In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Brother, first of all, we’d like to say that we are impressed by your question, which emanates from a thoughtful heart. May Allah Almighty help us all adhere to the principles of this true religion, Islam, and enable us to be among the dwellers of Paradise in the Hereafter, Ameen.

At the time when the advocates of civilization are calling for maintaining the heritage of nations, we see the Jews causing mischief on earth with the intention of destroying civilization and obliterating culture. The most obvious example of this mischief is the arson of Al-Aqsa mosque. This mosque represents a great religious landmark for all religions and especially for Muslims. That is why we Muslims, must rise up to save this sacred mosque and that blessed land. Everyone should do his utmost to save our sacred heritage and defend our sacred lands.

The Palestinian Scholars League - Jerusalem, issued a statement some time ago on the occasion of the arson of Al-Aqsa mosque, which included the following:

On Thursday morning, August 21 1969, Al-Aqsa mosque faced an incendiary planned operation which aimed at wiping it out to pave the way for erecting a Jewish Temple in its place. They want to do so to fulfill the claims of some Jewish sects which allege that there was a temple in the place of the mosque three thousand years ago. Thus, the people of Jerusalem and its legal owners rose up to extinguish the flames of Zionistic rancor and apartheid that reached their blessed mosque which represents one of the most sacred places of Muslims in Palestine and all over the world. The people from Jerusalem who love Al-Aqsa mosque and from all over Palestine succeeded in extinguishing the fire. Furthermore, the Israeli fire department was near the mosque at that time but neglected the incident and did not arrive except after fire brigades had arrived from Hebron, Bethlehem and other cities of occupied Palestine. Those brigades were intentionally hindered by the Israeli occupation forces.

The fire destroyed the most beautiful pulpit in the world, that is, the pulpit of Saladin, along with a great part of Al-Aqsa mosque which was completely burnt. The ceiling was pierced and some of the walls were ruined. However, worshippers, who have been maintaining it throughout its history, exerted themselves to repair what was destroyed and maintain it with Prayer. Al-Aqsa mosque is still suffering from the attacks of radical Zionist gangs such as Garshon Solomon which is financially supported by the Israeli government and its institutions. Not a single week passes without Al-Aqsa mosque facing the attacks of those radicals. Excavations made under Al-Aqsa are among the crimes committed against it, and they have led to the disastrous accident of the famous tunnel in which more than hundred people were martyred. Among these planned crimes are hostile demonstrations which take place in the occupied area of the Buraq in preparation of penetrating Al-Aqsa mosque. These violations are in fact parts of a series of actions which aim at usurping Al-Aqsa mosque and erecting the Jewish Temple.

The Palestinian Scholars League inside and outside Palestine, along with all noble institutions, warn Zionist radicals and their followers from any action that may cause any harm to the sanctity of this mosque. The Palestinian Scholars League also holds Israeli officials responsible for the consequences of any harm that might happen to the mosque. Al-Aqsa mosque represents the core of Muslims’ creed and thus they will not allow any aggression against it whatever this may cost. Everything is cheap compared to the safety of Al-Aqsa mosque, even one’s property and family.

The Palestinian Scholars League appeal to Muslim and Arab presidents, and all peace-loving and law-abiding authorities not to assume a passive attitude with regard to this problem. As for us, we will spare no effort in defending Al-Aqsa to prevent any harm that might afflict it, and we will stand firm until our last breath or our last drop of blood and Allah is witness to what we say. Allah Almighty says, (…Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty) (Al-Hajj 22: 40).

I would like to thank the questioner for his good spirit for Al-Aqsa Mosque which is the first qiblah (direction of the Ka`bah) and the third Muslim sanctuary after the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina. Furthermore, Al-Aqsa is closely connected to the Muslim Creed. It has been mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah blessed it and its entire neighborhood. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Muslims to preserve their sanctities, their Creed and their land. Any negligence toward Al-Aqsa is considered negligence toward the creed and religion. Thus, Muslims must regard Al-Aqsa as an emblem of their unity, just as it has been an emblem of the unity of the entire Islamic nation since the beginning of creation. It was the place where all the prophets gathered and were led in prayer by the Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, it is every Muslim’s symbol. Allah says, (Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam) (Al `Imran 3: 19). Therefore, no doubt that any Muslim who acts negligently toward his religion, his creed, and Al-Aqsa shall be asked by his Lord on a day when neither wealth nor progeny will avail. Each Muslim individual should serve Al-Aqsa according to his capacity. The housewife should teach her children about Al-Aqsa and how great is its status, and the teacher should implant love for Al-Aqsa in the hearts of his students. Every individual in society must condemn each endeavor that aims at forsaking or damaging it.

In the context of speaking about Al-Aqsa, it is worth mentioning that Jerusalem and the blessed land surrounding it, share the same status as the mosque, for Allah Almighty says, (Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far Distant Place of Worship the neighborhood whereof We have blessed) (Al-Israa’ 17: 1). The blessed neighborhood comprises all the Levant (Ash-Sham) area. Some scholars even say that the blessed land is all the land from the Nile river to the Euphrates river.