The Holy Land Of Palestine
The Significance of Palestine in Islam. Palestine, the holy land, why it is so importent to us?
Palestine was the birthplace of many Prophets including Hazrat Ibrahim, Ishaq, Dawud, Yaqub, Sulayman, Zakariya, Yahya, Isa and other companions like Irmiya, Maryam, Samuil, Talut, Uzair and Yusha. Palestine is the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, Jerusalem represents the heart of three world religions: a holy place for Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
How blessed is that? It’s the city of the Sahaba. They are walking on the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and the most blessed generation in the history of the world. So Madinah, every handspan, a Sahabi has set foot, and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has set his foot there. Ibn Abbas says about al-Quds, Jerusalem, he says that there is not a single handspan, except that a Prophet of Allah or an angel has stood there and prostrated or prayed before Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. You cannot step in a place in Jerusalem, except that a Nabi of Allah, a Prophet of Allah was once there. You cannot set your foot in a single place in al-Madinah, except that a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was once there.
The blessed land of Palestine holds many virtues, it was beloved to Muhammad, the last Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Palestine was the site of the miraculous night journey of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It’s clearly mentioned in holy Quran:
Surah al-Israa, chapter 17 Verse 1: “Exalted is He, who took His Servant by night from Masjid Al- Haram to Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings we have blessed, to show him our signs.
Jerusalem is Islam’s third holiest location. It is home to one of the Sacred Masjid in Islam, the Masjid al-Aqsa. Masjid Al-Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam. It was the first Qibla for Muslims. It also houses the Dome of the Rock, from which the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) ascended to heaven on this miraculous night journey. It’s clearly mentioned in
Surah al-Israa, chapter 17 Verse 1: “Exalted is He, who took His Servant by night from Masjid Al- Haram to Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings we have blessed, to show him our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
The al-Haram al-Sharif, also known as the Noble Sanctuary, is revered by both Jews and Muslims as the site where God intervened to save the Prophet Ibrahim from sacrificing his son Ismail (or Isaac to Christians and Jews).
Allah has named it the Holy Land and the Blessed Land” in the Quran. It’s mentioned in
Surah Al- Ma’idah ( 5:21 ): “O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you and do not turn back (from fighting in Allah’s cause ) for then you will be returned as losers.”
During the Roman Empire, the village of Bethlehem in Jerusalem witnessed the birth of Jesus Christ (Isa), an Islamic prophet. In his hometowns of Nazareth and Galilee, Jesus stressed the significance of worshiping one God.
It is the land where Isa (AS ) will defeat Dajjal, the anti-Christ as its narrated in Mu’adh ibn Jabal:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The flourishing state of Jerusalem will be when Yathrib is in ruins, the ruined state of Yathrib will be when the great war comes, the outbreak of the great war will be at the conquest of Constantinople and the conquest of Constantinople when the Dajjal (Antichrist) comes forth.
As mentioned in the Hadith:
The son of Maryam will kill the Dajjaal at the gates of Ludd.” (Sahih Muslim)
Ludd (Lod) is a place near Bayt al-Maqdis.
Palestine is part of the greater Shaam region, which was praised by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Zaid Ibn Thabit narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Tuba for Al-Shaam, Tuba for Al-Shaam”, the companions repleid “And what for Oh Messenger?”. He ﷺ said “The Angels have spread their wings over Al-Shaam”. (At-Tirmidhi)
