The Strong Connection Between Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Holy Kaaba is the House of Allah — may Allah increase its honor, exaltation, and reverence, its goodness and majesty. Al-Aqsa Mosque has also been honored and exalted by Allah Almighty. The relationship between them is one of honor, exaltation, and reverence. In the Hadith of Ibn Omar: "Indeed, the best of places are the mosques," and while all mosques share a general goodness, the Kaaba and Al-Aqsa Mosque share a special excellence. They are among the three greatest mosques on Earth. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Journeys are not undertaken except to three mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Mecca), the Mosque of the Messenger (peace be upon him) (in Medina), and Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem)."

The Quranic Connection

Allah Almighty established a strong connection between them in the Holy Quran, saying:

" Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.”  (Al-Isra: 1).

Allah Almighty brought the two mosques together in the journey of Al-Isra and Al-Mi'raj for our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In this blessed journey, our Prophet (peace be upon him) prepared himself from the Kaaba, then passed through Al-Aqsa Mosque, and from there ascended to meet Allah Almighty above the seven heavens. Thus, the relationship between the two Houses is that they were the last places our Prophet (peace be upon him) visited before his ascension.

The Connection of Construction and Sanctity

There is a connection even in the construction of the two Houses, as they were the first two houses built for people on Earth. Allah Almighty said:

“Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah (Mecca) - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.” (Al-Imran: 96).

This was followed by the construction of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Abu Dharr said: "I asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, which mosque was built first?' He said, 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram.' I asked, 'Then which?' He said, 'Then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.' I asked, 'How much time was between them?' He said, 'Forty years.'"

Scholars then explained that the angels built them, or it was said Adam (peace be upon him), or it was said Abraham (peace be upon him). The point is that they were built at close times, and whoever built the Kaaba also built Al-Aqsa Mosque, thus establishing a strong connection between them even in their construction. As for their sanctity, there is much to say. Abu Dharr narrated: "We discussed, while we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which was better: the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) or the mosque of Jerusalem. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Prayer in this mosque of mine is better than four prayers in it, and what an excellent place of prayer it is. And soon it will be that a man will not have a space as small as his horse's tether from the earth where he can see Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) but it will be better for him than the whole world – or he said: better than the world and what is in it.”

The Prophet Prays Towards Both

One aspect of this strong connection is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed towards both; meaning, he made them his Qiblah (direction of prayer). In Mecca, he prayed towards Jerusalem with the Kaaba in front of him. When he migrated, he was commanded to pray towards Jerusalem until he later turned to face the Kaaba. Al-Bara' ibn Azib narrated: "When the Prophet (peace be upon him) first arrived in Medina, he stayed with his ancestors, or he said his maternal uncles from the Ansar. He prayed facing Jerusalem for sixteen or seventeen months. He loved to have his Qiblah towards the Kaaba. The first prayer he prayed facing the Kaaba was the Asr (afternoon) prayer, and a group of people prayed with him. Then a man who had prayed with him left and passed by the people of a mosque who were bowing in prayer. He said: 'I bear witness by Allah that I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) facing Mecca.' So, they turned while they were in their position to face the Kaaba. The Jews and the People of the Book were pleased when he prayed towards Jerusalem. But when he turned his face towards the Kaaba, they disapproved of that." This means that among the connections between the two Houses is that prayer was valid towards them, either together or individually, until it later settled upon the Holy Kaaba in Mecca.

Abraham and Muhammad

It is well-known how strong the relationship is between Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is a relationship of father and son, rather, a relationship of prophethood, brotherhood, love, and affection between them. Moreover, our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was commanded to follow the religion of his father Abraham (peace be upon him), so they were upon one religion. Allah Almighty said:

" Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining to truth.” (An-Nahl: 123).

Look at this strong connection, and how it is reflected in the two noble Houses. Abraham (peace be upon him) migrated from Jerusalem to leave his son near the Holy Kaaba, and a second time to raise the foundations of the Holy Kaaba—that House beside which Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born. What is strange is that when he wished to meet his Lord, he did not ascend from the Holy Kaaba, but rather traveled by night to Al-Aqsa Mosque, where his father Abraham (peace be upon him) was. He met him and led him in prayer inside Al-Aqsa Mosque with a group of prophets (peace be upon them). From there, he ascended to meet his Lord, then returned to Al-Aqsa, and then came back to Mecca. What a wondrous cycle, and what a strong connection! It is a divine, concomitant relationship intended by Allah Almighty between these purified, sacred places.

Omar and Al-Aqsa Mosque

The name of the Commander of the Faithful, Omar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), is associated with the conquest of Jerusalem. It is always said: "Omar conquered it." This is because Omar understood Allah Almighty's intent behind Al-Isra and Al-Mi'raj, and he understood why the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed with the prophets in Jerusalem. Why didn't they gather for him in the Holy Kaaba, for example?!

From this understanding, he directed his armies to conquer the entirety of Sham (Greater Syria). More importantly, he went himself, an unprecedented act since he assumed leadership. He went personally to receive the keys to Jerusalem and entered himself to clean the mosque and the dome from the filth that had been thrown upon them. Then, he prayed in the mosque, signaling a new era for Al-Aqsa Mosque, as it returned to Islamic sovereignty, as it had been during the time of Abraham (peace be upon him) and the prophets after him. Al-Aqsa is neither Jewish nor Christian; rather, it is a sacred mosque for Muslims in every time and place. Its guardianship must always be for Muslims. From this, Omar placed the trust and responsibility upon the shoulders of this Ummah until the Day of Judgment.

The Muslims' Duty Towards Al-Aqsa Today

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third-holiest mosque for Muslims. Just as Muslims are protective of the Kaaba and the Prophet's Mosque (peace be upon him), they are obligated to be protective of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The fact that we were born to find it captive does not mean this is its natural state. Rather, this is a test and trial for the Ummah from Allah Almighty. Allah has tasked this Ummah not to leave an inch of its land in the hands of its enemy, nor a single captive from its children in the prisons of its enemy. How then about Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first of the two Qiblas and the third of the two mosques? This is even more worthy of liberation and purification.

This is precisely what Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi (may Allah have mercy on him) understood. When he received a message from one of the mosque's guards saying: "O King, who has overthrown the symbols of the crosses, a complaint has come to you from the Holy House. All mosques have been purified, but I remain defiled in my honor."

At this, Salahuddin rose to the religious duty and liberated it. The duty of the Ummah today is to rise with all means to liberate it. This obligation and accountability will not cease until its liberation is achieved. May Allah Almighty make us among His soldiers.