Misconceptions about Palestine, Jerusalem and Masjid Al Aqsa.

We have heard read and watched countless documentaries, lectures and books
regarding the issue of Palestine and Jerusalem. Despite the wide availability of
material and comments, there is quite a lot of misunderstanding and misleading
information on the issue, which prevents us from having a clear view over the
matter. I personally feel it is the duty of every Muslim to be acquainted with these
facts as part of their duties to their brothers and sisters in Islam.
Here are the top ten misconceptions 1. Temple of Solomon
This can be termed as the most sensitive point in the entire issue of Jewish claim
over Masjid Al Aqsa. But the very concept of temple of Solomon is a myth. The
Prophet Ishaq (AS) {Isaac} had originally built a Masjid at the place. Suleiman (AS)
merely reconstructed, expanded and added to its grandeur as part of an extensive
construction policy he initiated during his reign. This can be proved from the
following Hadith Abu Dharr (ra) reported that he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be on him),
"O Prophet of Allah, which Masjid was built first on earth?". The Prophet replied,
"The Sacred Masjid of Makkah". Abu Dharr again asked, "Which was next?". The
Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said "The Masjid Al Aqsa". "How long was
the period between them?" Abu Dharr asked. The Prophet (peace and blessings be
on him) said "Forty years. Apart from these, offer your prayers anywhere when it is
time to pray, although excellence is in praying in these Masajids". (Sahih al Bukhari)
The Jews have therefore no claim over the place as it was there before the concept
or progeny of Bani Israel had even developed. ( Bani Israel came into existence as
children of Yaqub (AS) (Jacob) who himself was the son of Ishaq (AS) (Isaac).
2. The first Qiblah
Many Muslims believe that the Masjid Al Aqsa was the Qiblah or direction for prayer
before Kabah (Makkah) was given the status. The concept has actually developed
due to the common phrase "Qiblatul Awwal" (First Qibah") used for Masjid Al Aqsa.
It was designated as the direction of prayer after the migration of Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) to Al-Madina for a total period of 16 or 17 months, most probably
as a test from Allah. (though Allah knows best). Prior to this temporary change, the
Qiblah was Makkah and Masjid Al Haram as is today. In fact, according to most
narrations, prior to the migration, the Muslims used to pray in a direction that used
to face both the Kabah and Al Aqsa. ( It was possible in Makkah due to the
geographic location of the cities).

3. Sanctity for Jews

The modern media and literature mentions time and again, Jerusalem, as a holy
place for all the three Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity and Islam). This has
led to the international community adopt a misleading view of the scenario.
The truth of the matter, is in fact far from it. When the Romans occupied the city
and destroyed the then present Masjid on the location, it was left unattended by the
Romans, the subsequent Christians and the Jews of the region for several hundred
years. So neglected was the place that it was used as a dumping ground for the
adjoining city of Jerusalem. It was only during the time of Caliph Omar (RA) that the
garbage was removed and the placed cleaned and returned to its former glory.
4. The Jewish Qiblah Even before the construction of Masjid Al Aqsa ( or the supposedly temple of
Solomon) by Suleiman (AS) the direction of prayer for the Israelites was the Kabah
or Makkah. To put it in simple words, Makkah and the Kabah was the first Qiblah
even for them.
5. Expulsion of Jews One of the most notable yet unmentioned points is that the Jews were not allowed
for about 600-700 years to visit, reside or even trade in the region of Jerusalem.
This ban was enforced by the Romans and Byzantines rigorously and without any
exception for centuries until the time of Caliph Omar (RA). In fact, one of the key
terms of the negotiation that the Christian leaders of Jerusalem kept before Omar
before handing over the city was to keep the ban on Jews intact. It was the
compassion of Caliph Omar that he rejected the complete ban and allowed the Jews
to visit the region as part of their pilgrimage. He kept the ban preventing the Jews
from acquiring property in the region so as to keep the aspirations of the residing
Christians intact.
6.The issue of Palestine is political On the modern and recent "secular" views, thanks to modern media is that the issue
of Masjid Al Aqsa shouldn't be considered as religious for Muslims as it doesn't have
a significant mention the Quran or Hadeeth.
This, sadly is a very grave error on part of the Muslims and the ulema. There are
countless Ahadeeth stating the importance of the region and the Masjid in specific.
The most notable Ayah from the Qur'an is from Surah Isra *( BANI ISRAEL ) Ayah 1.

Glory be to Him who took His slave on a journey by night from the Masjid al-Haram
to the Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, in order to show him
some of Our Signs. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (Surah al-Isra: 1)
The Ayat clearly mentions Masjid Al Aqsa, by name, and further adds that the place
has been blessed by Allah. This undoubtedly proves two significant points,

There was a Masjid present in Jerusalem even before the Muslim occupation
of the city.
The region of the masjid and its surroundings have been blessed y Allah, and
hence have a significance in Islam.

There are at least 5 other Ahadeeth further emphasizing its importance, which I
shall mention at the end of the article In Sha Allah.
8 Israeli occupation Many Muslims, now in the hope for peace and stability of the region, appeal to the
masses, to respect the Balfourd Declaration of 1917, which led to the development
of the Jewish state of Israel over Arab soil. What these people fail to realize is that
Masjid Al Aqsa and the city of Jerusalem were chartered as an international region
by the declaration of 1917. It was after the Arab Israel war in 1967, which ensued
for 6 days, that Israel annexed the city of Jerusalem from neighboring Jordan ( along
with Sinai and Gaza from Egypt, Golan heights from Syria etc) and immediately
exercised complete autonomy over the region, in violation of several international
and humanitarian laws. These actions have been condemned even by the
international community and the UNO (resolution 478).
Therefore, the original state of Israel created by the British never accounted for
Jerusalem as an integral part. It has been an illegal occupation in violation of their
original treaty.
9. Islam Jewish war
Looking at the modern scenario, one develops the false notion that Muslims and
Jews must have been engulfed in countless wars throughout the centuries, with
each side asserting its dominance over the other. On the contrary, there hasn't been
a single instance in the last 14 centuries of Muslim history that either of them have
ruled over a state or country belonging to the other. With the exception of a few
major battles and skirmishes in the region of Hejaz ( modern day Saudi Arabia) in
the early years of Islam, there hasn't been a direct confrontation between the two
for the last 1400 years. The modern day war and armed conflict of the two has been
the result of unfair and unwanted intrusion of the international community in
support of Zionist policies.

10. Jewish persecution The notion and idea of Jewish persecution over the past few centuries (especially
during the world war 2 and holocaust) has been the major driving force for the
acceptance of Jewish occupation of Palestine in the eyes of international community.
Without even going into the debate regarding the validity of these claims, any
student of history with even a cursory knowledge of the topic, will conclude
undoubtedly that Jewish persecution has NEVER EVER occurred at the hands of
Muslim rulers or societies. Not even a single ruler or Caliph can be held responsible
for even the slightest of persecution of their community.
In their entire history, Bani Israel has faced persecution from Pharaoh ( Firaun ),
Nebuchednassir (Nabuq Al Nasr), the pagan Romans, Christian monarchs who
followed the Romans, the crusaders and supposedly, Adolf Hitler. None of these
above mentioned tyrants has even remotely to do anything with Islam. In fact
almost all of them have been directly or indirectly deemed as tyrants and enemies
of Islam by scholars unanimously.
If anyone should be held accountable for crimes perpetrated against this
community, it must be the modern day European nations, whose hands are deep in
the Jewish blood.