WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.919 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:04.049 --> 00:00:07.389 We are a sun that never sets. 00:00:07.389 --> 00:00:10.449 If the caller calls, we answer. 00:00:10.449 --> 00:00:13.890 We shall restore the stolen right. 00:00:13.890 --> 00:00:16.890 We shall grant victory to the beloved Al-Aqsa. 00:00:16.890 --> 00:00:20.289 In it, the best of creation prayed. 00:00:20.289 --> 00:00:23.449 Truly, it is the most excellent place of prayer. 00:00:23.449 --> 00:00:28.280 Truly, it is the most excellent place of prayer. 00:00:31.309 --> 00:00:35.189 Why speak of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque? 00:00:35.189 --> 00:00:40.240 Before we begin these reflections, 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:45.240 and the various important, detailed truths they contain, 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:50.240 we must provide a comprehensive answer to a very important question 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:52.240 that may come to mind 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:59.240 as a result of the fluctuations, challenges, and disturbances the Ummah is experiencing, 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:02.240 which have reflected upon our societal culture, 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.239 causing constants to become variables, 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:08.239 and matters of consensus to become points of disagreement. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:13.620 Thus, the scales have been overturned and priorities have been delayed. 00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:15.620 The question that may arise, 00:01:15.620 --> 00:01:19.620 and which requires a satisfying answer, 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:25.069 is: Why do we speak of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque? 00:01:25.069 --> 00:01:27.069 In response to this question, 00:01:27.069 --> 00:01:30.260 we say, and with Allah is all success: 00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:32.260 Al-Aqsa Mosque 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:35.260 was chosen by Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, 00:01:35.260 --> 00:01:37.260 who selected it and singled it out, 00:01:37.260 --> 00:01:39.260 honoring and ennobling it, 00:01:39.260 --> 00:01:42.260 making it a blessed mosque, 00:01:42.260 --> 00:01:46.260 a pure spot, and a holy land, 00:01:46.260 --> 00:01:51.260 just as He honored Makkah and Madinah above all other places, 00:01:51.260 --> 00:01:55.260 by divine wisdom and heavenly grace. 00:01:55.260 --> 00:01:59.299 “Thy Lord bringeth to pass what He willeth and chooseth. They have never any choice. Glorified be Allah and Exalted above all that they associate (with Him)!” (28:68) 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:03.030 Why speak of Al-Aqsa? 00:02:03.030 --> 00:02:06.159 Because Al-Aqsa is a matter of creed and faith, 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:09.159 of religion and legitimate allegiance. 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:12.159 It is the first qibla for the Muslims, 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:15.159 the second mosque established on earth, 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:19.159 and the third of the mosques to which journeys are undertaken. 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:24.159 It is one of the four mosques that the Antichrist (Al-Masih Al-Dajjal) will not enter. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.479 We speak of Al-Aqsa 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:30.479 because there is an intent to erase its mention, 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:35.479 to wipe it from memory, conscience, minds, and thoughts, 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:41.509 and to uproot the love for it, the attachment to it, and the legitimate connection with it, 00:02:41.509 --> 00:02:44.509 until it becomes a thing forgotten. 00:02:44.509 --> 00:02:47.990 Al-Aqsa Mosque and Bayt Al-Maqdis 00:02:47.990 --> 00:02:49.990 are the land of the prophets. 00:02:49.990 --> 00:02:51.990 There is not a single span of ground in it 00:02:51.990 --> 00:02:54.990 where a sent prophet has not prayed, 00:02:54.990 --> 00:02:57.990 or where a close angel has not stood. 00:02:57.990 --> 00:03:01.090 Palestine is the cradle of the prophets, 00:03:01.090 --> 00:03:04.090 from the time of Ibrahim, peace be upon him. 00:03:04.090 --> 00:03:06.090 Their graves are there, 00:03:06.090 --> 00:03:09.090 as are their pulpits and their places of worship. 00:03:09.090 --> 00:03:12.090 It is the cradle of messages and the landing place of revelation. 00:03:12.090 --> 00:03:18.090 It is the refuge, the shelter, and the place of migration for the prophets who were harmed by their people. 00:03:18.090 --> 00:03:23.090 The father of the prophets, Ibrahim, peace be upon him, migrated to it, 00:03:24.090 --> 00:03:28.090 as did the Prophet of Allah, Lut, peace be upon him, from Iraq. 00:03:28.090 --> 00:03:33.090 Likewise, Musa, peace be upon him, headed toward it, coming from Egypt. 00:03:33.090 --> 00:03:35.659 Al-Aqsa 00:03:35.659 --> 00:03:38.659 is the destination of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:41.659 and his place of ascension to the highest heavens. 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:44.659 In it, the rewards for prayers are multiplied, 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:48.659 and it is hoped that whoever comes to it, intending nothing but prayer therein, 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:52.659 will emerge from his sins as on the day his mother bore him. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:58.659 In it, our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, led all the prophets in prayer. 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:01.659 It is blessed, as is its surrounding area. 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:03.860 The land of Bayt Al-Maqdis 00:04:03.860 --> 00:04:05.860 is the goal of the conquerors, 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:07.860 the place of ribat (stationing) for the mujahidin, 00:04:07.860 --> 00:04:10.860 the abode of the Victorious Sect, 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:14.860 and the place of faith when tribulations appear. 00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:17.860 It is the land of the Gathering and the Resurrection. 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:21.860 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave glad tidings of its conquest. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:25.860 In it, the conflict between truth and falsehood will be decided, 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:28.860 and the Antichrist will be killed. 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:32.269 Why speak of Al-Aqsa? 00:04:32.269 --> 00:04:37.300 Because it is the pure, holy, and blessed land, 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:39.300 the land of miracles. 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:42.370 As Ibrahim grew old, 00:04:42.370 --> 00:04:45.370 he was given glad tidings of Isma'il, peace be upon them both, 00:04:45.370 --> 00:04:49.370 and glad tidings of Ishaq and Ya'qub, peace be upon them both, 00:04:50.370 --> 00:04:53.370 even though his wife was elderly and barren. 00:04:53.370 --> 00:04:57.370 There was the miracle of the shirt of Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:04:57.370 --> 00:05:00.370 which restored the sight of Ya'qub, peace be upon him, 00:05:00.370 --> 00:05:04.370 one of the most dazzling miracles on the land of Palestine. 00:05:04.370 --> 00:05:08.500 The beginning of Allah speaking to Musa, peace be upon him, 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:10.500 and his prophethood and mission, 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:13.500 originated from the Holy Land. 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:17.500 Then came the numerous miracles among the Children of Israel, 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:22.500 and the miracle of the sun being held back for Yusha' ibn Nun, peace be upon him, 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:25.500 during the conquest of Bayt Al-Maqdis, 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:31.500 an event that occurred only once in history. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:34.589 As for Dawud, peace be upon him, 00:05:34.589 --> 00:05:38.589 he had several miracles in Bayt Al-Maqdis, 00:05:38.589 --> 00:05:41.589 from the birds and mountains glorifying Allah with him, 00:05:41.589 --> 00:05:43.589 while people watched, 00:05:44.589 --> 00:05:48.589 to the softening of iron and his support through revelation. 00:05:48.589 --> 00:05:50.589 And Sulayman, peace be upon him, 00:05:50.589 --> 00:05:56.589 to whom Allah gave a great kingdom such as He gave to no one else, 00:05:56.589 --> 00:05:58.589 Allah taught him the language of the birds, 00:05:58.589 --> 00:06:04.589 and subjected the jinn and the wind to him, its morning journey taking a month and its evening journey a month, 00:06:04.589 --> 00:06:07.589 and the bringing of the throne of Bilqis. 00:06:07.589 --> 00:06:10.589 And his miracle at the time of his death. 00:06:10.589 --> 00:06:13.589 There, Zakariyya was given glad tidings of Yahya, 00:06:13.589 --> 00:06:16.589 and 'Isa, peace be upon him, was born through a miracle, 00:06:16.589 --> 00:06:19.589 and spoke in the cradle as an infant. 00:06:19.589 --> 00:06:22.589 The table spread with food descended upon him from the sky, 00:06:22.589 --> 00:06:26.589 and he was raised to the heavens from Bayt Al-Maqdis. 00:06:26.589 --> 00:06:30.589 He will descend and kill the Antichrist at the end of time, 00:06:30.589 --> 00:06:36.009 and Allah will destroy Gog and Magog in Palestine. 00:06:36.009 --> 00:06:40.139 Why speak of Al-Aqsa Mosque? 00:06:40.139 --> 00:06:46.139 Because it lived and dwelt in the conscience of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:46.139 --> 00:06:49.139 to the point that he gave glad tidings of its conquest and said of it: 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:52.420 "What an excellent place of prayer." 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:55.519 Why speak of Al-Aqsa? 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:00.519 Because its relationship is firm, deep-rooted, 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:05.519 strong, and historically ancient with the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram). 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:10.519 From the very beginning, the covenant and the bond have been very great, 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:15.519 then reaching its peak with the miracle of the Isra' and Mi'raj, 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.519 to give birth to a third mosque for them, 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:22.519 increasing them in joy, splendor, and light. 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:26.519 May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon its dweller. 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.519 What an excellent place of prayer. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:32.519 We are a sun that never sets. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:35.519 If the caller calls, we answer. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:38.519 We shall restore the right, intact. 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:41.519 We shall grant victory to the beloved Al-Aqsa. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:45.519 In it, the best of creation prayed. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.519 Truly, it is the most excellent place of prayer. 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:51.519 The landing place of the Trustworthy Revelation, 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:54.519 the place of mission for the messengers, 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:57.519 the qibla for the Muslims, 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:01.519 the goal of the conquerors. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:04.519 In it, the best of creation prayed. 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:07.519 Truly, it is the most excellent place of prayer. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:10.519 Truly, it is the most excellent place of prayer.