Birthplace of Maryam (upon her be peace)

This is the Church of St. Anne, a Roman Catholic

church located near the Lions’ Gate in the

Muslim Quarter of the old city. According to

Christian sources, this church is built over the

place where Maryam (upon her be peace), the

mother of Prophet Isa (upon him be peace) was

born. The church is named after Anne (Hannah),

her mother, who lived here.

RECITING THE QURAN LIKE A SONG

It is reported that a person recited in a melodious [1] way in front of Al-A’mash. He said:

A man once recited in front of Anas [ibn Mâlik – Allâh be pleased with him] in this manner and he detested it.

Abû Bakr Al-Khallâl, Al-Amr bil-Ma’rûf wa Al-Nahî ‘an Al-Munkar, p110.

It is reported that Sâlim [b. ‘Abdillâh b. ‘Umar b. Al-Khattâb] – Allâh have mercy on him – was asked to listen to someone leading the prayer. When he heard the recitation he turned back exclaiming:

Singing! Singing!

Ibn Al-Jawzî, Al-Qussâs wa Al-Mudhakkirîn article 183.

It is reported that there was a man who used to lead the prayer in Al-Madînah. One night, he became euphoric (got carried away by emotion). [2] Al-Qâsim b. Muhammad recited:

Quran Surah Fussilat: 41,42

Verily it is a mighty and noble Book. Falsehood does not approach it, neither before it nor behind. It is a revelation from the Most Wise, Most Praiseworthy. [Al-Quran, Fussilat: 41, 42]

And he detested [the behavior of the reciter].

Ibid. article 184.

It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – was asked about reciting the Qurân with melodies,
[1] to which he replied:

This is something they took from singing.

Ibid. article 182

Ibn Dâwûd [‘Abdullâh b. Dâwûd b. ‘Âmir Al-Khuraybî] – Allâh have mercy on him – was once asked by Bishr b. Al-Hârith:

If I pass by a man reciting, should I sit and listen? He asked, “Does he become euphoric [2] (because of emotional recitation)?” Bishr replied, “Yes.” Ibn Dâwûd said, “He has shown his bid’ah, do not sit with him.”

Ibid article 186.

Hanbal reports:

Abû ‘Abdillâh (Imâm Ahmad) used to detest this innovated recitation which is called Al-Alhân (melodious, musical recitation).

Ibid. article 187.

And it is reported that Imâm Ahmad said:

“This innovated recitation which is called Al-Alhân, I detest it.” He was very strict against it. He said, “I believe it resembles singing, and the Qurân is to be preserved from this.”

Ibid. article 188.

There are numerous narrations from Imâm Ahmad about this, amongst them:

When asked about it once he said:

It is something innovated. But [to recite in a beautiful voice is fine] if it is naturally his voice, as was Abû Mûsâ [Al-Ash’arî – Allâh be pleased with him].

When asked about reciting with alhân another time, he replied:

No. [It is allowed] if that is his natural voice, like the voice of Abû Mûsâ. As for learning how to recite like this, then no.

He was asked about recitation with melodies and harmonies, to which he replied:

“It is a bid’ah.” It was said to him, ‘They gather to listen to it.” He said, “Allâhul-musta’ân (‘Allâh is the one whose aid is sought'; a statement of sorrow and disapproval.)”

Also, he said:

It is a bid’ah, not to be listened to.

‘Abdullâh b. Yazîd Al-‘Anbarî reports:

A man once asked Ahmad b. Hanbal:

“What do you say about reciting with alhân?” Abu ‘Abdillâh said, “What is your name?” The man replied, “Muhammad.” Imâm Ahmad said, “So would you like to be called Moohammad?”

Al-Khallâl, op. cit., p99+.

Imâm Mâlik – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

I do not like reciting in melodies, neither in Ramadan nor at other times, because it resembles singing, and it causes the Qurân to be laughed at. It is said ‘this person is a better reciter than that person (the Quran becomes the subject of rivalry and entertainment).

It has reached me that the slave-girls are taught to recite like this as they are taught how to sing. Do you think this was the way Allâh’s Messenger – peace and blessings be upon him – used to recite?

Al-Qayrawânî, Kitâb Al-Jâmi’ p166.

[1] Arabic: Alhân. This refers to reciting in a melodious, song-like tone. See notes.

[2] Arabic: Al-tarb. This refers to a state of emotional intensity which may bring about physical expression. See notes.

Notes

After relating some of these traditions, Ibn Al-Jawzî states:

Know that melodious musical recitation (Al-Alhân) is detested for a number of reasons, amongst others: [its reciters] merge letters that are not supposed to be merged, they extend vowels (madd) where there should be no extension, and they omit the hamzah and the doubling of consonants (tashdîd) just in order to preserve the melody. Also, this kind of recitation causes people to get emotionally carried away (al-tarb) and it distracts people from pondering the Quran. [3]

Explaining the type of recitation that is praiseworthy and the type that is detestable, Ibn Kathîr states:

What is sought in the Sharî’ah (teachings of Islam) is the type of beautification of the voice that leads to pondering the Quran and seeking to understand it, to submission, humility and compliance with the obedience [of Allah].

As for using voices with novel melodies, composed on distracting and entertaining rhythms and musical rules, then the Quran is far removed from this and is too respected and esteemed to have this approach taken in its delivery.[4]

[3] Ibn Al-Jawzî, Al-Qussâs wa Al-Mudhakkirîn p335.

[4] Ibn Kathîr, Fadâ`il Al-Qurân p198.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

This is the holiest place for Christians in

Jerusalem as it is where they believe Isa (upon

him be peace) [Jesus] was crucified. This

concept is rejected by Muslims who believe Isa

(upon him be peace) did not die but was taken

up to the heavens by Allah (Glorified and Exalted

is He) and will return towards the end of time.

Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) tells us in

the Quran in Surah Nisa: “That they said (in

boast), ‘We killed Isa, son of Mary, The

Messenger of Allah.; But they killed him not,

nor crucified him. Only a likeness of that was

shown to them. And those who differ therein

are full of doubts, with no knowledge, but only

conjecture to follow, for a surety they killed

him not. Nay, Allah raised him unto Himself,

and Allah is Exalted in Power,

Wise.” [4:157-158]

Muslims peacefully took control over the city of

Jerusalem from the Byzantines in February 638

CE. Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with

him) accepted the city’s surrender from

Sophronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. He

was shown around the church during which the

time for salat occurred. The Patriarch offered a

place for him to pray in the church and laid out

a straw mat but Umar (may Allah be pleased

with him) refused, explaining to the Patriarch,

“Had I prayed inside the church, the Muslims

coming after me would take possession of it,

saying that I had prayed in it.” Tradition has it

that he picked up a stone, threw it outside and

prayed at the spot it landed. The present

Mosque of Umar was built over this place by

Salahuddin Ayyubi’s son Afdhal Ali in 1193 CE.

The earliest known Christian church on this

site dates from before 66 CE, but the area was

levelled by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who

then raised a temple to Aphrodite here in 135

CE, following the Second Jewish Revolt. After

his conversion to Christianity, the Emperor

Constantine dispatched his mother Helena to

the Holy Land in 326 CE to establish the true

locations of Christian holy sites. Since it was

standard practice to build temples on sites

held sacred to other religions, especially

subversive ones, Hadrian’s construction of the

temple to Aphrodite here led Helena to identify

the site as the location of the supposed

crucifixion and burial.

The church is built on Golgotha, the Hill of

Cavalry where the crucifixion was to be carried

out. In the time of Isa (upon him be peace)

this site was actually outside Jerusalem’s

walls.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has long

been the subject of interdenominational

disputes. Six Christian denominations – the

Latins (Roman Catholics), Greek Orthodox,

Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox

(Jacobites), Ethiopians and Copts own

different parts of the church and there are

regular, and sometimes violent skirmishes as

each vies to maintain their territory. Repairs

are especially problematic; the restoration work

following the 1927 earthquake wasn’t

completed until 1988, after thirty years of

arguments and a further thirty years of

construction. 11 people were hospitalised in

2002 when a fire broke out after the Coptic

monk who is stationed on the roof of the

church to symbolize Coptic claims to the site

moved his chair from its agreed spot into the

shade, which was interpreted as a hostile act.

Two years later another altercation occurred

when a Franciscan chapel door was left open,

which was interpreted as a sign of disrespect

by Orthodox Christian worshippers.

None of the denominations own the main

entrance. In 1192, Salahuddin Ayyubi assigned

responsibility for it to two neighbouring Muslim

families. The Joudeh were entrusted with the

key, and the Nusseibeh, who had been the

custodians of the church since the days of

Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)

retained the position of opening the door. This

arrangement has persisted into modern times

as no Christian sect will trust the others with

the key. Every morning and evening two armed

Israeli soldiers accompany a member of the

Joudeh family, who brings the door’s great key

to a member of the Nusseibeh family, who

unlocks or locks the door. The video below

shows the church being locked.

References: Wikipedia, Palestine: Beginner’s guide

– Ismail Adam Patel, The Rough Guide to

Jerusalem, Sacred Places – Philip Carr-Gomm

Jannat is made with

Bricks of Gold and Silver.
Its cement is of perfumed Musk.
Its chips are pearls and Yaqoot.  
Its sand is Zafraan.

There are eight doors ofJannah. These are eight grades of Jannat

1.   Jannatul Mava
2.   Darul Maqaam
3.   Darul Salaam
4.   Darul Khuld
5.   Jannat-ul-Adan
6.   Jannat-ul-Naeem
7.   Jannat-ul-Kasif
8.   Jannat-ul-Firdous

Food of Jannah

They will eat foods and fruits continuously up to 40 years.
Every bowl will have a new taste.
They will take eructation which will digest the food and there will be perfumed sweating for the digestion of water.
There will be no urine and stool.

Place Name

There will be gardens in Jannah.
Every garden will have the length of about 100 year's journey.
The shadow of these gardens will be very dense.
Their plants will be free of thorns.
The size of their leaves will be equal to ears of elephants.
Their fruits will be hanging in rows.

Jannatul Mava is in the lowest,
Jannat-ul-Adan is the middle &
Jannat-ul- Firdous is on the highest.

Those who love each other for the sake of Allah will get a pillar of Yaqoot,
On which there will be seventy thousand (70,000) rooms.
These will shine for the residents of Jannah as the sun shines for the residents of Duniya.

There will be rooms in Jannah in such a way that every room will have seventy thousand (70,000) dinning sheets.
On every dinning sheet 70,000 types of foods will be served.
For their service 80,000 young boys will be moving around looking like beautiful scattered pearls.

One bunch of dates will be equal to the length of 12 arms.
The size of a date will be equal to the big pitcher.
These will be whiter than milk, sweeter than honey and softer than butter and free
Of seeds.
The stem of these plants will be made up of gold and silver.
There will also be gardens of grapes. The bunches of grapes will be very big.
The size of a single grape will be equal to a big pitcher.

Someone asked, ya Rasulullah (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam): 
will it be sufficient for me and my family. It was answered, it will be sufficient for you and your whole tribe.

The Dresses of Jannat

The dress of Jannah will be very beautiful.
One will wear 70 dresses at a time.
These will be very fine, delicate, weightless, having different colors.
These dresses will be so fine that the body even the heart will be visible.
And the waves of love in the hearts will also be visible.
These dresses will never become old, never be dirty and will never tear.

There will be four canals in every Jannah.
 
1  Water
2.   Milk
3.   Honey
4.   Sharabun Tahoora.

There will also be three fountains in  Jannah:

1.   Kafoor
2.   Zanjabeel
3.   Tasneem

Qualities of People of Jannah

In Jannah, height of every Mo 'min, will be equal to the height of

Hazrat Adam (Alaihissalaam) 60 arms (90 feet).
Beauty will be like that of Hazrat Yousuf (Alaihissalaam)
Age of youth will be like that of Hazrat Esa (Alaihissalaam) 30-33 years).
Sweetness of voice will be like that of Hazrat Dawud (Alaihissalaam).
Tolerance will be like that of Hazrat Yaqoob (Alaihissalaam)
Patience will be like that of Hazrat Ayyub (Alaihissalaam.)
Habits will be like that of Sayyaduna Muhammad (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam)

NOTE:
 
If a person makes Du'a for Jannah three times,
Jannah requests Allah that O, Allah; make his entry into Jannah.
And if a person makes Du'a for safety from Jahannum three times,
The Jahannnum requests Allah that, O, Allah; save him from Jahannum.
 
Please pass on and may Allah grant the entire Ummah of Nabi sallalahu alayhi wasallam Jannat ul Firdous Ameen!
 
Every good act is charity

JAZAK ALLAHU KHAIR-
May Allah Forgive our sins...Ameen

Crusader Cross (in the Aqsa Compound)

This is the remains of the cross on which the

Crusaders, upon conquering Jerusalem,

slaughtered thousands of the resident Muslims

on. It was broken up when Salahuddin Ayyubi

reconquered the city.

On Friday, 15th July 1099 CE, the Crusading

Europeans arrived at the gates of Jerusalem.

They began a siege, which lasted six weeks,

after which the city fell. Led by Tancred, the

Crusaders smashed there way into the Dome

of the Rock mosque and stripped it of all the

gold and silver. The Muslims fled into the other

great mosque of al-Aqsa before surrendering

and agreeing to pay a ransom to Tancred, who

proved to be very untrustworthy. The next

morning the Crusaders re-entered the al-Aqsa

mosque and slaughtered everyone. No one

knows exactly how many were butchered, but

many historians estimate that over 70,000

people died. One of the Crusaders spoke of

struggling to walk through a mass of blood

and bodies more than knee high.

The cities Jews were burned alive in their main

synagogue, where they had huddled together

for refuge.

References: Palestine: Beginner’s guide – Ismail

Adam Patel, Local guides.

Justice and Being Justly Balanced

From Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu 'anhu) who said that Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa'sallam) said:

✨Love the one whom you love to a certain degree (moderately), perhaps one day he will be someone for whom you have hatred, and hate the one for whom you have hatred to a certain degree (moderately), perhaps one day he will be one whom you love. ✨

Reported by at-Tirmidhee (no. 1997) and others by way of Suwayd ibn 'Amr al-Kalbee: Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us from Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyanee from Muhammad ibn Seereen from him. This isnaad is Saheeh (authentic) if Allaah wills.

Source : WhatsApp

Spot where Prophet Sulaiman (upon him be peace) died

This building, located at the rear end of the Aqsa

platform is believed to be the place where the

Prophet Sulaiman (upon him be peace) passed

away while standing up in prayer and leaning on

his cane.