A brother sent this question: “As a new Muslim, I am always told that Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque are important to us. But why? Please, tell me about the history of Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Al-Aqsa, One of The Earliest Places of Allah’s Worship
You know that Islam, as taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is a continuation and completion of the religion of all the prophets of God including Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus (peace be upon them all).
Islam considers Al-Aqsa Mosque as one of the earliest and the most noteworthy places of worship of Allah.
It is the same place of worship built by Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him).
The historical and religious significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque is further emphasized by the fact that Muslims were commanded to turn towards this mosque in Jerusalem for prayer, before the Kaabah in Makkah was declared as the qiblah (the direction to which Muslims pray).
This was the practice until 16 to 17 months after the Muslims’ emigration to Madinah during the Prophet’s time.
Furthermore, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Set out deliberately on a journey only to three mosques: this mosque of mine [in Madinah], the Sacred Mosque [in Makkah], and Al-Aqsa Mosque [in Jerusalem]. (Al-Bukhariyy)
The Prophet, also, stressed the value and importance of prayer offered in Al-Aqsa Mosque, in these words: A prayer in the Sacred Mosque [in Makkah] is worth 100,000 prayers, a prayer in my mosque [in Madinah] is worth 1000, and a prayer in Jerusalem [Al-Aqsa Mosque] is worth 500 prayers more than in any other mosque. (Al-Bukhariyy)
Ever since, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem have been very special to Muslims all over the world.
True Meaning of “Chosen People”
The noble Quran, which Muslims believes is the word of God, clearly mentions the Children of Israel — that is, the children of Prophet Isaac’s son, Jacob — as the “Chosen People” (mentioned in Jewish and Christian scriptures).
This is a term that has been unfortunately misinterpreted by the Jews and Christians in their own ways.
Islam does not approve of the racist claim that this title allows the Jews a higher status as humans before God.
The title only means that God chose them for a particular mission.
That mission was to serve as a model community before the whole of humanity, with the objective of guiding all the people of the world, irrespective of their race, tribe, nationality, or language, to lead a life of submission to God alone as taught by all the prophets of God including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all).
When the Children of Israel First Deviated From Their Mission
After the time of Moses, the Children of Israel had deviated much from Divine guidance contained in the Torah and the teachings of Prophet Moses.
God continued to send His messengers or prophets to the Children of Israel to bring them back to the straight path.
Of these prophets, the case of Jesus is particularly worth mentioning.
According to the prophecies in the Torah, as well as in the teachings of the prophets, the Children of Israel were expecting a Messiah, “Moshiach” in the Hebrew language.
This word literally means “the anointed one,” or in ordinary language, “the specially chosen one with a divinely appointed mission,” who would come and establish the “Kingdom of God” (not in the Christian sense) on earth — that is, a land governed according to the Law of God given in the Torah.
When Jesus came and claimed to be the promised Messiah, most of the Children of Israel — or the Jews — rejected him on the plea that he was falsely claiming to be the Messiah.
This rejection of the Messiah (the King of the Jews) was the first departure in the history of the Jews, as it were, from the Kingdom of God under the law of God as they mention.
This means that henceforth, the Jews who rejected the Messiah lost their specially chosen status and became one with the Gentiles — the non-Jewish people — whom they habitually revile.
I hope this answers your question. Please, keep in touch.
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