Holiest sites in Islam (Sunni)
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There are mainly two Holy sites in the Islāmic Sunni traditions. The Ka'bah is considered the Holiest site, followed by Masjidun Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque) as the second.
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[edit] Al-Masjid al-Haram, Mecca
[edit] Masjid-an-Nabawi, Medina
Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Arabic: المسجد النبوي, pronounced [ælˈmæsdʒidæˈnːæbæwiː]) or the Mosque of the Prophet, located in Medina, is the second holiest site in Islam.
The edifice was originally the house of Muhammad; he settled there after his flight to Medina, and later built a mosque on the grounds. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building. The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Qur'an. The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.
The original mosque was built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque. The most important feature of the site is the green dome over the center of the mosque, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. Constructed in 1817C.E. and painted green in 1839C.E., it is known as the Dome of the Prophet.[1] Early Muslim leaders Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab are buried beside Muhammad.
[edit] Masjid Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa Mosque (English: The Farthest mosque) is the general and oldest name for the compound of Islamic religious buildings in Jerusalem that includes al-Aqsa congregation mosque and the Dome of the Rock. It is considered by some Sunnis as the third holiest site in Islam.[citation needed] The term Al-Aqsa Mosque was coined in the Quran:
| “ | Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant (Muhammad) for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things). | „ |
Al-Aqsa Mosque is sacred because the first of the two Qiblas (Arabic: اولى القبلتين) was Jerusalem.[2][3] In Islamic tradition, Al-Aqsa is said to be the second Masjid (Arabic: ثاني المسجدين). The mosque is also the third of the two holy Sanctuaries (Arabic: ثالث الحرمين), under Islamic Law.[4]
Although there were no mosques in Jerusalem at the time the Qur'an was written, soon after Palestine was conquered by the Muslim under Umar a temporary mosque was built on the Temple Mount area. The current Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque were first built by the famous caliph Abd al-Malik during the later Umayyad period.[5] This same area was called at later Islamic periods as the Noble Sanctuary.[6][7][8] It is believed by many to be the area from where Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven,[9] although other theories claim it had been from a mosque in Medina, Jir'ana or Kufa.[10][11][12]
Although most political references to the Al Aqsa Mosque date from the 12th century or later due to its occupation by the Crusades, others claim that the mosque's position in Islam is firmly grounded in a number of hadith dating from the birth of Islam.[13]
In terms of the virtue of a religious site, and the value of prayers performed within it, Muslims believe that the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third most virtuous mosque based on a Hadith narrated by the companion Abu al-Dardaa. Despite the fact that there was neither the Masjid al-Aqsa nor any other mosque was built in Jerusalem in Muhammad's lifetime, Abu al-Dardaa records him saying "the Prophet of Allah Muhammad said a prayer in the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) is worth 100,000 prayers; a prayer in my mosque (in Medina) is worth 1,000 prayers; and a prayer in al-Masjid al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem) is worth 500 prayers more than in any other mosque. See also Sahih al-Bukhari 2:21:288.
[edit] Masjid Quba
The Quba Mosque (Quba' Masjid or Masjid Quba, Arabic: مسجد قباء) just outside Medina, Saudi Arabia, is the first Islamic mosque ever built. Its first stones were positioned by Muhammad on his emigration from the city of Mecca to Medina and the mosque was completed by his companions. Muhammad spent more than 20 nights in this mosque (after migrating) praying qasr (a short prayer) while waiting for Ali whose house was behind this mosque. Muhammad used to go there, riding or on foot, every Saturday and offer a two rak'ah prayer. He advised others to do the same, saying, "Whoever makes ablutions at home and then goes and prays in the Mosque of Quba, he will have a reward like that of an 'Umrah." This hadith is reported by Ahmad, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and Al-Hakim.
The prophet Muhammad laid the foundation stone, frequented the mosque and prayed there. This is referred to in a number of hadith::Narrated by 'Abdullah bin Dinar:::Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet used to go to the Mosque of Quba every Saturday (sometimes) walking and (sometimes) riding." 'Abdullah (Ibn 'Umar) used to do the same. Vol 2, Book 21, Number 284 Sahih Bukhari.[citation needed]
[edit] Hira
Hira is a cave near Mecca, on the mountain named Jabal Al-Nūr in the Hejaz region of present day Saudi Arabia. It is notable for being the location where Muslims believe Muhammad received his first revelations from God (Allah) through the angel Jibreel, also known as Gabriel to Christains[14].
[edit] Mount Sinai
Muslims also consider the depression below Mount Sinai, known as "Tuwa", to be sacred as mentioned in the Qur'an as the "Holy Valley" (الوادي المقدس):
| “ | " Has not there come to you the story of Moses? How his Lord called him in the the holy valley of Tuwa " - (Qur'an 79:15-16) | ” |
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Encyclopedia of the orient
- ^ Lindsay, James (2005). Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World. Greenwood Press. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0313322708.
- ^ Wendy Doninger, consulting ed., ed (1999-09-01). Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster. p. 70. ISBN 0-877-79044-2., reviewed on Google books
- ^ A Muslim Iconoclast (Ibn Taymiyyeh) on the "Merits" of Jerusalem and Palestine Charles D. Matthews Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 56, No. 1 (Mar., 1936), pp. 1-21
- ^ The Seattle Times: Two Peoples, One Land
- ^ Oleg Grabar, THE HARAM AL-SHARIF: AN ESSAY IN INTERPRETATION, BRIIFS vol. 2 no 2 (Autumn 2000) [1]
- ^ Palestinian Encyclopedia Volume 4, pp. 203
- ^ Palestinian Encyclopedia Volume 3, pp. 23
- ^ BBC News | MIDDLE EAST | Eyewitness: Inside al-Aqsa
- ^ MEMRI: Special Dispatch Series - No. 564
- ^ al-Waqidi, Kitab al-Maghazi 9th century (Oxford UP, 1966, vol. 3, p. 958-9). Jirana, which Muhammad visited in 630, is about ten miles from Mecca.
- ^ http://www.biu.ac.il/JS/rennert/history_8.html
- ^ Hashimi, Sohail H; various coauthors (2003-05-07). "Political Boundaries and Moral Communities: Islamic Perspectives". in Allen E. Buchannan, Margaret Moore, eds. States, Nations and Borders: the ethics of making boundaries. Cambridge University Press. pp. 192–193. ISBN 0-521-52575-6., reviewed on Google books
- ^ http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch1s7.html
[edit] References
- Aghaie, Kamran Scot (2004). The Martyrs of Karbala: Shi'i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0295984481
- Majlisi, Mohammad Baqer. Bihar al-Anwar V.97.(In Arabic)
- Shimoni, Yaacov & Levine, Evyatar (1974). Political Dictionary of the Middle East in the 20th Century. Quadrangle/New York Times Book Co.
- Zabeth, Hyder Reza (1999). Landmarks of Mashhad. Alhoda UK. ISBN 9644442210.
