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Omar expelled them.....as demanded by the Christians.....

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<Significance of Al Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem to the World Muslims>:

Masjid al Aqsa or the Farthest Mosque is the third Holiest Shrine in Islam. 

First one is Masjid Al Haraam (the Sacred Mosque) in Makkah City and the second one is Masjid Al Nabavi (the Prophet’s Mosque) in Madina City, in Saudi Arabia.

It is the First Qibla of Muslims (Qibla is the direction in which muslims all over the world must have to face to while praying to the Only One God of all-Almighty Allah).

Masjid Al Aqsa was the Qibla in the early part of Final Prophet Muhammad’s Islamic Mission until that position was accorded to the Holy Ka’ba (built by Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham 4,000 years before) by Almighty God Allah by a Divine Command (which is in the Holy Qur-an) in the second year of the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Makkah to Madina in 623/624 AD.

It is also associated with the Mairaj (Celestial Ascension) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).  He led the congregational prayer of all the Prophets (peace be upon them all) who had gathered by the Leave of Allah in the Bait Al Maqdis Mosque (in Jerusalem)  which is as mentioned before, the first Qibla of Muslims.  As you know already, Prophet Muhammad was given the title of the Leader of all Prophets of God and thus God made this special arrangement, which is not out of His Power, for Muhammad to lead a special prayer at the Masjid Al Aqsa on the night of this Holy Ascension on the invitation of Allah Himself.

The following saying of the Final Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) signifies the sacred status of the Al Aqsa Mosque, Masjid-Un-Nabi and the Sacred Mosque where Kaba is in Makkah,  which is accorded by God Himself:

“Praying once in Al Aqsa Mosque is equal to praying 50,000 times, and praying once in My Mosque is also equal to praying 50,000 times but praying once in the Sacred Mosque is equal to praying 100,000 times" (Hadith collection of Ibn Majah- or  Book of the Traditions of Final Prophet Muhammad- compiled by Ibn Majah).

Masjid Al Aqsa (Al Aqsa Mosque) is situated in Jerusalem, the Holy City is also called Bait Al Muqaddas or the Sanctified House or the House of Sanctuary and in short Al Quds as well. 

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 Therefore because of all the above-mentioned reasons, one can easily note, how important Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque are to Muslims all over the world. 

In 638 A.D [after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in 632 AD], Muslim Army marched towards Jerusalem and they besieged it.  Finally, the city was taken over by them, during the Caliphate of Syedina Omar (the Second Caliph or Islamic Ruler) at Madina-the Seat of Power of World Islamic State those days.  

When the Muslims besieged the holy city, the Christians agreed to peace and reconciliation and to hand it over to the Muslims on the condition that Omar himself sign the treaty of reconciliation.  When Omar, who was in Madina (the Capital of Universal Islamic State established by Prophet Muhammad) at that time, was informed about this,  he agreed to the terms and left for Jerusalem, leaving the affairs of the state in the hands of Syedina Ali (who became the fourth Caliph of World Islamic Community and was also the son- in- law of  Holy Prophet Muhammad).  Omar had to travel 900 KM from Madina to Jerusalem or Bait Al Muqaddas city on camel to perform this great act,  which will be remembered in History for ever.

Steven Runciman writes in his History of the Crusades: “… the Caliph Omar entered  Jerusalem, riding upon a white camel.  He was dressed in worn, filthy robes and the army that followed him was rough and unkempt; but its discipline was perfect. At his side was Patriarch Sophronius, as chief Magistrate of the surrendered city.  Omar rode straight to the site of the …..
(Al Aqsa Mosque) whence his friend Mohammad (peace be upon him) had ascended into Heaven.

“Next, the Caliph asked to see the shrines of the Christians.  The Patriarch took him to the church of Holy Sepulchre and showed all that was there.  While they were in the Church,  the hour for the prayer approached. The Caliph asked where he could spread out his prayer- rug.  Sophronius begged him to stay where he was;  but Omar went outside to the Porch of the Martyrion, for fear, he said, lest his zealous followers might claim for Islam, the place wherein he had prayed. And so indeed it was.  The Porch was taken over by the Muslims, but the Church remained….

“This was according to the terms of the city’s surrender.  The Prophet himself had ordained that… the Christians… should be allowed to retain their places of worship and to use them without hindrance….”

Omar handed over a treaty of reconciliation to the Christians of the City which guaranteed the protection of their lives and property and the freedom to practice their Religion.  Under the terms of this  treaty and as demanded by the Christians, Omar expelled the Jews from Jerusalem.

Later, Muslims reconstructed Al Aqsa Mosque.  Jerusalem remained in the hands of Muslims for 461 years until it fell to the Crusaders in 1097.  But 90 years later, on October 2, 1187, the Holy City was retaken by the Muslims under the Command of Sultan Salahuddin Yousuf Ayyubi (a Kurdish Muslim General).  It remained in the hands of the Muslims until the newly created state Israel occupied it about 30 years ago.  The Holy  City of Jerusalem is calling for another struggle to recoup it – with Salahuddin’s spirit and in Omar’s Tradition.

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