands. Based on this concept, we know who is most entitled to the Holy Land and for whom Allah will decree victory and inheritance of its regions. Is it not the land opened by Umar and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), and then liberated by Saladin under the banner of "There is no god but Allah"?

By a quick comparison between the Islamic Ummah and the Jews, we know who is more entitled to the Holy Land. We are a nation that does not differentiate between any of Allah’s Messengers; we believe in them all, in addition to revering and respecting them all. Justice and mercy follow in our footsteps wherever we go, to the point that our enemies testified that history has not known a conqueror more merciful than us. On the other hand, the Jews disbelieve in Allah’s signs, fabricate lies against Him, kill His Prophets, and torture His servants. We have witnessed actions from them today that make us believe what was recorded about their forefathers, and we recognize why they deserve the wrath of Allah mentioned in the Qur’an.

This faith-based perspective is the most worthy and effective for us in our battle with the Jews; it is better than merely interpreting ancient artifacts or counting ancestors, though these also testify in our favor. Al-Masjid al-Aqsa was built for the worship of Allah, and it will remain most entitled to those who seek it for this noble purpose—to be, alongside the Sacred Mosque (Makkah) and the Prophet’s Mosque (Madinah), wide gates through which mercy and blessing descend upon the entire earth. Our Ummah remains worthy of it as long as it preserves the message revealed to the Master of the Night Journey and Ascension. By the grace of Allah, it is so; it has been, and shall remain, Allah willing, faithful to the Revelation, upholders of justice, and merciful to creation.

Third: While we may differ with those who interpret the opening verses of Surah al-Isra’ as a definitive confirmation of victory over the Jews in this specific current context, we agree with them on the ultimate result. However, we reach this conclusion through another path: the path of the Noble Sunnah. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The Hour will not be established until the Muslims fight the Jews, and the Muslims will kill them, until the Jew hides behind a stone or a tree, and the stone or tree will say: 'O Muslim, O servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him.' Except for the Gharqad tree, for it is one of the trees of the Jews." (Transmitted by Bukhari & Muslim).

This Hadith, whose authenticity is beyond doubt, should not let our joy in the glad tidings of victory distract us from the conditions for victory it contains. People used to wonder about certain aspects of this Hadith; their wonder has ceased regarding some, and will cease regarding the rest.

They used to wonder how Muslims would fight all the Jews when they were scattered across all corners of the earth. Had they reflected on the end of Surah al-Isra’, they would not have wondered. Allah says at its conclusion {what means}: "And We said after him to the Children of Israel, "Dwell in the land, and when there comes the promise of the Hereafter, We will bring you as a gathered mixture (Lafifan)." [Al-Isra’/104]. This wonder has ceased today as we see Jews gathering from all over the world in a manner that was once unexpected. This does not mean we welcome them, but we say to our Ummah: "The matter is serious, so be diligent; the promise of Allah is near, so be prepared."

They also wondered how hearts would become so firm against the Jews that they would be pursued even behind trees and stones. Today, through the media, people have seen the actions of the Jews against the people of the occupied land, and the wonder has ceased. What will happen is a recompense consistent with the deed; those who did not show mercy to Allah’s servants will find no mercy from Allah’s servants. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) spoke the truth: "He who shows no mercy will not be shown mercy" (Transmitted by Bukhari & Muslim). The wonder regarding the rest of the Hadith will cease in due time, but people are hasty.

Fourth: The conditions for victory contained in the Hadith are as follows:

1. The Call "O Muslim": The "Muslim"—according to the Islamic definition—is the one whose life is established upon the five pillars of Islam, who doesn`t harm Muslims with his hand or tongue, and who loves for his brother what he loves for himself. This is a complete methodology.

2. The Call "O Servant of Allah" (Ya 'Abdullah): He is the one who prioritizes obedience to Allah over obedience to anyone else, and who feels honor in being a servant of Allah, while others are servants of the dirham, the dinar, or the fleeting vanities of this world. The Hadith gives us glad tidings that before the victory, the state of the Ummah will be rectified until these descriptions apply to its individuals. It will produce an army with these characteristics, for whom victory is written and to whom the stones and trees will call! As for how they will call, we do not hasten Allah's command. I see the signs of these attributes on the faces of our Mustafawi Army—the praying, the standing in night prayer, the pilgrims, the worshippers, the front-line guards (Murabitin), the readers of the Qur’an, and the guardians of Allah’s limits.

3. The Universal Nature of the Battle: The call "O Muslim" is a title that includes every member of the Islamic Ummah. Therefore, the battle of victory will be the battle of all Muslims, not the battle of a single country, a single region, a single race, or a single group. From here, we realize that to the extent we unify our word, close our ranks, reject our differences, and gather our strength, we draw closer to the promised day of victory. We also realize the gravity of the crime committed by those who spread division in the ranks and distance the Ummah from the religion of Islam.

Allah has taken a covenant upon Himself that He does not break: "And it was an obligation upon Us to give victory to the believers" [Ar-Rum/47]. If faith is realized in our behavior and society, Allah will fulfill His promise, guide us to the paths of victory, and make it easy for us.

Fifth: The believer who reflects on these meanings, trusting in Allah’s promise and reassured by the words of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), finds that the matter has become grave and no longer tolerates negligence or delay. There must be an effective contribution to preparing for what the coming days hold. Indicators point to what follows them, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. Allah says {what means}: "And prepare against them whatever you are able of power" [Al-Anfal/60].

• Every participation in bearing arms is a preparation of power.

• Every word that unifies the ranks and heals the rift is a preparation of power.

• Everything that increases the Ummah’s confidence in Allah’s promise is a preparation of power.

• Every word calling for adherence to Islam is a preparation of power.

• Every protection of the Ummah’s frontiers is a preparation of power.

As we remember the power of Allah manifested in the Night Journey and Ascension, we must not deem anything too great for Allah’s power; for if He wills a thing, He says to it, "Be," and it is. Let our constant internal dialogue be: "Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous" [Al-A’raf/128].

 

() An article published in "Al-Tadhkirah" magazine, issued by the Directorate of the Military Iftaa’.