The Forty Precious Gems of Jerusalem Hadiths
Al-Aqsa Mosque: The Gateway to Forgiveness
On the authority of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"When Solomon, the son of David (peace be upon him),
built the Holy House (Bayt al-Maqdis),
he asked Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, for three things,
among which was:
that no one should come to it driven by nothing other than praying in it,
except that he emerges from his sins just as the day his mother gave birth to him."
[Narrated by al-Nasa'i and authenticated by al-Albani]
Vocabulary of the Hadith
"Built the Holy House":
Meaning, he raised the structure of al-Aqsa Mosque,
and undertook its renewal and development.
"Three things (khilal)":
Khilal means qualities,
requests, traits,
or immense needs.
"Driven by nothing other than praying in it":
Meaning, nothing prompted him to come to it except the intention of praying therein.
"Except that he emerges from his sins just as the day his mother gave birth to him":
Meaning, all his sins are forgiven,
and he is cleansed of them entirely, without a trace of sin remaining.
Overall Meaning
Solomon (peace be upon him)
ruled the greatest kingdom in history from Bayt al-Maqdis,
and his life was filled with monumental achievements,
among which was building, raising, and renewing the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque.
When he completed the construction,
he asked Allah to forgive the sins of whoever prays in al-Aqsa Mosque,
sincerely seeking His Noble Face.
Jerusalem Reflections
The architectural and devotional care for al-Aqsa Mosque
is an established Sunnah throughout the lives of the Messengers, their followers,
and the righteous rulers.
The attachment and yearning for Bayt al-Maqdis
remains firmly rooted in the hearts of the Ummah,
for the divine promise of forgiveness for whoever journeys to it endures.
In this lies a clear refutation of Jewish claims regarding the building of the Temple,
for Solomon (peace be upon him) built a mosque dedicated to the worship of Allah,
not a temple for their corrupted aims.
The Forty Jerusalem Hadiths