The Forty Precious Gems of Jerusalem Hadiths
Palestine: The Cherished Haven of the Prophets, Peace Be Upon Them
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), regarding the story of the passing of Moses, peace be upon him:
He said, "He asked Allah to bring him close to the Holy Land by the distance of a stone's throw."
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Were I there, I would surely show you his grave beside the road beneath the red sand dune."
Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Vocabulary of the Hadith
"Yudnihi" means: to bring him close.
"The Holy Land" is the land that Allah purified, selected, and chose.
Al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Tafsir:
"It cannot refer to anything other than the land between the Euphrates and the Arish of Egypt,
according to the consensus of all scholars of Tafsir, historical biography, and historical reports."
It was named "holy" because it is the homeland of the Prophets, the land of divine messages,
the place of their worship of Allah, and the descent of revelation.
"A stone's throw" means: the distance a thrown stone covers,
such that if someone were to throw a stone from the spot where his grave lies,
it would reach Jerusalem.
"Were I thamma" means: were I there.
"Al-Katheeb" means: a gathering or mound of sand.
Overall Meaning
After Moses (peace be upon him) and the Children of Israel with him were saved from Pharaoh and his army,
they marched to liberate Jerusalem,
but they failed him and acted cowardly.
So Allah punished them with forty years of wandering lost in the desert wilderness,
during which Aaron (peace be upon him) died.
Then the Angel of Death came to take the soul of Moses, peace be upon him.
Due to Moses' profound attachment and love for the blessed land of Palestine,
he wished to be buried close to it, on its outer edge,
after he became certain that he would not enter it as a conqueror.
Jerusalem Reflections
Encouragement to seek burial in blessed and virtuous places;
and that it is the ardent wish of the Prophets, messengers, and righteous servants of Allah.
The virtue of the Holy Land;
and that among its distinctive virtues is that it is the burial ground of the Prophets,
and the cherished haven of their hearts in life and in death.
The Prophets' vigilant protection of the sanctuary of pure monotheism (Tawhid),
and their utmost care to preserve the sanctity of Jerusalem from any polytheism or idolatry.
The Jerusalem Forty Hadiths