Why are Muslims so worried about Al Aqsa?

Why is Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem so important to Muslims?

Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem is the third Holiest site on the face of this planet for Muslims. It’s sanctity is so important in Islam that it is in fact mentioned by name in the Quran.

We have compiled a short list as to what makes this site so important for Muslims around the world.

1. It is the third Holiest site after the two Holy Sanctuaries in Makkah and Madinah.

2. It was the second house of prayer established on earth, built 40 years after the Kaaba in Mecca.

I asked the beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which was the first mosque on earth? ‘The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah),’ he said. And then which, I asked? ‘Masjid al Aqsa,’ he said. I further asked, what was the time span between the two? ‘Forty years,’ the Prophet [Alayhis salaam] replied. (Muslim)

3. It was the first Qibla (direction of prayer) in Islam. Muslims were commanded by God to turn in direction to this mosque in Jerusalem for prayer before the Kaabah in Mecca was declared as the Qiblah.

We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do. (2:144)

4. The Prophet Muhammad explicitly advised Muslims to visit this mosque and offer prayer in it.

“Set out deliberately on a journey only to three mosques: this mosque of mine (in Medina), the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) and the Masjid Al Aqsa (in Jerusalem)”

(Bukhari & Muslim)

5. Prayer in Masjid Al Aqsa will generate great blessings and worshippers will receive 500x the reward of prayer performed in any other location.

Anas Ibn Malik (ra) relates that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

” The prayer of a person in his house is a single prayer; his prayer in the Masjid of his people has the reward of 27 prayers; his prayer in the Masjid in which the Friday prayer is observed has the reward of 500; his prayer in Masjid Al-Aqsa (i.e. Al-Aqsa Sanctuary) has a reward of 5,000 prayers; his prayer in my Masjid (the Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah) has a reward of 50,000 prayers, and the prayer in the Sacred Masjid (Ka’bah) has the reward of 100,000 prayers”.

(Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

6. It is the location that the Prophet was transported to during the miraculous Night Journey (Israa wa-Miraaj). Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad was transported from the sacred mosque in Mecca to the Masjid Al Aqsa during this miraculous night journey and then onto heaven.

“Glorified be He [Allah] Who did take His servant for a journey by night from Al Masjid Al Haram to Al Masjid Al Aqsa, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of our Signs. Verily He is the All Hearing, All Seeing.” Surah Isra (17:1)

7. It was the location for the most extraordinary gathering in which the Prophet Muhammad led prayer in congregation with all previous prophets and then ascended to the heavens to receive Gods command to the Muslims to pray 5 times a day.

8. Muslims believe that the land of Jeruselem is the final resting place of many previous prophets and their companions including Prophet Ibrahim, Yaaqub and Ishaq and some close companions of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

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