In a mosque, Muslims get to know their Lord and learn the teachings of their Religion. There, they recognize the best way for applying such teachings; and there, prayers and other kinds of worships and devotional services are performed. Without mosques, unity of Muslims will be disrupted, for caprices and desires will disunite them. Therefore, as soon as the Prophet (PBUH) arrived at Medina, the first abode of Islam, he hastened to build a mosque in order to be the first pillar for establishing Islamic Community.

It was narrated that Tamim Ad-Dari - one of the Prophet’s Companions - brought back with him from Damascus some lamps, oil, and ropes to Medina.  As soon as he arrived in Medina - it was a Friday - he ordered his servant to bind the ropes,  hang the lamps down, fill them with oil, and put wicks in them. When it was sunset, he ordered the servant to lighten them. When the Prophet (PBUH) went to the mosque, he saw them lit; so he asked: “Who has done this?” they said: “O Messenger of Allah! It is Tamim Ad-Dari.” He said: “You have provided Islam with light! May Allah provide you with His Light in the present world and the Hereafter. If I had a daughter, I would let you marry her.” One of the Holy Prophet’s Companions, Nawfal Ibn Al-Harith, said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have a daughter, whose name is Al-Mughira, so do with her whatever you want.” The Holy Prophet joined her with Tamim in marriage.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only the abode of Abraham, the place of worship of all Prophets and wherefrom the Prophet (PBUH) ascended into heavens in his night journey and ascension, but also the mosque which Allah mentioned in His Holy Quran, the first direction towards which Muslims turned their faces in prayer, the second mosque of Islam and the third holy sacrosanct mosque. One should not travel to a mosque, other than the Sacrosanct Mosque in Mecca and the Prophetic Mosque in Medina, except to Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the Prophet (PBUH) said.[1]

Al-Aqsa Mosque, around which Allah has blessed, and which became a symbol of Muslim identity, because it was towards, and from, it that the Night Journey and Ascension to the Heavens of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took place. The building of this holy mosque is now exposed to repeated encroachments by acts of excavations in and around it under the pretext of the search for the temple of Solomon!!...

It is an unsound excuse that hides hostile intentions aimed at not only destroying and removing such a prominent Islamic Symbol but transgressing against its sanctity.

It is a conspiracy which is intrigued against this holy Mosque, as Zionists wish to build their Temple on its debris. Therefore, they strive to convince the world that As-Sakhra Mosque is Al-Aqsa Mosque, in order to remove it and build their alleged temple.

As-Sakhra Mosque, which the Zionists try to convince the world that it is Al-Aqsa Mosque, is not Al-Aqsa Mosque which is mentioned in the Holy Quran. It is As-Sakhra Mosque wherefrom  the Prophet (PBUH) ascended to “the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass, where he approached and came closer and was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or even nearer and Allah conveyed the inspiration to His servant – conveyed what He meant to convey.” [LIII; 8-10]

When the Holy Quran describes Al-Aqsa Mosque as a blessed and sacred place, it makes a strong sign for the Arabs and Muslims all over the world that they are required to guard its sanctity. Whenever it is encroached upon, they have to make up with their Lord; then they have to prepare themselves to the utmost in order to release it from the grasp of invaders and bring back to memory the stories of its conquerors: Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, and Saladin Al-Ayioubi. Only then will Muslims rejoice at Allah’s victory. Allah, the Almighty,  says: “And who is more unjust than he who forbids that in places for the worship of Allah, Allah’s name should be celebrated? – whose zeal is (in fact) to ruin them? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them except in fear. For them there is nothing but disgrace in this world, and in the world to come, an exceeding torment.” [II ; 114]

Disgrace and ignominy in the present world, as well as great punishment in the Hereafter, are the penalty of those who forbid that in places for the worship of Allah, Allah’s name should be celebrated. Whereas those who establish Allah’s mosques and enlighten them by belief, their work is a distinguished sign of the soundness of their Islam, and the truthfulness of their belief. To this effect, Allah says: “The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.” [IX ; 18]

If we move to Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, which is the place of worship for Prophets, and the place where the Prophet (PBUH) went in his Night Journey; and let us go back to Friday, the seventeenth of Rajab 835 A.H. corresponding to the second of November 1187 A.D, we Will come upon a great day, when Jerusalem was conquered and released from craving invaders by Muslims under the leadership of Saladin. At that time, hearts were filled with happiness, faces became glad, people praised their Lord, flags were raised, lights were hanged, Calling to prayer was announced, The Quran was recited, worships were purified, prayers were established, supplications were held, blessings were manifested, hardships were relieved, frowning was removed, souls were pleasant, and believers were glad with Allah’s victory.

Moreover, if we recall that day, we will see the image of Muslims, including Saladin and his soldiers. They sat on the ground without any distinction between the leader and his soldiers. They showed reverence, and their movements became calm. They were chivalry in battlefield, and heartfelt friars in the mosque. The preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Judge of Damascus Mouhieddin Al-Qouraishi, went up on the pulpit and delivered a sermon; if it were delivered to the sands of  a desert, they would change into knights; and if deaf rocks heard it, they would become alive. He started his sermon with Allah’s words: “Of the wrong-doers the last remnant was cut off. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.” [VI ; 45]

Here are some paragraphs of his speech: “O people! Rejoice at Allah’s Favor, which is most sublime and paramount, for what He facilitated by your hands, that you have recovered this lost place from the straying people, and returned it to its real place in Islam, after being in the grasp of the usurper and the aggressors for nearly one hundred years, and that you have purified this place, in which Allah allowed his Name to be pronounced and invoked, from the filth of polytheism and aggression.” Then he said admonishing: “O servants of Allah! Be careful of being deceived by Satan that you think that this victory was because of your sharp swords or your good horses!...Nay, I swear by Allah that victory does not come except from Allah…Therefore, after Allah has honoured you with this great conquest, be cautious of committing sins or show disobedience to His Commands. Uphold Allah’s Religion, and He will grant you victory…Put an end to your malady, and cut off the roots of enemies.”

If we go out of the Mosque and meet one of the Franks who witnessed the conquest of Jerusalem by Muslims, he will tell us: “Muslims did not hurt anyone; they did not plunder money; they did not kill the peaceful or covenanters. Should anyone of us desire to go out, he can do so and take with him whatever he wants. We sold them what remained of our properties, and they bought them at fair prices. We go and come peacefully and without fear. We did not see of them anything except good and magnanimity. Truly they are people of good civilization.” And it was truly said: “Annals of human history have not witnessed more merciful or tolerant conquerors than Muslims.”[2]