Concerning Masjid Al-Aqsa

Your interest in Islam is appreciated. It does appear that you do have at least some knowledge of our beliefs. Your input here will be welcome. All we ask is that you keep all comments civil. Please read the FAQ section for our forum rules.

I am not a scholar so at the moment I myself will not attempt to refute your post as I have no desire to possibly state something erroneous. We do have many knowledgable members and I am confident your post will be addressed properly fairly soon.

In reply to Bro. ckerofilm

Mashallah Brother. God(swt) has no limitations. Jazakallahu Khair

I am certain our enquirer is looking for a deeper explanation. I know this has been refuted many times. I just do not want to speak without certainty and verification.

If the Mosque in Jerusalem wasnt built, then did Muhammad (pbuh) prophesise it?

Since you are interested in Hadith, here are some for you:

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 841:
Narrated Abu Huraira:

I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I hear many narrations from you but I forget them." He said, "Spread your covering sheet." I spread my sheet and he moved both his hands as if scooping something and emptied them in the sheet and said, "Wrap it." I wrapped it round my body, and since then I have never forgotten a single Hadith.

During the campaign of Uhud, Qattada Bin An-Nu'man (May Allah be pleased with him) was injured in the eye. The eyeball had come out of the socket and was hanging on his cheek. The Prophet (peace be upon him) put it back with his hand and after this incident, that eye was better than the uninjured eye.

Al-Bukhaari related that Yazid bin Abi Ubaid (may Allah be pleased with him) said, ´I saw a scar of a cut on the leg of Abu Muslim. When I asked him, “O Abu Muslim! What is this scar?” He said, “ I was injured in the battle of Khyber. People said, “Himama is injured.” I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he blew on the injury three times and after that I did not feel any pain till today.”

Aisha bint Saad narrated on her father’s authority that the Prophet (peace be upon him) visited Saad Bin abi Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) while the latter was sick. The Prophet (peace be upon him) put his hand on Saad’s head and wiped his face and stomach, and said “O Allah cure Saad and help him to complete his migration.” Saad said, "From that time till now, I can still feel the cold touch of the hands of the Prophet (peace be upon him)."

Prior to the battle of Khaiber the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man who loves Allah and his Prophet (peace be upon him), and Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him) love him.” The people spent the night, each one of them eager to be given the banner. In the morning the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, “where is Ali bin Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him)?” They said he is suffering from an eye ailment (Ramadh). The Prophet (peace be upon him) spit in Ali’s eyes and he was cured.

Narrated Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) Allah’s messenger came to visit while I was sick and unconscious. He performed ablution and sprinkled the remaining water on me and I became conscious…… Al-Bukhaari

Good post, i my self am not a scholar, but one thing i would like to say is that, The prophet did not mount a winged horse like creature, which most of us think of what we see in fantasy movies or etc.It was actually a Buraq: "a white animal that was shorter than a mule and taller than a donkey was brought before me. This animal was the Buraaq." - ( from the sahih hadith ). So it was not some fantasy horse, but an animal brought from paradise. I probably havent answered your question fully, but inshallah i will try and get back, i just wanted to let you and anyone else know about the "horse", because before i herd about it, i also thought of a horse with wings. peace

Perhaps there may be some confusion as to how a Masjid is defined. we believe that the Masjid Al Aqsa was the original site of the alter upon which Abraham was to sacrifice his son. That is the reason Muhammad(PBUH)initialy prayed in the direction of Al'quds. (Jerusalem) It was later it was moved to Makkah. The Masjid al Aqsa predated Muhammad and even Christianity. The current structure was built later I agree.

I agree Ansar is the best to answer.

format_quote Originally Posted by Avicenna

Woodrow, my post addresses your point:

This is an obvious blunder of those who compiled Quran so much so that many Islamic scholars, including Yusuf Ali are of the opinion that by Masjid'u' Aqsa, it is intended the SITE of the building and not the actual building. However, the following hadith passage refutes this:

I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Which mosque was built first?" He replied, "Al-Masjid-ul-Haram." I asked, "Which (was built) next?" He replied, "Al-Masjid-ul-Aqs-a (i.e. Jerusalem)." I asked, "What was the period in between them?" He replied, "Forty (years)." He then added, "Wherever the time for the prayer comes upon you, perform the prayer, for all the earth is a place of worshipping for you." …… Bukhari, Volume 4, book 55, Number 136

The Hadith clearly asserts that Masjidul Aqsa was an actual building existing at the time of Muhammad.

The hadith presents yet another problem. Masjid'ul Haram (Ka'ba) was allegedly built by Abraham. He lived about 2000 BC and the Temple of Solomon (the site of the Msjid ul'Aqsa) was built about 958-951 BC. There is a gap of about over 1040 years between the dates of the construction of the two buildings.

Peace.

I can understand the point you are making. I just do not consider myself as having sufficient knowledge to answer you in a manner that would be completly in accordance with Islam. I personaly am satisfied there is no error. I just do not quite know how I can express my reasons to you.

Also keep in mind that the Ahadith are not the Qur'an. It is very important to not take any hadith out of context. I am trying to find the proper references in my Ahadith, that may better explain this.

format_quote Originally Posted by Avicenna

First notice how aburd this even is. Considering that it would take the light (fastest thing in the universe) 8 years to make a round trip to the closest solar system, and 30 billion years to the outskirts of the known universe

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...-of-light.html

and considering that wings don't serve beyond the atmosphere of the Earth

The Prophet saws was not travelling in our material universe for Miraaj, he ascended beyond our observable dimension through the Ma'ârij. He was not travelling in 'outer space'!! And the Burâq is unlike any earthly creatures as are its wings.

Why Muhammad had to go to Masjidul' Aqsa in order to go to heaven?

He didn't. The trip to Al-Aqsa was the isrâ' and the ascension was the miraaj.

Masjid'ul Aqsa ("{Farthest Mosque") was built after the death of Muhammad.

Let us first clarify what Masjid Al-Aqsa is:

The Arab grammarians classify masjid as "ism makan", i.e., "name of location"; it indicates the place where an action takes place. Masjid being derived from the root sa-ja-da (to prostrate), it means "place of prostration". Since a place of worship is a place where believers prostrate to God, "masjid" is a general term to designate any place of worship without any religious distinction. Later, this word was used to designate Islamic places of worship in particular, i.e., the mosques.
The Prophet's night journey was from "the inviolable place of worship" (al-Masjid al-Haram) to "the farthest place of worship" (al-Masjid al-Aqsa). The former is certainly located in Makkah, but what about the latter? The reference to Allah blessing its surroundings (... whose precincts We did bless) suggests a location in the "Holy Land" (cf. 21:81; 7:137; 34:18).

Masjid is any place of prostration. The Prophet Muhammad pbuh said "The earth has been made for me [and for my followers] a "masjid" [Arabic: a place for prostration]and a means of purification. Therefore, my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due." (Sahîh Bukhârî).

As for the hadîth you quoted it refers to the initial designation of the location as a sacred sanctuary and the foundations of Bayt Al-Maqdis.

The hadith presents yet another problem. Masjid'ul Haram (Ka'ba) was allegedly built by Abraham. He lived about 2000 BC and the Temple of Solomon (the site of the Msjid ul'Aqsa) was built about 958-951 BC. There is a gap of about over 1040 years between the dates of the construction of the two buildings.

Neither were the first. It can be said that Abraham laid the foundations of both, or that Adam and his progeny did. Ibn Al-Jawzî:

"The answer to that is that the mention concerns the first construction and the foundation of the mosque and it is not Abraham who built the Ka`bah for the first time nor is it Solomon who built Bayt al-Maqdis for the first time. Indeed, we have narrated that the first one who built the Ka`bah is Adam. Then his progeny spread out on earth. Therefore, it is possible that one of them built Bayt al-Maqdis. Later, Abraham (re)built the Ka`bah according to the Qur'an."

Regards

What's the point you are trying to make?

Today, I saw a spider in the mosque on the floor when everyone was getting out of the mosque...It was as small as ever! and nobody was noticing it, I cringed every second thinking this spider will be crushed.

But everyone had left the mosque, the spider had survived the feets of atleast 50 worshippers. This to me was, just unbelievable. But it was right in front of my eyes!

Indeed! The one who can save a spider from certain death, can do anything he pleases.

format_quote Originally Posted by muzna

jazakallah...thought as much the confusion might have something to do with lost meaning in the translation from arabic to english

For non-Muslims and recent reverts. There are some obstacles to be overcome. Two that I had early problems with were language and the relationship of the Ahadith. Although before reverting to Islam I already had a fair knowledge of Modern Arabic, I soon found out that Qur'anic Arabic is much deeper and the meanings are much more intense. I have found very few Qur'anic words that have English equivilants. the Ahadith also posed another challange. Few non-Muslims are even aware of them and those who are aware of them have many misconceptions. As many reverts I had and still do have some difficulty in understanding the Ahadith. I am learning and do know that if I see something that appears to be contradictorary to the Qur'an, it is the result of my faulty understanding. The Ahadith explain the Qur'an they do not detract nor add to it.

To resolve these problems I found out that the best approach is to realise that Allah(swt) has really made everything easy for us. We are told very soon what we are to do, all of that is very clear. Deeper studies just verify the why and how. When we say the Shahadah and accept the facts of what is expected, all else falls into place as it is needed.