1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,919 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:04,049 --> 00:00:07,330 We are a sun that never sets. 3 00:00:07,330 --> 00:00:10,449 Should the caller summon us, we respond. 4 00:00:10,449 --> 00:00:13,890 We shall restore the truth, whole and intact. 5 00:00:13,890 --> 00:00:16,929 We shall grant victory to the beloved Al-Aqsa. 6 00:00:16,929 --> 00:00:20,289 In it, the best of creation prayed. 7 00:00:20,289 --> 00:00:23,329 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 8 00:00:23,329 --> 00:00:26,050 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 9 00:00:26,050 --> 00:00:31,440 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 10 00:00:31,519 --> 00:00:35,840 What is the reward for prayer in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque? 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:41,060 By divine wisdom, 12 00:00:41,060 --> 00:00:43,859 Allah, glory be to Him and Exalted is He, has singled out 13 00:00:43,859 --> 00:00:46,659 and favored certain places over others. 14 00:00:46,659 --> 00:00:50,259 He chose them for worship and the realization of Tawhid (monotheism), 15 00:00:50,259 --> 00:00:53,060 magnified their reward, elevated their status, 16 00:00:53,060 --> 00:00:55,060 and raised their standing. 17 00:00:55,060 --> 00:00:57,890 Among the greatest of these are the three mosques, 18 00:00:57,890 --> 00:01:00,289 the inseparable siblings, 19 00:01:00,289 --> 00:01:03,490 linked historically, doctrinally, 20 00:01:03,490 --> 00:01:07,890 spiritually, and emotionally to one another: 21 00:01:07,890 --> 00:01:09,890 the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Haram), 22 00:01:09,890 --> 00:01:11,890 the Prophet’s Mosque, 23 00:01:11,890 --> 00:01:13,980 and Al-Aqsa Mosque. 24 00:01:13,980 --> 00:01:16,780 For it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, 25 00:01:16,780 --> 00:01:20,379 that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 26 00:01:20,379 --> 00:01:24,780 "Do not undertake a journey to visit any mosques, but three: 27 00:01:24,780 --> 00:01:26,780 the Sacred Mosque, 28 00:01:26,780 --> 00:01:30,780 the Mosque of the Messenger, peace be upon him, 29 00:01:30,780 --> 00:01:32,939 and Al-Aqsa Mosque." 30 00:01:32,939 --> 00:01:37,340 This hadith contains a general encouragement to travel and set out 31 00:01:37,340 --> 00:01:41,340 for the purpose of worship and drawing near to Allah, the Almighty, 32 00:01:41,340 --> 00:01:44,140 in these noble sites, 33 00:01:44,140 --> 00:01:47,340 due to their unique status, 34 00:01:47,340 --> 00:01:50,939 and the honor bestowed upon them by Allah, the Almighty. 35 00:01:50,939 --> 00:01:56,239 Thus, there is no merit in undertaking a journey for the sake of worship to any other place. 36 00:01:56,239 --> 00:01:59,840 It is narrated from Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 37 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:02,640 "We were discussing while in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, 38 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,239 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, which is better: 39 00:02:06,239 --> 00:02:10,240 the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 40 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,639 or the Mosque of Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem)?" 41 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,639 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, replied: 42 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,439 "One prayer in this mosque of mine 43 00:02:19,439 --> 00:02:22,240 is better than four prayers in it, 44 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,639 and what an excellent place of prayer it is! 45 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:30,240 A time will soon come when a man will have a plot of land the size of his horse's tether, 46 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,039 from which he can see Bayt al-Maqdis, 47 00:02:33,039 --> 00:02:36,240 and that will be better for him than the entire world," 48 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,699 or he said, "better than the world and all that is in it." 49 00:02:40,699 --> 00:02:44,699 Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding this hadith: 50 00:02:44,699 --> 00:02:49,569 "It is the most authentic report concerning the virtue of prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque." 51 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:52,770 Since a prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque 52 00:02:52,770 --> 00:02:55,569 is equal to a thousand prayers elsewhere, 53 00:02:55,569 --> 00:02:58,370 then a prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque 54 00:02:58,370 --> 00:03:01,969 is equal to two hundred and fifty prayers elsewhere, 55 00:03:01,969 --> 00:03:05,969 excluding the Sacred Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. 56 00:03:05,969 --> 00:03:09,169 This is a great virtue and a massive reward, 57 00:03:09,169 --> 00:03:14,770 that the rak'ah and the prayer therein are multiplied two hundred and fifty times, 58 00:03:14,770 --> 00:03:18,000 encompassing both obligatory and voluntary prayers. 59 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,400 And so that no one might think that this differentiation in the reward of prayer 60 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,599 in terms of number between the three mosques 61 00:03:25,599 --> 00:03:28,800 diminishes the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, 62 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,000 the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said thereafter: 63 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,400 "And what an excellent place of prayer it is!" 64 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:39,419 to clarify its status and rank in Islamic law. 65 00:03:39,419 --> 00:03:44,620 The superiority of the mosque is derived from the superiority of the location. 66 00:03:44,620 --> 00:03:49,419 That is why he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said in the hadith before us: 67 00:03:49,419 --> 00:03:51,819 "And what an excellent place of prayer it is!" 68 00:03:51,819 --> 00:03:57,419 It contains praise and commendation, highlighting the importance of prayer and worship therein, 69 00:03:57,419 --> 00:04:00,219 and that the living, faithful souls 70 00:04:00,219 --> 00:04:03,419 remain longing for that place, 71 00:04:03,419 --> 00:04:07,860 no matter how circumstances change or conditions fluctuate. 72 00:04:07,860 --> 00:04:11,860 From 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with them both, 73 00:04:11,860 --> 00:04:16,660 from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he said: 74 00:04:16,660 --> 00:04:21,459 "When Sulayman Ibn Dawud (Solomon, son of David) finished building Bayt al-Maqdis, 75 00:04:21,459 --> 00:04:23,860 he asked Allah for three things: 76 00:04:23,860 --> 00:04:26,259 a judgment that coincides with His judgment, 77 00:04:26,259 --> 00:04:30,259 a kingdom the likes of which no one would have after him, 78 00:04:30,259 --> 00:04:35,459 and that no one should come to this mosque intending only to pray in it 79 00:04:35,459 --> 00:04:39,889 without emerging from his sins like the day his mother gave birth to him." 80 00:04:39,889 --> 00:04:43,490 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 81 00:04:43,490 --> 00:04:46,290 "As for two, he has been granted them, 82 00:04:46,290 --> 00:04:50,579 and I hope he has been granted the third." 83 00:04:50,579 --> 00:04:52,579 This is a magnificent hadith, 84 00:04:52,579 --> 00:04:58,980 demonstrating the great virtue and abundant reward for worship and prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque, 85 00:04:58,980 --> 00:05:04,980 and that this supplication coming from the Prophet-King Sulayman, whose prayers were answered, 86 00:05:04,980 --> 00:05:11,379 serves as an additional merit and further honor and distinction for this place. 87 00:05:11,379 --> 00:05:19,300 The hadith points to an important historical era in the history of this ancient mosque, 88 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:24,899 when Sulayman, peace be upon him, renovated and restored its structure, 89 00:05:24,899 --> 00:05:30,500 as has been known and practiced from antiquity to this very day. 90 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:38,899 Kings and leaders continue to care for the construction, renovation, and restoration of important holy sites, 91 00:05:38,899 --> 00:05:42,500 such as the Sacred Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, and Al-Aqsa, 92 00:05:42,500 --> 00:05:45,699 to prepare the atmosphere and secure them, 93 00:05:45,699 --> 00:05:50,500 and for these places to appear in their most beautiful attire and finest view, 94 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:57,089 to achieve a spiritual atmosphere in which reward and recompense are sought from Allah. 95 00:05:57,089 --> 00:05:59,089 Ibn Taymiyyah said: 96 00:05:59,089 --> 00:06:05,490 "For this reason, Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, would come to it and pray there, 97 00:06:05,490 --> 00:06:07,889 and he would not even drink water there, 98 00:06:07,889 --> 00:06:11,490 so that he might attain the supplication of Sulayman, peace be upon him," 99 00:06:11,490 --> 00:06:15,490 due to the phrase "intending only to pray in it," 100 00:06:15,490 --> 00:06:19,920 for this requires sincerity of intention in traveling to it, 101 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,920 and that one does not come for a worldly purpose or an innovation. 102 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:28,509 From Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 103 00:06:28,509 --> 00:06:32,910 "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 104 00:06:32,910 --> 00:06:36,509 'There is no i'tikaf (seclusion for worship) except in the three mosques: 105 00:06:36,509 --> 00:06:38,509 the Sacred Mosque, 106 00:06:38,509 --> 00:06:42,110 the Mosque of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 107 00:06:42,110 --> 00:06:44,910 and the Mosque of Bayt al-Maqdis.'" 108 00:06:45,379 --> 00:06:51,009 I'tikaf is standing, remaining, persevering, and residing in worship. 109 00:06:51,009 --> 00:06:57,009 This adds a new virtue and another merit to the previous ones, 110 00:06:57,009 --> 00:07:01,810 such as praying in it, praying towards it before the change of the Qiblah, 111 00:07:01,810 --> 00:07:06,209 visiting it, and staying in it to draw near to Allah. 112 00:07:06,209 --> 00:07:11,810 All this diversity adds further virtue and honor to this place, 113 00:07:11,810 --> 00:07:18,699 and encourages its maintenance through obedience and the realization of servitude to Allah, the Almighty. 114 00:07:18,699 --> 00:07:21,500 Ibn 'Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 115 00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:27,100 "If this hadith is authentic, then it refers to a complete i'tikaf," 116 00:07:27,100 --> 00:07:34,699 meaning that i'tikaf in these mosques is more complete and better than i'tikaf in other mosques, 117 00:07:34,699 --> 00:07:40,560 just as prayer in them is better than prayer in other mosques. 118 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,959 It is sufficient for this mosque in terms of virtue, sanctity, and status 119 00:07:44,959 --> 00:07:49,759 that it is the place of worship for the prophets, the prayer niche of the pious, 120 00:07:49,759 --> 00:07:55,459 the destination of the chosen, and the site of the miracles of the saints. 121 00:07:55,459 --> 00:08:03,860 “And her Lord accepted her with full acceptance and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where she was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence cometh unto thee this (food)? She answered: It is from Allah. Allah giveth without stint to whom He will.” (3:37) 122 00:08:03,860 --> 00:08:09,060 He said, "O Maryam, from where did you get this?" 123 00:08:09,060 --> 00:08:13,459 “And her Lord accepted her with full acceptance and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where she was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence cometh unto thee this (food)? She answered: It is from Allah. Allah giveth without stint to whom He will.” (3:37) 124 00:08:13,459 --> 00:08:22,779 “And her Lord accepted her with full acceptance and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where she was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence cometh unto thee this (food)? She answered: It is from Allah. Allah giveth without stint to whom He will.” (3:37) 125 00:08:22,779 --> 00:08:26,500 An excellent place of prayer. 126 00:08:26,500 --> 00:08:29,699 We are a sun that never sets. 127 00:08:29,699 --> 00:08:32,899 Should the caller summon us, we respond. 128 00:08:32,899 --> 00:08:36,100 We shall restore the truth, whole and intact. 129 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:39,299 We shall grant victory to the beloved Al-Aqsa. 130 00:08:39,700 --> 00:08:42,899 In it, the best of creation prayed. 131 00:08:42,899 --> 00:08:46,100 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 132 00:08:46,100 --> 00:08:49,299 The landing place of the Trustworthy Revelation. 133 00:08:49,299 --> 00:08:52,500 The mission site for the messengers. 134 00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:55,700 The Qiblah for the Muslims. 135 00:08:55,700 --> 00:08:58,899 The destination for the conquerors. 136 00:08:58,899 --> 00:09:02,100 In it, the best of creation prayed. 137 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:05,299 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 138 00:09:05,299 --> 00:09:09,299 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer.