First Qibla and Its Protection

Palestine is part of that region known as Sham, whose virtues have been extensively described in the Ahadith. Sham is the land honored with the distinction that a great number of prophets (عليهم السلام) were sent there. Many prophets also migrated from other areas and made this land their abode, including our masters Ibrahim (عليه السلام), Ishaq (عليه السلام), Ya‘qub (عليه السلام), and Yusha‘ (عليه السلام). In fact, our master Musa (عليه السلام) even prayed to Allah Almighty for his death to occur on this very land (Bayt al-Maqdis).
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 107)

When the Jews conspired to kill ‘Isa (عليه السلام), Allah raised him alive to the heavens, and his descent will occur twice in this same land. Although our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born and appointed as a messenger in Makkah, during the Night Journey (Mi‘raj), he was taken to this sacred land—namely, the original mosque (Bayt al-Maqdis). There, he (ﷺ) led all the prophets (عليهم السلام) in prayer, and it was from here, Masjid al-Aqsa, that the ascension (Mi‘raj) began.

The Jews, in their frequent attempts to hurt the Muslims, have persistently tried to desecrate the sanctity of this holy land. From the beginning, they have continued to violate the sanctity of this sacred territory.

The Importance and Virtue of Palestine (Shaam) and Masjid Al-Aqsa

The virtue and significance of Palestine and Masjid Al-Aqsa can be understood from the following scriptural evidences:

The Second House of Allah on the Face of the Earth:

The First Qibla is the second House of Allah established upon the universe. Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) asked the Noble Prophet (ﷺ):

يا رَسُولَ اللهِ، أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوَّلَ؟ قَالَ : المَسْجِدُ الحَرَامُ، قَالَ: قلت : ثم أي؟ قَالَ المَسْجِد الأقصى قُلْتُ : كَمْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ : أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً

O Messenger of Allah! Which was the first mosque built on the face of the Earth?” He (ﷺ) replied: “Al-Masjid al-Haram.” Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) says: “I then asked: Which was the second mosque to be built?” He (ﷺ) said: “Al-Masjid al-Aqsa.” Our master Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) then asked: “What was the time span between the construction of the two?

He (ﷺ) said: “Forty years.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim, Hadith 520)

It is mentioned in narrations that when our master Dawud (عليه السلام) began the construction of Masjid al-Aqsa, Allah Almighty revealed to him that the remainder of the construction would be completed by our master Sulayman (عليه السلام).
(Fath al-Bari, 1300)

Furthermore, a narration from Sunan al-Nasa’i confirms that our master Sulayman (عليه السلام) completed the construction of Bayt al-Maqdis and supplicated to Allah the Exalted alongside it. (Hadith 1966)

It is absolutely established that these sacred sites — the Ka‘bah (Baytullah), Bayt al-Maqdis, and the Prophet’s Mosque — are the heritage of the noble Prophets (عليهم السلام), and the true inheritors of the Prophets are the Muslims.

The Blessed, Sacred, and Pure Land

Palestine, which is in fact located within the region of al-Sham (Greater Syria), is an extremely blessed and sacred land where Allah, Lord of all the worlds, had His House built through His Prophets. It is also the very land where the Sovereign of all dominions sent many of His Prophets. This is why it is known as the Land of the Prophets.

Allah Almighty commanded our master Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and our master Lut (عليه السلام) to migrate to this blessed land after delivering them from their people:

وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٧١

And We rescued him and LūT towards the land we blessed for all the worlds. (21:71)

Imam Ibn Kathir, in his commentary on the verse, writes:

مهاجرا إلى بلاد الشام، إلى الأرض المقدسة منها

That is, Allah Almighty commanded Ibrahim (عليه السلام) to migrate to the sacred land of Bilad al-Sham — specifically to the sanctified land of Bayt al-Maqdis.
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 11073)

Similarly, when Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) instructed his people to enter the city, he referred to it using the word ‘Muqaddasah’ (sacred):

يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ ٱلْمُقَدَّسَةَ ٱلَّتِى كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ ٢١

O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you, and do not turn back, lest you should turn losers.” (5:21)

Similarly, where Allah Almighty mentioned Sayyiduna Sulaiman (عليه السلام), He referred to that land as the blessed land, saying:

وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةًۭ تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ ٨١

And for Sulaimān, (We subjugated) the violent wind that blew under his command to the land in which We placed Our blessings. And We were the One who knew everything. (21:81)

In the commentary of this blessed verse, Imam Qurtubi states:

إلى الأرض التي باركنا فيها، يعني الشام”

Meaning: This blessed land refers to Al-Sham (Greater Syria).

Meaning: That is, this blessed land refers to Al-Sham (Greater Syria).

وَأَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَـٰرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَغَـٰرِبَهَا ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُۥ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْرِشُونَ ١٣٧

We caused those people who were deemed to be weak (the Israelites) to inherit the East and West of the land that We had blessed. And the sublime word of your Lord was fulfilled for the children of Isrā’īl, because they stood patient; and We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people used to build and what they used to raise high. (7:137)

Al-Aqsa Mosque is a peaceful place

Permissibility of Setting Out for Masjid al-Aqsa for the Sake of Reward

It is not permitted to undertake a journey specifically to visit any location, except for a few places that have been granted this distinction. Among them, Masjid al-Aqsa also holds the honor of being one of the few sites for which traveling specifically is allowed.

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، وَمَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques i.e. Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Mosque of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) , and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, (Mosque of Jerusalem).” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1189)

The Land of Isra and Mi’raj

When Allah Almighty wished to take our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) on the miraculous night journey of Mi’raj, it was indeed from Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) that He began this divine ascent through the heavens. In the Holy Qur’an, while describing the journey of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ), Allah the Exalted states:

سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ١

Glorious is He Who made his servant travel by night from Al-Masjid-ul-Harām to Al-Masjid-ul-AqSā whose environs We have blessed, so that We let him see some of Our signs. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All- Seeing. (17:1)

The Leadership of the Prophets by the Leader of All Prophets in Al-Aqsa Mosque

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the only place on the face of the earth where, at one moment in time, all the noble Prophets (peace be upon them) were gathered together and offered prayer in congregation. No other place has been granted such an honor. This unique distinction was bestowed upon our beloved Prophet, Muhammad (ﷺ), who led all those noble Prophets in prayer. As mentioned in the narration found in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

حانت الصلاة فأممتهم

That is, when the time for prayer came, I led the Prophets in prayer.

The Virtue of Prayer in Bayt al-Maqdis (Al-Aqsa Mosque)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) that we were sitting in a single gathering with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and we discussed among ourselves whether the Mosque of Bayt al-Maqdis (Al-Aqsa) is more virtuous or the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (Masjid al-Nabawi). So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

لاة في مسجدي هذا أفضل من أربع صلوات فِيهِ، وَلَنِعْمَ الْمُصَلَّى، وَلَيُوشِكُن أن لا يكون للرجل مثل شطن فَرَسِهِ مِنَ الأرْضِ حَيْثُ يَرَى مِنْهُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ خير له من الدنيا جميعا ، أو قال : خير مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فيها

One prayer in my mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) is more virtuous, in terms of reward, than four prayers in that (Bayt al-Maqdis – Al-Masjid al-Aqsa). And indeed, it (Al-Masjid al-Aqsa) is among the best places for performing prayer. A time will soon come when a person will have a small piece of land — as much as the rope of a horse — from where he can catch a glimpse of Bayt al-Maqdis, and that (just seeing it) will be more virtuous than the entire world and all that it contains.
(Al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn by al-Hakim, Hadith 550; authenticated by Al-Albani)

Prayer in Al-Masjid al-Aqsa is a means for the forgiveness of sins

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْجَهْمِ الأَنْمَاطِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ بْنُ سُوَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ السَّيْبَانِيِّ، يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏”‏ لَمَّا فَرَغَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ مِنْ بِنَاءِ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ ثَلاَثًا حُكْمًا يُصَادِفُ حُكْمَهُ وَمُلْكًا لاَ يَنْبَغِي لأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَلاَّ يَأْتِيَ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدَ أَحَدٌ لاَ يُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ فِيهِ إِلاَّ خَرَجَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ كَيَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏”‏ أَمَّا اثْنَتَانِ فَقَدْ أُعْطِيَهُمَا وَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ أُعْطِيَ الثَّالِثَةَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When Sulaiman bin Dawud finished building Baitil-Maqdis, he asked Allah for three things: judgment that was in harmony with His judgment, a dominion that no one after him would have, and that no one should come to this mosque, intending only to pray there, but he would emerge free of sin as the day his mother bore him.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Two prayers were granted, and I hope that the third was also granted.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1408)

The Dajjal will not enter Bayt al-Maqdis

The trial of the Dajjal is the greatest trial for this Ummah; every prophet warned his people about him.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ سَالِمٌ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّاسِ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الدَّجَّالَ، فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنِّي لأُنْذِرُكُمُوهُ، وَمَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلاَّ أَنْذَرَهُ قَوْمَهُ، لَقَدْ أَنْذَرَ نُوحٌ قَوْمَهُ، وَلَكِنِّي أَقُولُ لَكُمْ فِيهِ قَوْلاً لَمْ يَقُلْهُ نَبِيٌّ لِقَوْمِهِ، تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ أَعْوَرُ، وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِأَعْوَرَ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Umar: Once Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) stood amongst the people, glorified and praised Allah as He deserved and then mentioned the Dajjal saying, “l warn you against him (i.e. the Dajjal) and there was no prophet but warned his nation against him. No doubt, Noah warned his nation against him but I tell you about him something of which no prophet told his nation before me. You should know that he is one-eyed, and Allah is not one-eyed.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3337)

And the Dajjal will not be able to enter four places, as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has stated.

لا يأتي أربعة مساجد – فذكر المسجد الحرام، والمسجد الأقصى، والطور والمدينة

The Dajjal will not be able to enter four places: Masjid al-Haram, Masjid al-Aqsa, Mount Ṭūr (Tur), and Madinah.
(Musnad Ahmad)

Historical Background of the First Qiblah (Bayt al-Maqdis):

Bayt al-Maqdis was conquered during the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphate. This sacred land — Palestine and specifically Bayt al-Maqdis — was conquered in 15 AH during the caliphate of Sayyiduna ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه).

During his caliphate, ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) visited the region of al-Sham (Greater Syria) four times. The Christians of Bayt al-Maqdis made a peace agreement with him there, and they handed over the keys of the city into his custody. From that time onward, this blessed land remained under Muslim rule for over five centuries.

The Crusades:

During the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphate and thereafter, Islam experienced such a rise that it spread across the four corners of the world. In retaliation for the successive defeats they had suffered during this period, the Christians launched wars against the Muslims from the late 11th century to the late 13th century, aiming to reclaim control over the Mediterranean, the Arab lands, Palestine, and particularly Jerusalem. These wars are referred to in world history as the Crusades. During these wars, the Christians once again succeeded in capturing Jerusalem.

The Victory of Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi

Jerusalem was once again liberated in 583 AH (1187 CE) when the Crusaders were defeated at the hands of the Ayyubid Sultan, Salahuddin Ayyubi. The most remarkable achievement of Salahuddin after the conquest of Jerusalem was that he did not seek revenge from the Christians for the massacres they had committed against Muslims. Following this great victory in the Crusades, Jerusalem remained under uninterrupted Muslim rule for approximately 762 years.

Jewish Conspiracies and Control over Jerusalem

Due to their mischief and conspiracies, the Jews have, in every era, been the target of hatred and disdain. Every country, at some point, has expelled them from within its borders. Even the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) exiled them from Madinah because of their treachery and conspiracies, after which they settled in Khaybar. Their scheming continues to this day. As a result of such conspiracies, in 1948, a global plot led by the United States, Britain, and other enemies of Islam culminated in the establishment of a Jewish state in the heart of the Muslim world, in the region of Palestine. Half of the holy city and the First Qiblah, Jerusalem, fell under Jewish control.

In 1967, during the third Arab-Israeli war, the Jews carried out brutal bombings on the city of Jerusalem. The main gate of Masjid al-Aqsa was demolished, and one of its minarets was destroyed. As a result of the war, Israel occupied 78% of the land of Palestine. In June 1967, the Israeli parliament abolished the Arab identity of Jerusalem and declared it a part of Israel. Thus, the First Qiblah of the Muslims remains under Jewish occupation to this day.

In August 1969, one of the most tragic incidents in the history of the Muslim world occurred. For three and a half hours, fire raged inside Masjid al-Aqsa. A large section of the mosque was burned down, and the historic pulpit (minbar) of Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was reduced to ashes. A wave of fury swept across the entire Islamic world, but to this day, Masjid al-Aqsa awaits another Salahuddin Ayyubi—someone who will free it from the grip of the Jews and restore its sanctity.

In December 2017, former U.S. President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He also announced that within the next three years, the U.S. Embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Just over the past week and a half, Israel has been bombing the Palestinian city of Gaza. More than 200 people have been martyred, hundreds of homes have been demolished, and dozens of buildings have been leveled. In an attempt to suppress news of the atrocities being committed against Palestinians, their only communication system has been taken offline. How long will this continue? How long will the oppressed remain silent under tyranny? When will another Salahuddin Ayyubi arise to rescue them from the clutches of the Jews?

For the Summary of Surah Al-Mudathir Click Here!

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