WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most 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 the caller calls, we respond. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:14.000 We restore the stolen right. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.000 We support the beloved Al-Aqsa. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:20.000 In it is the best of creation, may peace be upon him. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:28.030 An excellent place of prayer. 00:00:28.030 --> 00:00:34.259 What is the greatest kingdom in history? 00:00:34.259 --> 00:00:39.759 And where was its seat? 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.759 To answer this question, 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:46.820 we must point to a point of utmost importance: 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:48.820 that the city of Jerusalem 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:52.820 is an ancient and significant city throughout history. 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:55.820 Chronologically, its roots run deep, 00:00:55.820 --> 00:00:58.820 dating back to the civilization of the Canaanite Arabs. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:02.820 Geographically, it connects the continents of the world. 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:06.819 For this reason, it was subject to raids, destruction, and burning 00:01:06.819 --> 00:01:08.819 more than any other place. 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:11.019 The city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt 00:01:11.019 --> 00:01:15.019 more than eighteen times throughout history. 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:19.049 And every time the usurper and the aggressor departs, 00:01:19.049 --> 00:01:22.049 the city remains standing and firm, 00:01:22.049 --> 00:01:26.049 more firmly rooted than ever before. 00:01:26.049 --> 00:01:30.049 However, we must pause at a golden era, 00:01:30.049 --> 00:01:34.049 a period that was one of the most magnificent times for that land, 00:01:34.049 --> 00:01:37.049 when the greatest kingdom was established upon it 00:01:37.049 --> 00:01:40.269 to realize servitude to Allah and monotheism. 00:01:40.269 --> 00:01:44.269 Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his book, 00:01:44.269 --> 00:01:48.340 *Al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wa al-Umam* (The Systematic History of Kings and Nations): 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:52.340 "We have narrated in a hadith from Mujahid that he said: 00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:55.340 'Four individuals ruled the earth: 00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:57.340 two believers and two disbelievers. 00:01:57.340 --> 00:01:59.340 As for the two believers, 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:02.340 they are Sulayman ibn Dawud (peace be upon them both) 00:02:02.340 --> 00:02:04.340 and Dhu al-Qarnayn. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:06.340 As for the two disbelievers, 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:09.400 they are Nebuchadnezzar and Nimrod.'" 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:13.400 To visualize the greatness of this powerful and magnificent kingdom 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:18.400 which Sulayman (peace be upon him) established in Palestine, 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:21.400 let us look at how Allah the Almighty described 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:24.400 this state from its very inception. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:26.750 The Almighty said: 00:02:26.750 --> 00:02:29.750 ﴾And Sulayman inherited Dawud.﴿ 00:02:29.750 --> 00:02:32.750 “And Solomon was David's heir. And he said: O mankind! Lo! we have been taught the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) of all things. This surely is evident favour.” (27:16) 00:02:32.750 --> 00:02:35.750 ﴾We have been taught the language of birds.﴿ 00:02:35.750 --> 00:02:39.750 “And Solomon was David's heir. And he said: O mankind! Lo! we have been taught the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) of all things. This surely is evident favour.” (27:16) 00:02:39.750 --> 00:02:44.750 ﴾Indeed, this is the clear bounty.﴿ 00:02:44.750 --> 00:02:49.199 Sulayman inherited Dawud (peace be upon them both) 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:52.199 in knowledge, kingship, and prophethood. 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:56.199 He bore the responsibility and fulfilled his servitude to Allah. 00:02:56.199 --> 00:02:59.229 ﴾And We gave to Dawud, Sulayman.﴿ 00:02:59.229 --> 00:03:03.330 ﴾An excellent servant! Indeed, he was one who frequently returned [to Allah].﴿ 00:03:03.330 --> 00:03:05.330 It was a caliphate of faith, 00:03:05.330 --> 00:03:07.330 a powerful state, 00:03:07.330 --> 00:03:10.330 and a complete kingdom. 00:03:10.330 --> 00:03:15.330 He preserved it, strengthened it, and expanded its borders, 00:03:15.330 --> 00:03:17.330 incorporating other regions into it. 00:03:17.330 --> 00:03:20.330 He implemented the law of Allah within it, 00:03:20.330 --> 00:03:22.330 brought happiness to the people, 00:03:22.330 --> 00:03:25.330 and led them on the path of Allah’s pleasure. 00:03:25.330 --> 00:03:27.580 How magnificent is this kingdom 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:30.580 that combined religion and worldly life, 00:03:30.580 --> 00:03:34.580 servitude to Allah, authority, and the power of kingship! 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:38.650 For the Lord of Might, the Almighty, shows us 00:03:38.650 --> 00:03:42.650 a situation and a scene of that Prophet, King, and righteous servant, 00:03:42.650 --> 00:03:44.650 and successful leader. 00:03:44.650 --> 00:03:46.780 The Almighty said: 00:03:46.780 --> 00:03:52.129 ﴾And We gave to Dawud, Sulayman.﴿ 00:03:52.129 --> 00:03:57.129 ﴾An excellent servant! Indeed, he was one who frequently returned [to Allah].﴿ 00:03:57.129 --> 00:04:02.129 “When there were shown to him at eventide lightfooted coursers” (38:31) 00:04:02.129 --> 00:04:08.129 “And he said: Lo! I have preferred the good things (of the world) to the remembrance of my Lord; till they were taken out of sight behind the curtain.” (38:32) 00:04:08.129 --> 00:04:12.129 until it vanished from sight. 00:04:12.129 --> 00:04:14.129 "Bring them back to me." 00:04:14.129 --> 00:04:19.129 “(Then he said): Bring them back to me, and fell to slashing (with his sword their) legs and necks.” (38:33) 00:04:19.129 --> 00:04:22.129 ﴾And We certainly tried Sulayman.﴿ 00:04:22.129 --> 00:04:26.129 “And verily We tried Solomon, and set upon his throne a (mere) body. Then did he repent.” (38:34) 00:04:26.129 --> 00:04:28.129 ﴾Then he turned [to Allah].﴿ 00:04:28.129 --> 00:04:32.129 “He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.” (38:35) 00:04:32.129 --> 00:04:37.129 “He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.” (38:35) 00:04:37.129 --> 00:04:42.129 ﴾Indeed, You are the Bestower.﴿ 00:04:42.129 --> 00:04:45.579 So Allah answered his prayer, 00:04:45.579 --> 00:04:48.579 as in the hadith of Abdullah ibn Umar, 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:53.579 that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 00:04:53.579 --> 00:04:57.579 "When Sulayman ibn Dawud (peace be upon them both) 00:04:57.579 --> 00:04:59.579 finished building Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), 00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:01.579 he asked Allah for three things: 00:05:01.579 --> 00:05:05.579 among them, a kingdom that would not be granted to anyone after him— 00:05:05.579 --> 00:05:07.579 meaning, anyone other than him— 00:05:07.579 --> 00:05:09.610 and it was granted to him." 00:05:09.610 --> 00:05:12.610 And how magnificent a structure is the Al-Aqsa Mosque, 00:05:12.610 --> 00:05:16.610 existing under the shadow of this great and powerful kingdom! 00:05:17.610 --> 00:05:21.800 Therefore, when an ifrit (demon) from the jinn escaped 00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:24.800 to our Prophet (peace be upon him) 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:26.800 to interrupt his prayer, 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:27.800 he was able to overpower him, 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:30.800 and he wanted to tie him to a pillar of the mosque 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:32.800 so that the Companions could see him, 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:35.800 but he remembered the prayer of Sulayman (peace be upon him): 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:39.959 “He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.” (38:35) 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:44.959 “He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.” (38:35) 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:50.959 ﴾Indeed, You are the Bestower.﴿ 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:53.629 The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 00:05:53.629 --> 00:05:56.629 "So I sent him away, humiliated." 00:05:56.629 --> 00:06:03.269 Then Allah the Almighty explained a portion of the miracles of Sulayman (peace be upon him) 00:06:03.269 --> 00:06:06.269 and the nature of that great kingdom, 00:06:06.269 --> 00:06:09.269 such as the subjection of the wind and the devils: 00:06:09.269 --> 00:06:12.269 some of them building whatever he desired, 00:06:12.269 --> 00:06:14.269 and others diving for him, 00:06:14.269 --> 00:06:17.269 extracting pearls and ornaments. 00:06:17.269 --> 00:06:20.269 And whoever disobeyed and deviated from his command, 00:06:20.269 --> 00:06:23.269 his fate was imprisonment and chains. 00:06:23.269 --> 00:06:25.430 The Almighty said: 00:06:25.430 --> 00:06:33.430 “So We made the wind subservient unto him, setting fair by his command whithersoever he intended.” (38:36) 00:06:33.430 --> 00:06:40.430 “And the unruly, every builder and diver (made We subservient),” (38:37) 00:06:40.430 --> 00:06:45.430 “And others linked together in chains,” (38:38) 00:06:45.430 --> 00:06:52.430 ﴾This is Our gift, so grant or withhold without account.﴿ 00:06:52.430 --> 00:07:01.069 ﴾And indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.﴿ 00:07:01.069 --> 00:07:06.069 If we want a further visualization of the greatness of that kingdom, 00:07:06.069 --> 00:07:11.069 let us contemplate the nature of the army and the soldiers of Sulayman (peace be upon him), 00:07:21.389 --> 00:07:27.939 with precision and order, where no one moved ahead of another. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:33.939 And the observer of the method and nature of travel to and from that great kingdom 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:35.939 finds a wondrous matter, 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:39.939 a divine power and a providential care. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:50.000 “And unto Solomon (We subdued) the wind in its raging. It set by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are Aware.” (21:81) 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:56.000 “And unto Solomon (We subdued) the wind in its raging. It set by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are Aware.” (21:81) 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:00.350 If he wanted to speed up the journey, it moved like a storm. 00:08:00.350 --> 00:08:04.350 If he wanted gentleness, it moved softly. 00:08:05.350 --> 00:08:12.350 The context implies that it was subject to the will of Sulayman (peace be upon him). 00:08:12.350 --> 00:08:18.639 And one who contemplates deeply the story of Sulayman (peace be upon him) and his inspection of the hoopoe, 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:22.639 and then the beautiful dialogue that took place between them, 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:25.639 and how the Queen of Sheba indicated 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:31.639 through her intelligence, wisdom, and discernment, the greatness of this king through his letter... 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:39.769 “(The Queen of Sheba) said (when she received the letter): O chieftains! Lo! there hath been thrown unto me a noble letter.” (27:29) 00:08:39.769 --> 00:08:48.769 “Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful;” (27:30) 00:08:48.769 --> 00:08:54.769 “Exalt not yourselves against me, but come unto me as those who surrender.” (27:31) 00:08:54.769 --> 00:09:03.250 The result was that Bilqis and those with her among the kings, princes, and the army entered the religion of Islam, 00:09:03.250 --> 00:09:07.250 because they saw the greatness and majesty of the kingdom, 00:09:07.250 --> 00:09:11.250 along with truthfulness, reverence, wisdom, and good conduct, 00:09:11.250 --> 00:09:14.250 and they submitted to his authority and his rule. 00:09:14.250 --> 00:09:24.409 “It was said unto her: Enter the hall. And when she saw it she deemed it a pool and bared her legs. (Solomon) said: Lo! it is a hall, made smooth, of glass. She said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged myself, and I surrender with Solomon unto Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.” (27:44) 00:09:24.409 --> 00:09:28.399 An excellent place of prayer. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:31.399 We are a sun that never sets. 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:34.399 If the caller calls, we respond. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.399 We restore the right, intact. 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:40.399 We support the beloved Al-Aqsa. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:44.399 In it is the best of creation, may peace be upon him. 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:47.399 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:50.399 The landing place of the trustworthy revelation. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:53.399 The place of mission for the messengers. 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:56.399 The qibla for the Muslims. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:59.399 The destination for the conquerors. 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:02.399 In it is the best of creation, may peace be upon him. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.399 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer. 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:08.399 It is indeed an excellent place of prayer.