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Parables of the Qur’an II
Episode 18
In the name of Allah, praise be upon Him, and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad. Welcome, may Allah accept your fast and prayers, be pleased with you and us
May Allah make us free from hellfire, and make us from the people of paradise.
Do your best to finish reading Qur'an more than once, we seek to participate in the 10 million Qur'an recitations initiative as a part of the 'We will live by the Qur'an' campaign, document your progress on www. amrkhaled.net, post the campaign's sticker everywhere to encourage people to read Qur'an. May Allah bless you and make us reach the night of determinations (al-Qadr). We will pray by this supplication whenever we come closer to the end of Ramadan.
Let us live with a new virtue in this episode which we will continue. Allah saved Prophet Musa (AS) and Israel people from pharaoh when they exited from Egypt, the Torah was descended, and the Samery story occurred, I've narrated the events successively, now he will go to the Holy Land. Do you miss al-Quds and the Aqsa mosque? Do you love them? This is the virtue of this episode.
The virtue of this episode is to know how many of you miss the Aqsa mosque. What does the Aqsa mosque mean to you? What is its value in your life? It is valuable for Allah and for Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Pay attention, it is the first destination towards which we pray (Qibla) and the third Haram of the tow, it is the Masrah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it is the place where Prophet Muhammad ascended from to the heavens. There is a Surah has its name; Surat Al-Isra' (TMQ, 17:1)
Every time we hear the Aqsa mosque mentioned, we hear the phrase "around which We have blessed." Do you miss Umra and the house of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); Madinah and the Prophet’s Mosque? So much, right? Do you miss the Aqsa mosque like this? Pay attention that the three places are mentioned together always. If I ask you, what are your favorite three cities? Is it one of your favorites?
Back to our story… Prophet Musa (AS) is now directed to go to the Aqsa mosque. We will present this episode from the nearest place to the Aqsa, and in the road that Prophet Musa (AS) walked on. He exited from Egypt, passed by Sina, arriving at Jordan. Yesterday we mentioned that he passed by Kan'an tribe. He went to the Nibu mount, it is the nearest point overlooking the Aqsa mosque, and it is 25 km from the Aqsa mosque. Jordanians know this place, especially, the inhabitants of Madaba city.
This is the same place that Prophet Musa (AS) was walking in, on Nibu mount, because this is the nearest and shortest road that transports to al-Quds and the Aqsa mosque. This is the strangest journey in my life. This road is above the mount where you can see al-Quds and the dome of the rock. There is an official map for his walking line, this place is actually considered a tourist site.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us that we ought to travel to the three mosques; the Sanctified Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s mosque and the Aqsa mosque. He told us that the prayer in the Sanctified Mosque in Makkah equals 100 thousands prayers, and in the Prophet’s mosque equals 1000 prayers and in the Aqsa mosque equals 500. When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was asked about the first mosque that was built on earth, he answered that the Sanctified Mosque in Makkah, then the Aqsa mosque, and there are 40 years between them. Prophet Adam (AS) built both mosques.
The greatest meeting on the earth was held in the Aqsa mosque between all the prophets; Musa, Issa, Sulaiman, Dawud and Muhammad (PBUH). Al-mi’raj was from the Aqsa mosque. "All Extolment be (to Him), Who made His bondman to set forth by night from the Inviolable Mosque to the Further (Literally: Remotest) Mosque, around which We have blessed" (TMQ, 17:1).
All the cities were liberated in Omar Ibnul-Khatab's time (RA), but he did not receive the key of any except the Aqsa mosque's key. He walked also on this raod, and passed on Nibu mount. When Musa (AS) arrived at the Aqsa mosque in his torn clothes, all the Jews and Christians said that he is the man whom their holy books talked about and that he will take its keys. It is also written in their books that Muslims will also take its keys.
When Omar Ibnul-Khattab arrived to al-Quds, people told him to pray, but he refused to pray in al-Qeyama church, in order to preserve it as a church and not cause it to be converted into a mosque one day. Omar and his army stood on a high place to see the Aqsa mosque, and he told Bilal to call to prayer, and this day is reported to have made Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) extremely happy. Years later, Salah Ad-Dien walked the same grounds, and he said his famous word "How I can smile while the Aqsa mosque is prisoner."
This is the map of Musa's journey to al-Quds by the dead sea and Nibu mount which we are currently standing on. " O my people, enter the Holy Land (Literally: the hallowed land) which Allah has prescribed for you and do not turn back in your traces, (Literally: on your hind parts) (and) so you turn over as losers.”" (TMQ, 5:21).
When he arrived to the point where al-Quds is 10 km away, the people of Israel became afraid and hesitant, hence they were prevented by Allah, to ever enter it. Musa (AS) started to encourage the people of Israel, as in this verse and we are need it, "And as Mûsa (Moses) said to his people, “O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you, as He made among you Prophesiers, (i.e., prophets) and made you kings, and brought you what He had not brought anyone of the worlds" (TMQ, 5:20).
In order to understand this verse "which Allah has prescribed for you" you have to understand the Aqsa's history.. Al-Quds does not belong to any group in particular, because every prophet sent by Allah is responsible for al-Quds during his time. The last prophet is Muhammad (PBUH), so he and his nation are responsible for al-Quds and the Aqsa mosque.
The importance of al-israa and al-mi'raj is to take the flag of the Aqsa. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) met all the prophets with Jibril (AS) and prayed with them in the yard of the Aqsa mosque as an Imam of all the Prophets. A man can not be led in prayer by visitors in his house, he should be Imam in his own house, therefore by leading all prophets in prayer, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is forever responsible for the Aqsa.
Understand Surat Al-Ma'idah , Prophet Musa's parable, and why they did not enter. Musa (AS) asked Allah to be buried near al-Quds walls because he knew that he was not the one responsible for it or else he would not have asked, in fact Musa knew that Muhammad (PBUH) and his nation were the ones responsible for it. Can you imagine that Prophet Musa (AS) knew that you are responsible for al-Quds?.What will you say to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about the status of Quds now? What will you have to say to Prophet Musa (AS)? Indeed, al-Quds is called "The Holy Land" because it is blessed by Allah (SWT), and the most blessed people met in it (the Prophets).
There are two important points here; the first is that life is comprised of war and peace, jihad (struggle) and worship. Worship is two types; one is to charge the spirit and heart. The other is jihad. Allah (SWT) blessed us with two mosques, Makkah and the Aqsa mosque. Makkah is symbolized for worship and peace of heart, and the Aqsa mosque is for jihad (struggle) and reformation. The second important point is that the Aqsa mosque is the thermometer of affairs on earth. How? If you would like to know if the world is OK or not, see the Aqsa is with whom; with believers or with racists. There are several important characteristics which we must strive to reach; courage, entrusting one's soul to Allah, fraternity and efficiency.
On the contrary, we find the opposite characteristics in those mentioned in the following verse, “O Mûsa, surely there are people in it (who are) giants, and surely we will never enter it until they go out of it. So, in case they go out of it, then surely we will be entering.” (TMQ; 5:22).
“Enter in upon them (by) the gate. So, when you enter it, then surely you will be overcoming them. And so put all your trust in Allah in case you are believers” (TMQ; 5:23). This is a very beautiful verse. They responded “They said, “O Mûsa (Moses), surely we will never enter it at all so long as they are in it. So go forth, you and your Lord, and then you (two) fight (them). Surely we will be sitting here now!” (TMQ; 5:24). Notice the irresponsible and lazy attitude. Musa replied as we can see in the following verse, “He said, “Lord! Surely I possess (no authority) on anyone except myself and my brother. So distinguish between us (Literally: part between us and “between”) and the immoral people.” (TMQ; 5:25). We can’t say we love the Aqsa without working hard.
The last part of the verse says, “Said He, “Then surely it will be prohibited for them for forty years (while) they go astray in the earth. So do not feel sad about the immoral people.” (TMQ; 5:26). Some interpretations say that it means: it will be prohibited forever. Other opinions say that it will be prohibited for forty years.
Indeed, when one abandons the above mentioned characteristics, they end up going astray. The people of Israel went astray in mountains and cities for 40 years; some believe it takes that long (40 years) for atittudes and habits to change with the new generations.
The role of Musa (AS) today is to prepar youths who have the four characterestics. “Said He, “Then surely it will be prohibited for them for forty years (while) they go astray in the earth. So do not feel sad about the immoral people.” (TMQ; 5:26). Are we from the destined generation blessed with the righteous characteristics or do we have to wait for another generation?
Peace be upon prophet Muhammad and his Companions
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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