WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.000 We are a sun that never sets. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:10.000 If called upon, we answer. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:13.000 We restore the stolen right. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:17.000 We support the beloved Al-Aqsa. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:20.000 Within it, the best of creation prayed. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000 Truly, it is an excellent place of prayer. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:28.000 An excellent place of prayer indeed. 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? 00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:42.469 It is one of the prominent and famous landmarks within Al-Aqsa Mosque. 00:00:42.469 --> 00:00:49.469 It is that golden dome supported by an equilateral octagonal structure. 00:00:49.469 --> 00:00:52.469 It was built by 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. 00:00:52.469 --> 00:00:58.469 In the period between 66 AH and 72 AH. 00:00:58.469 --> 00:01:01.469 To protect the worshippers from the heat and the cold. 00:01:01.469 --> 00:01:04.469 And to develop the mosque in a beautiful manner. 00:01:04.469 --> 00:01:10.469 It is the oldest Islamic architectural monument and one of its Islamic treasures. 00:01:10.469 --> 00:01:15.269 The Rock is the highest point within Al-Aqsa Mosque. 00:01:15.269 --> 00:01:21.269 Its dimensions from north to south are approximately 18 meters. 00:01:21.269 --> 00:01:24.269 And its width is 13 meters. 00:01:24.269 --> 00:01:26.269 It is not suspended. 00:01:26.269 --> 00:01:30.269 Nor has it ever been suspended at any point in time. 00:01:30.269 --> 00:01:35.269 Rather, it is connected to the ground on one side. 00:01:35.269 --> 00:01:38.269 Beneath it is a roughly square cave. 00:01:38.269 --> 00:01:41.269 The length of its side is four and a half meters. 00:01:41.269 --> 00:01:43.269 With a depth of one and a half meters. 00:01:43.269 --> 00:01:47.400 This external and internal architectural structure, 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:50.400 along with the decorations and inscriptions, 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:54.400 went through several stages of renovation and restoration, 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:57.400 until it reached its current form. 00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:03.069 Many virtues and beliefs are rumored about the Rock, 00:02:03.069 --> 00:02:06.099 which have no basis in truth. 00:02:06.099 --> 00:02:09.099 Among them is that it is suspended, 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:11.099 that it is a rock from Paradise, 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:14.099 that people will be gathered toward it, 00:02:14.099 --> 00:02:17.099 and that the resurrection will take place from there. 00:02:17.099 --> 00:02:22.099 Also, that the footprint of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is upon it, 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:26.099 or that he (peace be upon him) ascended to heaven from it, 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:29.099 or that when he ascended, it followed him, 00:02:29.099 --> 00:02:32.099 and Jibril (peace be upon him) said to it, 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:34.099 "Stay firm." 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:37.099 Some also say it is the center of the world, 00:02:37.099 --> 00:02:40.099 and other matters that are not authentic. 00:02:40.099 --> 00:02:45.259 We do not affirm any virtue, sanctity, or status for it, 00:02:45.259 --> 00:02:50.259 except through explicit, authentic evidence from the Qur'an or the authentic Sunnah. 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:55.259 Therefore, the Rock has no special sanctity, 00:02:55.259 --> 00:02:57.259 or status and virtue, 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:03.259 other than being part of a blessed land and a sacred mosque. 00:03:03.259 --> 00:03:06.259 It is not correct to call it the "Noble Rock," 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:09.259 or the "Sacred" or "Suspended" Rock. 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:12.389 Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:03:12.389 --> 00:03:16.389 "It is not a Sunnah to touch the Rock of Jerusalem, 00:03:16.389 --> 00:03:19.389 nor to kiss it, by the consensus of the Muslims. 00:03:19.389 --> 00:03:22.389 In fact, praying near it 00:03:23.389 --> 00:03:26.389 has no exclusivity over other parts of the mosque." 00:03:26.389 --> 00:03:31.030 The Rock was not prayed at by 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:03:31.030 --> 00:03:32.030 nor by the Companions, 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), 00:03:37.030 --> 00:03:38.030 a dome over it. 00:03:38.030 --> 00:03:43.060 Rather, it was uncovered during the caliphates of 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali, 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:46.060 Mu'awiyah, Yazid, and Marwan. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:50.060 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan was the one who built the dome over it. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:52.509 Something that must be pointed out 00:03:52.509 --> 00:03:56.509 is that the media focuses on the image of the Dome of the Rock, 00:03:56.509 --> 00:04:01.509 until many Muslims have come to believe that it is Al-Aqsa Mosque itself. 00:04:01.509 --> 00:04:06.509 This leads to consequences that are not to be praised, 00:04:06.509 --> 00:04:07.509 and it is intentional. 00:04:07.509 --> 00:04:12.509 Because the Jews, according to their theories regarding the building of the alleged Temple, 00:04:12.509 --> 00:04:17.509 aim to move the Dome of the Rock outside the walls of Al-Aqsa Mosque, 00:04:17.509 --> 00:04:20.509 and place the Temple in the courtyards of the mosque. 00:04:20.509 --> 00:04:25.509 At that point, the Dome of the Rock will be portrayed as Al-Aqsa Mosque, 00:04:25.509 --> 00:04:29.509 and there will be no reaction to that. 00:04:29.509 --> 00:04:33.310 Since the error has spread among the Muslims 00:04:33.310 --> 00:04:37.310 that the building with the golden dome is Al-Aqsa Mosque, 00:04:37.310 --> 00:04:40.310 and someone comes along wanting to correct it, 00:04:40.310 --> 00:04:43.310 they move to an even greater error with good intentions, 00:04:43.310 --> 00:04:46.310 by declaring that the Qibli Mosque— 00:04:46.310 --> 00:04:50.310 the one with the lead dome at the front of the mosque— 00:04:50.310 --> 00:04:52.310 is Al-Aqsa Mosque. 00:04:52.310 --> 00:04:54.379 We emphasize once again 00:04:54.379 --> 00:05:01.410 that Al-Aqsa Mosque is wider and more comprehensive than just these two prominent buildings. 00:05:01.410 --> 00:05:04.410 It includes everything enclosed by the wall, 00:05:04.410 --> 00:05:09.470 with an area of 144,000 square meters. 00:05:09.470 --> 00:05:13.470 Alerting people regarding the matter of the Rock of Jerusalem 00:05:13.470 --> 00:05:16.470 does not diminish the virtues of Al-Aqsa Mosque. 00:05:17.470 --> 00:05:20.470 For Allah the Almighty has mentioned in His Noble Book 00:05:20.470 --> 00:05:24.470 many verses that singled out Al-Aqsa Mosque 00:05:24.470 --> 00:05:27.470 and Jerusalem with blessing and virtue. 00:05:27.470 --> 00:05:30.470 And it has been established from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:05:30.470 --> 00:05:33.470 in the books of Sahih and Sunan, 00:05:33.470 --> 00:05:37.470 many hadiths that stated what Allah the Almighty has bestowed upon it 00:05:37.470 --> 00:05:40.470 of goodness and blessing, 00:05:40.470 --> 00:05:45.470 and clarified the characteristics that distinguish Al-Aqsa Mosque and its land, 00:05:45.470 --> 00:05:51.470 due to its great status and high rank in Islamic law. 00:05:51.470 --> 00:05:56.110 The Jews call the Rock the "Holy of Holies," 00:05:56.110 --> 00:06:01.110 and they consider it the holiest spot for them in their alleged temple, 00:06:01.110 --> 00:06:07.110 as it is mentioned that they used to place the Ark containing the scriptures upon it, 00:06:07.110 --> 00:06:11.110 and they make it a qibla and pray toward it, 00:06:11.110 --> 00:06:16.110 with the goal of linking themselves to Al-Aqsa Mosque and claiming their right to it. 00:06:16.110 --> 00:06:22.110 Unlike the Christians, who used to despise and scorn them. 00:06:22.110 --> 00:06:28.110 Therefore, when Jerusalem was under Byzantine Christian rule, 00:06:28.110 --> 00:06:32.110 they placed garbage on this Rock to spite the Jews. 00:06:32.110 --> 00:06:36.370 Likewise, the Jews forbid entering the site of the Rock 00:06:36.370 --> 00:06:41.370 until they are purified from impurities after the appearance of the Red Heifer, 00:06:41.370 --> 00:06:45.370 then burning it and purifying themselves with its ashes. 00:06:45.370 --> 00:06:48.370 An excellent place of prayer. 00:07:07.370 --> 00:07:10.370 The landing place of the Trustworthy Revelation. 00:07:10.370 --> 00:07:13.370 The place of mission for the Messengers. 00:07:13.370 --> 00:07:16.370 The qibla for the Muslims. 00:07:16.370 --> 00:07:20.370 The destination of the conquerors. 00:07:20.370 --> 00:07:23.370 Within it, the best of creation prayed. 00:07:23.370 --> 00:07:26.370 It is an excellent place of prayer indeed.