1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,000 We are a sun that never sets. 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,000 If called upon, we answer. 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,000 We restore the stolen right. 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,000 We support the beloved Al-Aqsa. 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,000 Within it, the best of creation prayed. 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,000 Truly, it is an excellent place of prayer. 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,000 An excellent place of prayer indeed. 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:36,039 What are the virtues of the Dome of the Rock, and what is the evidence for them? 10 00:00:36,039 --> 00:00:42,469 It is one of the prominent and famous landmarks within Al-Aqsa Mosque. 11 00:00:42,469 --> 00:00:49,469 It is that golden dome supported by an equilateral octagonal structure. 12 00:00:49,469 --> 00:00:52,469 It was built by 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. 13 00:00:52,469 --> 00:00:58,469 In the period between 66 AH and 72 AH. 14 00:00:58,469 --> 00:01:01,469 To protect the worshippers from the heat and the cold. 15 00:01:01,469 --> 00:01:04,469 And to develop the mosque in a beautiful manner. 16 00:01:04,469 --> 00:01:10,469 It is the oldest Islamic architectural monument and one of its Islamic treasures. 17 00:01:10,469 --> 00:01:15,269 The Rock is the highest point within Al-Aqsa Mosque. 18 00:01:15,269 --> 00:01:21,269 Its dimensions from north to south are approximately 18 meters. 19 00:01:21,269 --> 00:01:24,269 And its width is 13 meters. 20 00:01:24,269 --> 00:01:26,269 It is not suspended. 21 00:01:26,269 --> 00:01:30,269 Nor has it ever been suspended at any point in time. 22 00:01:30,269 --> 00:01:35,269 Rather, it is connected to the ground on one side. 23 00:01:35,269 --> 00:01:38,269 Beneath it is a roughly square cave. 24 00:01:38,269 --> 00:01:41,269 The length of its side is four and a half meters. 25 00:01:41,269 --> 00:01:43,269 With a depth of one and a half meters. 26 00:01:43,269 --> 00:01:47,400 This external and internal architectural structure, 27 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,400 along with the decorations and inscriptions, 28 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,400 went through several stages of renovation and restoration, 29 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,400 until it reached its current form. 30 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:03,069 Many virtues and beliefs are rumored about the Rock, 31 00:02:03,069 --> 00:02:06,099 which have no basis in truth. 32 00:02:06,099 --> 00:02:09,099 Among them is that it is suspended, 33 00:02:09,099 --> 00:02:11,099 that it is a rock from Paradise, 34 00:02:11,099 --> 00:02:14,099 that people will be gathered toward it, 35 00:02:14,099 --> 00:02:17,099 and that the resurrection will take place from there. 36 00:02:17,099 --> 00:02:22,099 Also, that the footprint of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is upon it, 37 00:02:22,099 --> 00:02:26,099 or that he (peace be upon him) ascended to heaven from it, 38 00:02:26,099 --> 00:02:29,099 or that when he ascended, it followed him, 39 00:02:29,099 --> 00:02:32,099 and Jibril (peace be upon him) said to it, 40 00:02:32,099 --> 00:02:34,099 "Stay firm." 41 00:02:34,099 --> 00:02:37,099 Some also say it is the center of the world, 42 00:02:37,099 --> 00:02:40,099 and other matters that are not authentic. 43 00:02:40,099 --> 00:02:45,259 We do not affirm any virtue, sanctity, or status for it, 44 00:02:45,259 --> 00:02:50,259 except through explicit, authentic evidence from the Qur'an or the authentic Sunnah. 45 00:02:50,259 --> 00:02:55,259 Therefore, the Rock has no special sanctity, 46 00:02:55,259 --> 00:02:57,259 or status and virtue, 47 00:02:57,259 --> 00:03:03,259 other than being part of a blessed land and a sacred mosque. 48 00:03:03,259 --> 00:03:06,259 It is not correct to call it the "Noble Rock," 49 00:03:06,259 --> 00:03:09,259 or the "Sacred" or "Suspended" Rock. 50 00:03:09,259 --> 00:03:12,389 Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 51 00:03:12,389 --> 00:03:16,389 "It is not a Sunnah to touch the Rock of Jerusalem, 52 00:03:16,389 --> 00:03:19,389 nor to kiss it, by the consensus of the Muslims. 53 00:03:19,389 --> 00:03:22,389 In fact, praying near it 54 00:03:23,389 --> 00:03:26,389 has no exclusivity over other parts of the mosque." 55 00:03:26,389 --> 00:03:31,030 The Rock was not prayed at by 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), 56 00:03:31,030 --> 00:03:32,030 nor by the Companions, 57 00:03:32,030 --> 00:03:37,030 nor was there, during the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them), 58 00:03:37,030 --> 00:03:38,030 a dome over it. 59 00:03:38,030 --> 00:03:43,060 Rather, it was uncovered during the caliphates of 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali, 60 00:03:43,060 --> 00:03:46,060 Mu'awiyah, Yazid, and Marwan. 61 00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:50,060 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan was the one who built the dome over it. 62 00:03:50,060 --> 00:03:52,509 Something that must be pointed out 63 00:03:52,509 --> 00:03:56,509 is that the media focuses on the image of the Dome of the Rock, 64 00:03:56,509 --> 00:04:01,509 until many Muslims have come to believe that it is Al-Aqsa Mosque itself. 65 00:04:01,509 --> 00:04:06,509 This leads to consequences that are not to be praised, 66 00:04:06,509 --> 00:04:07,509 and it is intentional. 67 00:04:07,509 --> 00:04:12,509 Because the Jews, according to their theories regarding the building of the alleged Temple, 68 00:04:12,509 --> 00:04:17,509 aim to move the Dome of the Rock outside the walls of Al-Aqsa Mosque, 69 00:04:17,509 --> 00:04:20,509 and place the Temple in the courtyards of the mosque. 70 00:04:20,509 --> 00:04:25,509 At that point, the Dome of the Rock will be portrayed as Al-Aqsa Mosque, 71 00:04:25,509 --> 00:04:29,509 and there will be no reaction to that. 72 00:04:29,509 --> 00:04:33,310 Since the error has spread among the Muslims 73 00:04:33,310 --> 00:04:37,310 that the building with the golden dome is Al-Aqsa Mosque, 74 00:04:37,310 --> 00:04:40,310 and someone comes along wanting to correct it, 75 00:04:40,310 --> 00:04:43,310 they move to an even greater error with good intentions, 76 00:04:43,310 --> 00:04:46,310 by declaring that the Qibli Mosque— 77 00:04:46,310 --> 00:04:50,310 the one with the lead dome at the front of the mosque— 78 00:04:50,310 --> 00:04:52,310 is Al-Aqsa Mosque. 79 00:04:52,310 --> 00:04:54,379 We emphasize once again 80 00:04:54,379 --> 00:05:01,410 that Al-Aqsa Mosque is wider and more comprehensive than just these two prominent buildings. 81 00:05:01,410 --> 00:05:04,410 It includes everything enclosed by the wall, 82 00:05:04,410 --> 00:05:09,470 with an area of 144,000 square meters. 83 00:05:09,470 --> 00:05:13,470 Alerting people regarding the matter of the Rock of Jerusalem 84 00:05:13,470 --> 00:05:16,470 does not diminish the virtues of Al-Aqsa Mosque. 85 00:05:17,470 --> 00:05:20,470 For Allah the Almighty has mentioned in His Noble Book 86 00:05:20,470 --> 00:05:24,470 many verses that singled out Al-Aqsa Mosque 87 00:05:24,470 --> 00:05:27,470 and Jerusalem with blessing and virtue. 88 00:05:27,470 --> 00:05:30,470 And it has been established from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 89 00:05:30,470 --> 00:05:33,470 in the books of Sahih and Sunan, 90 00:05:33,470 --> 00:05:37,470 many hadiths that stated what Allah the Almighty has bestowed upon it 91 00:05:37,470 --> 00:05:40,470 of goodness and blessing, 92 00:05:40,470 --> 00:05:45,470 and clarified the characteristics that distinguish Al-Aqsa Mosque and its land, 93 00:05:45,470 --> 00:05:51,470 due to its great status and high rank in Islamic law. 94 00:05:51,470 --> 00:05:56,110 The Jews call the Rock the "Holy of Holies," 95 00:05:56,110 --> 00:06:01,110 and they consider it the holiest spot for them in their alleged temple, 96 00:06:01,110 --> 00:06:07,110 as it is mentioned that they used to place the Ark containing the scriptures upon it, 97 00:06:07,110 --> 00:06:11,110 and they make it a qibla and pray toward it, 98 00:06:11,110 --> 00:06:16,110 with the goal of linking themselves to Al-Aqsa Mosque and claiming their right to it. 99 00:06:16,110 --> 00:06:22,110 Unlike the Christians, who used to despise and scorn them. 100 00:06:22,110 --> 00:06:28,110 Therefore, when Jerusalem was under Byzantine Christian rule, 101 00:06:28,110 --> 00:06:32,110 they placed garbage on this Rock to spite the Jews. 102 00:06:32,110 --> 00:06:36,370 Likewise, the Jews forbid entering the site of the Rock 103 00:06:36,370 --> 00:06:41,370 until they are purified from impurities after the appearance of the Red Heifer, 104 00:06:41,370 --> 00:06:45,370 then burning it and purifying themselves with its ashes. 105 00:06:45,370 --> 00:06:48,370 An excellent place of prayer. 106 00:07:07,370 --> 00:07:10,370 The landing place of the Trustworthy Revelation. 107 00:07:10,370 --> 00:07:13,370 The place of mission for the Messengers. 108 00:07:13,370 --> 00:07:16,370 The qibla for the Muslims. 109 00:07:16,370 --> 00:07:20,370 The destination of the conquerors. 110 00:07:20,370 --> 00:07:23,370 Within it, the best of creation prayed. 111 00:07:23,370 --> 00:07:26,370 It is an excellent place of prayer indeed.