1. The three holy places
- Mosques are the holy places of Islam; three of them are the most important: the Ka'bah (al-Masjid al-Haram), al-Masjid al-Aqsa and al-Masjid an-Nabawi.
- They are bound up with the life of the Muslim ummah.
- They take precedence over other mosques because the Prophet ﷺ named only these three as places of pilgrimage.
Spiritual status (Bukhari*)
| Mosque | One prayer = |
|---|---|
| Al-Masjid al-Haram | 100,000 prayers |
| Al-Masjid an-Nabawi | 1,000 prayers |
| Al-Masjid al-Aqsa | 500 prayers |
*The textbook gives Bukhari as the source for all three figures. The narration in Bukhari mentions the 1,000 for the Prophet's Mosque; the 100,000 and 500 figures are reported in other collections – confirm with the teacher.
2. The Ka'bah (كعبة الله)
- The house of God with the first rank in Islam; it is also the first house of God built in the world.
(3:96) – meaning: The first house set up for mankind is the one at Bakkah (Makkah) – full of blessing and guidance for the worlds.
Historical timeline
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| The beginning | Adam (AS) built it first (historical reports); there is also a common belief that the angels built it before him |
| The time of Nuh (AS) | It was destroyed by the flood and the site rose like a sand mound |
| Ibrahim (AS) | By Allah's command he brought his wife Hajar and his son Isma'il from Palestine and left them alone → Allah gave the never-failing spring of Zamzam → people settled there |
| Ibrahim's (AS) 4th visit | Ibrahim (AS) came to Makkah four times; on the fourth, father and son together rebuilt the Ka'bah |
| Ibrahim (AS) prayed for Makkah and its people (2:126) | |
| He raised the walls standing on a stone; the footprint pressed into it can still be seen today; Allah tells us to take that place as a place of prayer (2:125) – Maqam Ibrahim | |
| 440 CE | Qusayy, of the line of 'Adnan, a descendant of Isma'il (AS), took Makkah → leadership passed to the Quraysh |
| Later | 'Abd al-Muttalib, of the line of Hashim – administration of the Ka'bah; he rediscovered the well of Zamzam, which the Jurhum tribe had completely filled in before leaving; in his time came the event of Abrahah's elephant army |
| 30 years after the Year of the Elephant | The Ka'bah was rebuilt; in the Quraysh dispute over who would set the Black Stone in place, it was placed by the hand of the Prophet ﷺ, who was appointed as arbiter |
| After the hijrah | The Prophet ﷺ and the Companions prayed facing ; the Prophet longed to face the Ka'bah → |
Since the time of Ibrahim (AS) it has been the symbol of tawhid; today it is the site of the duty of hajj and the heart of the Muslim ummah.
(2:144) – meaning: (O Prophet!) We see you turning your face towards the sky; We will turn you to a qiblah that pleases you; so turn your face towards al-Masjid al-Haram.
3. Al-Masjid al-Aqsa (المسجد الأقصى)
- The Muslims' holy place in Palestine; its history is as old as the Ka'bah's.
- Most hold that Adam (AS) built it first and it fell into ruin; later Ibrahim (AS) rebuilt it.
Hadith (Bukhari) – Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (RA) – meaning: "Which mosque was built first on earth?" – "Al-Masjid al-Haram." "Then which?" – "Al-Masjid al-Aqsa." "How long between them?" – "Forty years."
- Allah made al-Aqsa and the lands around it holy land; in history these lands are part of "Sham".
- The reason for its virtue: many prophets lived and died there.
Historical timeline
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| After Ibrahim (AS) | Ishaq (AS) and Ya'qub (AS) looked after it |
| The time of Yusuf (AS) | As a result of his brothers' treachery, Ya'qub's (AS) family settled in Egypt → they lost al-Aqsa |
| Many prophets from Musa (AS) onwards tried to recover it but could not | |
| Dawud (AS) recovered it; Sulayman (AS) rebuilt and enlarged it splendidly | |
| Then many prophets taught there until 'Isa (AS) came | |
| 621 CE | The Mi'raj – the first stage was from Makkah to al-Aqsa; there he led the earlier prophets in prayer; then the meeting with Allah at Sidrat al-Muntaha; he received the prayer as a gift; al-Aqsa was the (first) qiblah |
| The journey from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Aqsa = the Isra'; the first verse of Surah al-Isra' (Bani Isra'il) mentions it. Some scholars say the Isra' took place to confirm that Palestine, the land of the prophets, now belonged to Muhammad ﷺ | |
| 632 CE | The Prophet ﷺ died; threats from the Romans and Persians; the armies sent by Abu Bakr (RA) won victories in 'Umar's (RA) time |
| 636 CE (15 AH) | The conquest of Palestine; 'Umar (RA) was invited to take charge of Jerusalem (al-Quds); an agreement with the Christians – known to this day as "the Covenant of 'Umar" |
| 'Umar (RA) cleaned a filthy area with his own hands and prayed two rak'ahs – the first person to pray there after the Prophet; the first to give the adhan was Bilal (RA); it was built to hold three thousand worshippers | |
*Dates and names as in the textbook. Historical sources usually date the arson that destroyed Nur ad-Din's minbar to 1969, and know the Mamluk sultan as Sayf ad-Din Qutuz (famous for defeating the Mongols at 'Ayn Jalut) – confirm with the teacher.
According to the textbook: the battle between the Muslims and the Dajjal – one of the major signs of the Last Day, when 'Isa (AS) will descend and kill the Dajjal – will take place in the holy land where al-Aqsa stands.
4. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (المسجد النبوي)
- It holds the second spiritual rank in Islam.
- Its history begins with the Prophet's ﷺ hijrah.
- Having reached Madinah on 27 September 622 CE, the Prophet ﷺ began the building work while staying at the house of Abu Ayyub (al-Ansari) (RA).
How it was built
- The place where the Prophet's ﷺ camel first knelt was chosen; it belonged to two orphans and was bought from them.
- The Prophet ﷺ worked hard himself alongside his Companions.
- Both sides of the entrance were of stone; the walls of stone and mud; pillars of palm trunks; a roof of palm fronds.
- At first it was 35 m long and 30 m wide, with three doors.
- On one side were rooms for the Prophet's wives; the Prophet ﷺ moved into them from Abu Ayyub's house.
- One part was for poor Companions who had no homes → Ashab as-Suffah (the people of the bench).
(9:108) – meaning: A mosque founded on God-consciousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in (to pray); in it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.
The role of al-Masjid an-Nabawi in the Prophet's ﷺ time
Not only a place of prayer, but also:
- A school (education)
- A court (judging disputes)
- A parliament (consultation on state affairs)
- A treasury (storing and distributing zakat and taxes)
- A military camp (planning, training)
- A reception hall (guests, envoys)
Expansion
- After the Battle of Khaybar: 15 m was added to its length and 20 m to its width, making 2,500 square metres.
- Later 'Umar and 'Uthman (RA), the Umayyad, Abbasid, Mamluk and Ottoman rulers, and finally King Fahd ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz of Saudi Arabia enlarged it → today it is one of the largest mosques in the world.
5. Key Arabic terms
| Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|
| كعبة الله | The Ka'bah – the House of Allah |
| أصحاب الصفة | The people of the bench (Ashab as-Suffah) |
| الإسراء | The night journey from Makkah to al-Aqsa |
| المعراج | The ascension (Mi'raj) |
| سدرة المنتهى | The Lote Tree of the Boundary in the seventh heaven – where the meeting with Allah took place |
| القضاعة / الجرهم | Arab tribes who lived in Makkah (the Jurhum filled in Zamzam) |
| الهبل | Hubal – the main idol in the Ka'bah |
| صلاح الدين | Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi |
| محمود القطز | Mahmud al-Qutuz |
| نور الدين الزنكي | Nur ad-Din Zangi |
The terms "Quda'ah" and "Hubal" appear only in the textbook's word list; the lesson does not explain them.
Quick revision
- 3 holy places: al-Masjid al-Haram (100,000), al-Masjid an-Nabawi (1,000), al-Masjid al-Aqsa (500).
- The Ka'bah: 3:96 (the first house, Bakkah); Adam → Nuh's flood → Ibrahim and Isma'il (4th visit); 2:125, 2:126; 440 CE Qusayy; 'Abd al-Muttalib – Zamzam; Year of the Elephant +30 – the Black Stone placed by the Prophet's hand; 2:144 qiblah; 8 AH conquest of Makkah.
- Al-Aqsa: 40 years after al-Haram (Bukhari); recovered by Dawud, enlarged by Sulayman; 621 CE Isra' and Mi'raj; 636 CE (15 AH) 'Umar – the Covenant of 'Umar; first adhan – Bilal; Crusades 1088–1290 – Salah ad-Din, Mahmud al-Qutuz; 1924, 1948, 1967.
- An-Nabawi: 27 Sept 622 CE; Abu Ayyub's house; land of two orphans; 35×30 m, 3 doors; Ashab as-Suffah; 9:108; after Khaybar 2,500 m²; King Fahd.