Baitul-Muqaddas:
Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushaláyim); (Arabic:
al-Quds القُدس or Bayt al-Maqdis or Baitul
Muqaddas), is a city in Western Asia, on a plateau in the Judaean
Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Seas. It
is one of the oldest cities in the world, and is
considered holy to the three major Abrahamic
religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Both Israel and
the Palestinian Authority claim Jerusalem as their capital.
“Baitul-Muqaddas” literal and actual meaning “The Holy House” and the “Masjid al-Aqsa” literal and actual meaning “The farthest Mosque” are two names of the same masjid which was originally built in Jerusalem by the noble Prophet of Allah, Hadrat Sulaimaan ibn Dawood (a.s.).
Dome of the Rock, Arabic Qubbat al-Ṣakhrah, shrine in Jerusalem built by the Umayyad caliph ʿAbdul al-Malik ibn Marwān in the late 7th century CE. It is the oldest extant Islamic monument. The rock over which the shrine was built is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Although it is not a mosque, it is the first major Muslim monument for public worship.
Masjid
Al Aqsa:
Masjid
al Aqsa was the second masjid on earth after Kaaba in Makkah.
It was built 40 years after it. Most scholars are of the opinion that Masjid Al
Aqsa was first built by Prophet Adam.Ibrahim (a.s.) rebuilt the Masjid al Aqsa in Jerusalem as he and Ismail rebuilt
the Ka'ba in Makkah.
Prophet Daud (as) began the rebuilding of Masjid Al Aqsa.
It was Prophet Sulayman (as) who finally completed the building of Masjid Al
Aqsa.
Masjid Al Aqsa built by Sulayman (as) was destroyed in 587 BC by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon.
The Jews call this same Masjid Al Aqsa built by Sulayman as their Temple.
The Jews re-built their Temple on them same site in 167 BC but was destroyed in 70 AD and Jews banished from Jerusalem.
The site of Masjid Al Aqsa remained barren and was used as a rubbish tip for nearly 600 years until the Great Khalifah Umar bin Khattab liberated Jerusalem in 637/8 AD.
The Khalifah Umar bin Khattab began the foundation of Masjid Al Aqsa and a timber mosque was built.
The Umayyad Khalifah, Abd' al Malik ibn Marwan in 691/2 [72/73 AH] began the construction of, Dome of the Rock - today this is the Golden Domed Mosque.
The al Buraq wall or Western Wall where Prophet Muhammad tied his animal the Buraq on the night journey of al Isra is what the Jews call the wailing wall.
To Muslims it is the land or the Haram Sharif area which is most holy and important.
The Haram area of Al Aqsa has within it the Masjid Al Aqsa [Black Domed Mosque] and Dome of the Rock [the Golden Domed Mosque].
Israel occupied Masjid Al Aqsa in 1967.
That, the fundamentalist Jews have made 100's of attempts to destroy Al Aqsa since 1967 when they occupied it. A fire in 1967 started by their help destroyed the 900 year old Mimbar installed by Slaudeen Ayub, the Great Muslim Hero.That, the fundamentalist want to blow up and destroy Masjidul Al Aqsa and replace it with a Jewish Temple.
The Temple Mount:
The Temple Mount (Hebrew: 'Har
HaBáyit'; "Mount of the House of God, (i.e. the Temple in Jerusalem"),
known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif (Arabic: الحرم الشريف, 'al-Ḥaram
al-Šarīf', "the Noble Sanctuary", or الحرم
القدسي الشريف, 'al-Ḥaram al-Qudsī
al-Šarīf', "the Noble Sanctuary of Jerusalem") and the Al
Aqsa Compound is a hill in the Old City of Jerusalem that
for thousands of years has been venerated as a holy
site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike.
The present site is a flat plaza surrounded by
retaining walls (including the Western Wall) that was built during the
reign of Herod the Great for an expansion of the temple. The plaza is
dominated by three monumental structures from the early Umayyad
period – the al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and
the Dome of the Chain – and four
minarets. Herodian walls and gates, with additions from the
late Byzantine and early Islamic periods, cut through the flanks of
the Mount. Currently, it can be reached through eleven gates, ten reserved
for Muslims and one for non-Muslims, with guard posts of Israeli police in
the vicinity of each.
According to Jewish tradition and scripture:
1. The First
Temple was built by King Solomon, the son of King David, in 957 BCE, and was destroyed by
the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 586 BCE; however, no substantial archaeological
evidence has verified this.
2. The Second Temple was constructed under the auspices
of Zerubbabel in 516 BCE, and was destroyed by the Roman
Empire in 70 CE.
3. Orthodox Jewish tradition maintains it is here that
the third and final Temple will be built when the Messiah comes.
The location is the holiest site in Judaism, and is the place Jews
turn towards during prayer. Due to its extreme sanctity, many Jews will not
walk on the Mount itself, to avoid unintentionally entering the area where
the Holy of Holies stood, since according to rabbinical law, there is
still some aspect of the divine presence at the site.
Among Muslims, the Mount is the site of one of the
three Sacred Mosques, the holiest sites in Islam.
Amongst Sunni Muslims, it is considered the third holiest site
in Islam. Revered as the Noble Sanctuary, the location
of Muhammad's journey to Jerusalem and ascension to heaven, the site
is also associated with the Jewish biblical prophets who are also venerated in
Islam. Umayyad Caliphs commissioned the construction of the al-Aqsa Mosque
and Dome of the Rock on the site.
The Dome was completed in 692 CE, making it one of the oldest extant
Islamic structures in the world. The Al Aqsa Mosque rests on the far southern
side of the Mount, facing Mecca. The Dome of the Rock currently sits in
the middle, occupying or close to the area where the Holy
Temple previously stood.
The King David (Hazrat Daud A.S) founded the city
of Jerusalem and holy place, which was further taken care by his son King
Solomon (Hazrat Sulaiman A.S). Usually, the city of Jerusalem is known “Baitul
Muqaddas” (holy house or place).
Most of the prophets of Allah were appointed in
this city. This is one of the most blessed places in the world and majority of
people from different religions wish to visit here.
This city is equally holy for the three largest
religions in the world i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Holy prophet of
Islam considered it as the first Qibla and used to say his prayers with his
companions facing towards its direction.
In the journey of Mairaj this city was the first
destination of the Holy prophet where the other prophets offered prayer after
him. King David ruled the city for 33 years and this was a period of unrest for
Israelites army as he united Israelites together who were earlier divided apart.
King Solomon constructed Hekhal (Solomon’s Temple)
according to the wishes of his father, King David. Deep inside the Hekhal he
built a sacred place and put the “Sakina’s Coffin” there.
The city was destroyed and captured many times by
different warriors and religions. Hekhal was destroyed and rebuilt many a times
in various eras. During the caliphate of Hazrat Umar Farooq (R.A), he conquered
Jerusalem and built a simple mosque at the place where it used to be Hekhal
earlier.
Before that time, the place was like garbage
storage because people used to through garbage to register their hatred against
the Jews. Later prophets of Umayyad dynasty laid down the foundation of Aqsa
Mosque and completed the construction.
The sacred places are located on the east side of
the city where Muslims, Christians and Jews pay their religious regards.
According to the statement of Dr. Barkley, the most sacred place for Muslims
Haram Shrif is situated on 35 acres. Masjid-e-Aqsa and Qubat-ul-Sakhra are also
located in it.
There are many high points in Haram which are
knows as “Mehraab” by Muslims and they say prayers in front of these places.
There are fifty inside and outside doors in “Haram Shrif”. In 1967, Maulana Sher Ali stated that the number of these
doors is fourteen.
There are many other sacred buildings in its
jurisdiction except Masjid-e-Aqsa and Qubat-ul-Sakhra. Now this city hosts the
most religious and holy places of Jews, Christians and Muslims.
At the time when AlAksa Masjid is notified in
visual media, it does not show the image of Al-Aqsa Mosque. It shows the image
of Dome of the Rock rather than Al Aqsa.
This is the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Prophet Muhammad
(صلى الله عليه و سلم) led the salah for the all other prophets.
"سبحان الذي أسرى
بعبده ليلا من المسجد الحرام إلى المسجد الأقصى الذي باركنا حوله لنريه من آياتنا
، إنه هـو السميـع البصيـر"
Glorified be He (Allâh). Who took His slave (Muhammad SAW) for a journey by
night from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm to the farthest mosque, the neighborhood where of
we have blessed, in order that we might show of our signs. Verily, He is the
All-Hearer, the All-Seer. Surah Al-Isra'(17) verse-(01).
