In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
[In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.]
What was the first qibla for the Muslims?
The fact that Al-Aqsa Mosque was the first qibla for the Muslims
contains many profound indications and meanings,
as well as a theological dimension and a spiritual connection.
The qibla serves as a bond to unify the Ummah,
for if every person were left to face whichever direction they pleased,
people would become divided and their orientations would diverge.
Thus, in the meaning of the qibla,
there is interconnectedness, brotherhood, mutual support, and unity,
as well as a symbol of existence and strength.
Despite the hardship, persecution, and distress he encountered from the polytheists of Quraysh,
the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to pray in Makkah facing Bayt al-Maqdis,
offering two rak'ahs before sunrise and two before sunset,
just as the Almighty said:
"So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord."
“Therefor (O Muhammad) bear with what they say, and hymn the praise of thy Lord before the rising and before the setting of the sun;” (50:39)
The intended meaning of 'exaltation' (tasbih) here is prayer,
as it is one of the names for prayer.
Ibn 'Atiyyah said:
"The exegetes are in agreement that 'tasbih' here refers to prayer."
Facing Bayt al-Maqdis and establishing it as the qibla for the Muslims
is established in the Book and the authentic Sunnah.
The Almighty said:
“Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and that the messenger may be a witness against you. And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the messenger, from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is Full of Pity, Merciful toward mankind.” (2:143)
On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said:
"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to pray while he was in Makkah
toward Bayt al-Maqdis, with the Ka'bah in front of him."
After he migrated to Madinah, he continued this for sixteen months,
then he was turned toward the Ka'bah.
Ibn Ishaq, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"The qibla of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Makkah was toward the Levant (al-Sham)."
His prayer was between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone,
and he would place the Ka'bah between himself and the Levant.
When the five daily prayers were ordained on the night of the Isra',
a year and a half before the migration,
they were initially two rak'ahs each.
Then, they were increased in the first year of the migration;
the prayer for those not traveling became four rak'ahs for Dhuhr,
four for 'Asr,
and four for 'Isha',
while Maghrib remained three,
and the Fajr prayer remained two.
Despite the distance of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
and his Companions, in both time and place,
it remained their qibla for nearly fourteen years,
so that it would live in their souls and consciences as a ruling and a qibla,
and as a source of attachment and connection.
Whenever the Ummah attains greatness,
and senses the reality and status of its first qibla and its sacred sites,
it will regain its glory, honor, advancement, and leadership,
far removed from considerations of color, nationalism, language, or race,
because the bond of religion is the strongest and deepest of all bonds.
The geographical and geometric relationship in terms of direction
indicates that the percentage of deviation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque qibla
from the direction of Makkah al-Mukarramah
is approximately three percent,
which is negligible.
This means that the primary axis and the geometric method of the walls of Al-Aqsa Mosque
are oriented toward Makkah, the qibla of the Muslims,
which confirms the geographical relationship between the two sacred mosques,
and it was not a matter of coincidence or chance.
The fact that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, led
all the prophets in prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the night of the Isra',
while their collective qibla was Bayt al-Maqdis,
is a strong indication of the importance of that spot and land,
and it contains a sign that this Ummah is to assume the leadership of humanity,
starting from that mosque.
Therefore, it should not be neglected under any circumstances.
The duration that Al-Aqsa Mosque remained the first qibla for the Muslims
is sufficient to root its status in the souls and establish it in the hearts.
This calls for cooperation and the exertion of all efforts
to support it and liberate it from the clutches of the aggressor usurpers.
That is why he, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said regarding it,
in order to preserve the permanence of this status:
"And what an excellent place of prayer it is."
What an excellent place of prayer.
We are a sun that does not set.
If the caller calls, we respond.
We restore the truth intact.
We support beloved Al-Aqsa.
In it, the best of creation prayed.
It is indeed an excellent place of prayer.
The place where the trustworthy revelation descended.
The place of mission for the messengers.
A qibla for the Muslims.
A place of victory for the conquerors.
In it, the best of creation prayed.
It is indeed an excellent place of prayer.
It is indeed an excellent place of prayer.