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The
word Al-Quds, as mentioned in the authoriative Arab Dictionary,
Lisanul-Arab (Arab
Tongue) under the stem Quds means glorification of Allah. He is Al-Mutaqaddis (The one
attaining sancity); Al-Quddus
(The Most glorified) and Al-Muqaddas (The sanctified). In
Quran angles adress
Allah saying (While we glorify three and sanctify three).
Consequently the word
Al-Quds City means linguistically, the purified township elevated
over defects and
shortcomings.
Al-Quds is an
inseparable part of the Islamic faith. In the opening of the Sura
(chapter) of
Isra'a Allah says: -
"Glory to (Allah)
"Who did take the
servant.
For a Journey by night.
From the sacred Mosque
(of Mecca).
To the Farthest Mosque.
Whose Precincts* we
did.
Bless, in order that we
Might shoro him some
Of Gur Signs. For he
(Allah)
Is the one who hearth
And sees (All things)
Precincts refer to
blessed land of Jerusalem or may be Palestine or the hole
of Syria
Baitul-Maqdis (The House
of sanctity) was built by apostles and by them worship was
started thereat. There
is not the smallest plot on which no prophet or angle stood for
prayers. With these
words did Ibnul-Faqeeh of the 3rd cent. AH sum up the
Islamic view to
the first of two Qiblas
and the third of the three greatest Muslim mosques.
To the Aqsa Mosque was
the nocturnal journey of Prophet Mohammed (Al-Isra) and from
Al-Quds started his
ascension to heaven. The prophet's traditions include great
encouragement for
Muslims to visit the Aqsa Mosque. In praise of the sanctity of
farthest
Mosque (Al-Aqsa) there
are so many great pieces of literature. On journeys to Aqsa books
and famous travelling
accounts were written. To Aqsa came Caliphs beginning with
second great Calif Umar
(Al-Farouq) then followed successions of Caliphs, kings, learned
Men, and worshippers all
seeking the blessings of the Holy Place.
The Muslims well kept
their religious inheritance in Al-Quds. Their princes and rulers
competed in building
monuments and architectural signs of their devotion to the Holy
City.
From the glorious ages
of Islam there stand in Al-Quds schools, mosques, charitable
buildings, so many Waqf
houses and shops whose income went to charity. I this way the
City became a vast
collection of magnificent buildings bearing signs of a most advanced
civilization. In this
the City indeed represents a capital of Islamic civilization.
From the book
:"Islamic Sites in Palestine. Raif Najm.
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