WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.919 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:04.049 --> 00:00:07.330 We are a sun that never sets. 00:00:07.330 --> 00:00:10.449 Should the caller summon us, we respond. 00:00:10.449 --> 00:00:13.890 We shall restore the truth, whole and intact. 00:00:13.890 --> 00:00:16.929 We shall grant victory to the beloved Al-Aqsa. 00:00:16.929 --> 00:00:20.289 In it, the best of creation prayed. 00:00:20.289 --> 00:00:23.329 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:00:23.329 --> 00:00:26.050 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:00:26.050 --> 00:00:31.440 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:35.840 What is the reward for prayer in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque? 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:41.060 By divine wisdom, 00:00:41.060 --> 00:00:43.859 Allah, glory be to Him and Exalted is He, has singled out 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:46.659 and favored certain places over others. 00:00:46.659 --> 00:00:50.259 He chose them for worship and the realization of Tawhid (monotheism), 00:00:50.259 --> 00:00:53.060 magnified their reward, elevated their status, 00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:55.060 and raised their standing. 00:00:55.060 --> 00:00:57.890 Among the greatest of these are the three mosques, 00:00:57.890 --> 00:01:00.289 the inseparable siblings, 00:01:00.289 --> 00:01:03.490 linked historically, doctrinally, 00:01:03.490 --> 00:01:07.890 spiritually, and emotionally to one another: 00:01:07.890 --> 00:01:09.890 the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Haram), 00:01:09.890 --> 00:01:11.890 the Prophet’s Mosque, 00:01:11.890 --> 00:01:13.980 and Al-Aqsa Mosque. 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:16.780 For it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:01:16.780 --> 00:01:20.379 that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:24.780 "Do not undertake a journey to visit any mosques, but three: 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:26.780 the Sacred Mosque, 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:30.780 the Mosque of the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:32.939 and Al-Aqsa Mosque." 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:37.340 This hadith contains a general encouragement to travel and set out 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:41.340 for the purpose of worship and drawing near to Allah, the Almighty, 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:44.140 in these noble sites, 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:47.340 due to their unique status, 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:50.939 and the honor bestowed upon them by Allah, the Almighty. 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. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:59.840 It is narrated from Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.640 "We were discussing while in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.239 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, which is better: 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:10.240 the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:12.639 or the Mosque of Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem)?" 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:16.639 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, replied: 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:19.439 "One prayer in this mosque of mine 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.240 is better than four prayers in it, 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.639 and what an excellent place of prayer it is! 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, 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.039 from which he can see Bayt al-Maqdis, 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:36.240 and that will be better for him than the entire world," 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.699 or he said, "better than the world and all that is in it." 00:02:40.699 --> 00:02:44.699 Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding this hadith: 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:49.569 "It is the most authentic report concerning the virtue of prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque." 00:02:49.569 --> 00:02:52.770 Since a prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque 00:02:52.770 --> 00:02:55.569 is equal to a thousand prayers elsewhere, 00:02:55.569 --> 00:02:58.370 then a prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque 00:02:58.370 --> 00:03:01.969 is equal to two hundred and fifty prayers elsewhere, 00:03:01.969 --> 00:03:05.969 excluding the Sacred Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. 00:03:05.969 --> 00:03:09.169 This is a great virtue and a massive reward, 00:03:09.169 --> 00:03:14.770 that the rak'ah and the prayer therein are multiplied two hundred and fifty times, 00:03:14.770 --> 00:03:18.000 encompassing both obligatory and voluntary prayers. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:22.400 And so that no one might think that this differentiation in the reward of prayer 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:25.599 in terms of number between the three mosques 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:28.800 diminishes the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:32.000 the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said thereafter: 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.400 "And what an excellent place of prayer it is!" 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:39.419 to clarify its status and rank in Islamic law. 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:44.620 The superiority of the mosque is derived from the superiority of the location. 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: 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:51.819 "And what an excellent place of prayer it is!" 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:57.419 It contains praise and commendation, highlighting the importance of prayer and worship therein, 00:03:57.419 --> 00:04:00.219 and that the living, faithful souls 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:03.419 remain longing for that place, 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:07.860 no matter how circumstances change or conditions fluctuate. 00:04:07.860 --> 00:04:11.860 From 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with them both, 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:16.660 from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he said: 00:04:16.660 --> 00:04:21.459 "When Sulayman Ibn Dawud (Solomon, son of David) finished building Bayt al-Maqdis, 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:23.860 he asked Allah for three things: 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:26.259 a judgment that coincides with His judgment, 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:30.259 a kingdom the likes of which no one would have after him, 00:04:30.259 --> 00:04:35.459 and that no one should come to this mosque intending only to pray in it 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:39.889 without emerging from his sins like the day his mother gave birth to him." 00:04:39.889 --> 00:04:43.490 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:04:43.490 --> 00:04:46.290 "As for two, he has been granted them, 00:04:46.290 --> 00:04:50.579 and I hope he has been granted the third." 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:52.579 This is a magnificent hadith, 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:58.980 demonstrating the great virtue and abundant reward for worship and prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque, 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:04.980 and that this supplication coming from the Prophet-King Sulayman, whose prayers were answered, 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:11.379 serves as an additional merit and further honor and distinction for this place. 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:19.300 The hadith points to an important historical era in the history of this ancient mosque, 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:24.899 when Sulayman, peace be upon him, renovated and restored its structure, 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:30.500 as has been known and practiced from antiquity to this very day. 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:38.899 Kings and leaders continue to care for the construction, renovation, and restoration of important holy sites, 00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:42.500 such as the Sacred Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, and Al-Aqsa, 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:45.699 to prepare the atmosphere and secure them, 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:50.500 and for these places to appear in their most beautiful attire and finest view, 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:57.089 to achieve a spiritual atmosphere in which reward and recompense are sought from Allah. 00:05:57.089 --> 00:05:59.089 Ibn Taymiyyah said: 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, 00:06:05.490 --> 00:06:07.889 and he would not even drink water there, 00:06:07.889 --> 00:06:11.490 so that he might attain the supplication of Sulayman, peace be upon him," 00:06:11.490 --> 00:06:15.490 due to the phrase "intending only to pray in it," 00:06:15.490 --> 00:06:19.920 for this requires sincerity of intention in traveling to it, 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:23.920 and that one does not come for a worldly purpose or an innovation. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:28.509 From Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:06:28.509 --> 00:06:32.910 "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:06:32.910 --> 00:06:36.509 'There is no i'tikaf (seclusion for worship) except in the three mosques: 00:06:36.509 --> 00:06:38.509 the Sacred Mosque, 00:06:38.509 --> 00:06:42.110 the Mosque of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:42.110 --> 00:06:44.910 and the Mosque of Bayt al-Maqdis.'" 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:51.009 I'tikaf is standing, remaining, persevering, and residing in worship. 00:06:51.009 --> 00:06:57.009 This adds a new virtue and another merit to the previous ones, 00:06:57.009 --> 00:07:01.810 such as praying in it, praying towards it before the change of the Qiblah, 00:07:01.810 --> 00:07:06.209 visiting it, and staying in it to draw near to Allah. 00:07:06.209 --> 00:07:11.810 All this diversity adds further virtue and honor to this place, 00:07:11.810 --> 00:07:18.699 and encourages its maintenance through obedience and the realization of servitude to Allah, the Almighty. 00:07:18.699 --> 00:07:21.500 Ibn 'Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:27.100 "If this hadith is authentic, then it refers to a complete i'tikaf," 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, 00:07:34.699 --> 00:07:40.560 just as prayer in them is better than prayer in other mosques. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:44.959 It is sufficient for this mosque in terms of virtue, sanctity, and status 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:49.759 that it is the place of worship for the prophets, the prayer niche of the pious, 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:55.459 the destination of the chosen, and the site of the miracles of the saints. 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) 00:08:03.860 --> 00:08:09.060 He said, "O Maryam, from where did you get this?" 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) 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) 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:26.500 An excellent place of prayer. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:29.699 We are a sun that never sets. 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:32.899 Should the caller summon us, we respond. 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:36.100 We shall restore the truth, whole and intact. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:39.299 We shall grant victory to the beloved Al-Aqsa. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:42.899 In it, the best of creation prayed. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:46.100 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:49.299 The landing place of the Trustworthy Revelation. 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:52.500 The mission site for the messengers. 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:55.700 The Qiblah for the Muslims. 00:08:55.700 --> 00:08:58.899 The destination for the conquerors. 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:02.100 In it, the best of creation prayed. 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:05.299 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:09.299 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer.