Eesa bin Maryam (Jesus, the son of Mary) Part I

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The story of Prophet Eesa (as) is one full of miracles and blessings from before the moment this great prophet was born and will be until Eesa (as) returns to earth to live out the rest of his life and finally taste death, by Allah's decree.

The birth of Eesa (as) was miraculous as he had no father, only his mother Maryam (as).  Allah mentions in the Quran how Maryam (as) was shocked at the news when she was told by Angel Jibreel she was to have a son:

Mention in the Quran the story of Mary. She withdrew from her family to a place to the east and secluded herself away; We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a perfected man.  She said, ‘I seek the Lord of Mercy’s protection against you: if you have any fear of Him [do not approach]!’  But he said, ‘I am but a Messenger from your Lord, [come] to announce to you the gift of a pure son.’  She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me? I have not been unchaste,’ and he said, ‘This is what your Lord said: “It is easy for Me- We shall make him a sign to all people, a blessing from Us.” ’ (Surah Maryam: 16- 21)

Maryam (as) was the best woman of all creation, honoured by Allah to be the mother of Eesa (as).  The Quran says:

The angels said to Mary: ‘Mary, God has chosen you and made you pure: He has truly chosen you above all women.  Mary, be devout to your Lord, prostrate yourself in worship, bow down with those who pray.’ (Surah Al Imran: 42- 43)

  

The angels said, ‘Mary, God gives you news of a Word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, who will be held in honour in this world and the next, who will be one of those brought near to God (Surah Al Imran: 45)

So, by Allah's decree, she bore and gave birth to Eesa (as):

And so it was ordained: she conceived him. She withdrew to a distant place and, when the pains of childbirth drove her to [cling to] the trunk of a palm tree, she exclaimed, ‘I wish I had been dead and forgotten long before all this!’ but a voice cried to her from below, ‘Do not worry: your Lord has provided a stream at your feet and, if you shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, it will deliver fresh ripe dates for you, so eat, drink, be glad, and say to anyone you may see: “I have vowed to the Lord of Mercy to abstain from conversation, and I will not talk to anyone today.” ’ (Surah Maryam: 22- 26)

As Eesa (as) has no father he is known as Eesa bin Maryam, Jesus the son of Mary, whereas a person's lineage is normally ascribed from the father's side. Ibn Katheer also relates that Eesa (as) and Prophet Yahya (as) were cousins on the maternal side, the stronger opinion amongst the scholars being that the wife of Prophet Zakariyyah (as) was the sister of Maryam (as). 

Prophet Eesa (as) was therefore born in the blessed land of Ash-Sham, where he grew up and preached the message of Islam to his people, Banu Isra'il.

We Will Never Forget

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Israel does not care to remember those innocents she butchers, but all those who value human life do. 

In Audio/Video now. 

Israeli lobby manages to shut-down planned exhibition of Gaza children's drawings

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In Al Quds Today now 

Zakariyyah and Yahya (Zachariah and John)

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Prophet Zakariyyah (as) lived in Al Quds and worshipped in Masjid Al Aqsa.  He was the guardian of Maryam (as), Mary, who would later (miraculously) become the mother of Prophet Eesa (as), Jesus.

Maryam (as) was given a special chamber in Masjid Al Aqsa where she could worship Allah in seclusion. Whenever Zakariyya (as) would visit Maryam (as) in her chamber to ensure her wellbeing, he would be greeted with a surprising sight: Maryam (as) always had fresh fruits with her, fruits which were completely out of season.  Zakariyya (as) asked Maryam (as) in wonder where such fruits came from:

...Whenever Zachariah went in to see her in her sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions. He said, ‘Mary, how is it you have these provisions?’ and she said, ‘They are from God: God provides limitlessly for whoever He will.’ (Surah Al Imran: 37)

When Zakariyyah (as) saw the way in which Allah provided for Maryam (as) in ways beyond human comprehension, he supplicated to His Lord for something seemingly impossible.  Having reached old age and still childless, Zakariyyah nevertheless turned to Allah asking for good:

 There and then Zachariah prayed to his Lord, saying, ‘Lord, from Your grace grant me virtuous offspring: You hear every prayer.’ (Surah Al Imran: 38)

 
Allah answered the prayer of His noble Prophet Zakariyyah and granted him a son in old age, a son who was also chosen by Allah to be a prophet like his father before him:

The angels called out to him, while he stood praying in the sanctuary,‘God gives you news of John, confirming a Word from God. He will be noble and chaste, a prophet, one of the righteous.’ (Surah Maryam: 39)

Truly the mercies of Allah upon the blessed people of Al Quds were immense!

Rafah Border Crossing finally re-opens!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

And the Egyptians are saying it is going to be a permanent move.  Cracks are appearing in the walls of the largest open-air prison in the world.  In Al Quds Today now.

I've just realised...

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 ...that this blog is now a year old.  The first post was in March 2010 and here we are now coming towards the end of May 2011.

In that time the blog has had almost 6,000 hits, including readers from the UK, the States, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Canada, the UAE, Indonesia, Australia, Africa, Germany, Russia, Egypt, the Palestinian Territories and Israel.  Of those, the overwhelming majority are from the UK and US.  I'm not sure why Blogger thinks I would be remotely interested in which operating system readers are using, but it was nice to see that Virtues of Al Quds has made it onto someone's ipad mashaAllah :).

I pray that those of you who are reading this blog- whoever and wherever you are, however many you are and whatever each of you believes- you are benefiting from it.  And I pray that your benefiting in turn leads to benefiting Al Quds, all of Palestine and its people.  May Allah bring peace to this land and its inhabitants. Aameen.

Sulayman continued: Rebuilding Masjid Al Aqsa

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Sulayman (as) undertook a very important task during his lifetime; he rebuilt and expanded Masjid Al Aqsa.  Although the Jewish people claim that Sulayman (as) was the one to originally build the masjid, which they call ‘Solomon’s Temple’, Muslims believe he in fact rebuilt what was originally constructed before his time.

After rebuilding Masjid Al Aqsa Sulayman (as) made three special supplications to Allah.  A hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) reveals what these supplications were:

“When Solomon completed the building of Bait ul Maqdis [i.e. Masjid Al Aqsa], he asked Allah for three favours, of which he was given only two, and we hope that the third favour will be for us.  Solomon asked for judgement that could correspond to the Judgement of Allah, and Allah accepted his prayer in this request.  He also asked for a kingdom which nobody could be given after him, and this prayer was also accepted.  He also asked Allah that anyone who leaves his home only for the purpose of prayer in his mosque, all his sins may be forgiven to become like the day he was born.  We hope that this one Allah may grant it to us.” (Ahmad)

While Sulayman (as) was personally granted the acceptance of the first two of his supplications, the third dua was made for all believers who would come after him.  This is why Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said that we (Muslims) hope that this dua is fulfilled for us if we go to Masjid Al Aqsa sincerely for the purpose of praying there.

Show your Solidarity!

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New page added- get shopping!!

N.B. I'm linking to a non-profit organisation so the purpose of this page is not for me to line my pockets.  Just saying :) 

What is it like to live in Gaza?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

New documentary added to the Audio/Visual page:

Focus on Gaza: A Crime of War? 

Sulayman continued: The Kingdom of Sulayman

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As I mentioned in the last post on Sulayman (as), Allah سبحانه وتعالى blessed him with a kingdom unlike that given to anyone before him.  Part of the uniqueness of this kingdom was due to those who Allah سبحانه وتعالى subjected to the command of Sulayman (as).

One example of this lies in the remarkable workers Allah  سبحانه وتعالى  granted Sulayman (as) to construct his kingdom.  Unlike anyone before him, Sulayman (as) was given the power to have the Jinn (from among the devils) working under his command.  Allah سبحانه وتعالى  says in the Quran:

 

 

And [We subjected] the wind for Solomon. Its outward journey took a month, and its return journey likewise. We made a fountain of molten brass flow for him, and some of the jinn worked under his control with his Lord’s permission. If one of them deviated from Our command, We let him taste the suffering of the blazing flame.  They made him whatever he wanted- palaces, statues, basins as large as water troughs, fixed cauldrons. We said, ‘Work thankfully, family of David, for few of my servants are truly thankful.’ (Surah Saba': 12- 13)

And the jinn––every kind of builder and diver.  And others chained in fetters. (Surah Saad: 37- 38)

The natural work of the shayateen (devils) was to cause fitnah in the earth, but Allah سبحانه وتعالى subdued and humiliated them to be under the command of prophet Sulayman (as).  Under his control they served him in many different roles including building and construction work.  The verses from Surah Saba’ also reveal that another amazing gift given to Sulayman (as) by Allah  سبحانه وتعالى was a fountain of molten brass from which he could have objects moulded and constructed.

The Jinn did not only serve as workers under Sulayman (as), but they also formed part of his formidable army. Modern day militaries are divided into different sections such as the air force and infantry and the army of Sulayman (as) was no different.  Allah سبحانه وتعالى  describes the mighty forces granted to Sulayman (as) in the Quran:

Solomon’s hosts of jinn, men, and birds were marshalled in ordered ranks before him (Surah An-Naml: 17)

What an overwhelming sight the armies of Sulayman (as) must have been for those who beheld them, with their ranks of jinn, men and birds unified together to serve under his command!

Both the workers and soldiers put under the command of Sulayman (as) reflect that the kingdom granted to him by Allah  سبحانه وتعالى  was not only great in what it encompassed, but also who.  The Quran details one episode in the life of Sulayman (as) which serves as an example of how both the man and his forces were acknowledged by others to be supreme in the land.  The story narrates the dealings of Sulayman (as) with the people of Sheba and particularly their Queen Bilqis.  It can be read in Surah Naml of the Quran.

The last few posts have outlined some of the blessings given to Sulayman (as) by Allah سبحانه وتعالى .  In the next and final post on this noble Prophet I will cover his role in reconstructing Masjid Al Aqsa, inshaAllah.

The Names of Al Quds

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New page added.

Palestinian Holocaust Museum

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Check out the update in the Children of Al Quds page.

Resilience in the green fields of Gaza

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In Al Quds Today, now.

Next post on Prophet Sulayman (as) coming next week, inshaAllah.

A Beautiful Exception

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New  page added.

Israel's Global Unpopularity

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 In the Al Quds Today page now.

Sulayman continued: Travelling by Wind

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This post will cover one of the special blessings given to Sulayman (as).

Sulayman (as) made dua to Allah to give him a kingdom like none given to any other before him.  Allah accepted the dua of Sulayman (as) and one of the blessings granted to him was a unique and amazing quality to possess.  The Quran mentions this special ability in several places:

 He turned to Us and prayed: ‘Lord forgive me! Grant me such power as no one after me will have- You are the Most Generous Provider.’  So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed (Surah Sad: 35- 36)

  

We harnessed the stormy wind for Solomon, so that it sped by his command to the land We had blessed- We have knowledge of all things (Surah Al-Anbiya’: 81)

And [We subjected] the wind for Solomon. Its outward journey took a month, and its return journey likewise... (Surah Saba’: 12)

Sulayman (as) travelled in unique style throughout the Holy Land as Allah gave him the power to travel via the wind.  Allah gave his prophet Sulayman (as) control over the wind as far as the distance of a month so he travelled on the wind throughout his kingdom as he pleased.  It is said that Sulayman (as) took a rug and had it reinforced with wood, using this rug to travel in the wind wherever he liked and at whatever speed, due to this gift given to him by Allah.

I have not given the full translation of the last ayah I quoted in this post (Surah Saba', verse 12) as the verse covers some of the other blessings given to Sulayman (as).  InshaAllah future posts will cover these.

Mus'ad Abu Mu'attaq

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Children of Al Quds page now.

Children of Al Quds Page

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Children of Al Quds page added to the blog.
I think this page could be the breaking of my heart :(.
Allahul musta'aan.

Israeli Settlers chop down 220 Olive Trees from Palestinian Farm

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

It seems these settlers have taken heart from the US' stance on the latest UN resolution on illegal Israeli settlements.  Not only content to steal his property, the armed assailants also assaulted the Palestinian farm owner's wife.  In Al Quds Today now.

Sulayman (Solomon)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Sulayman (as) was the son of prophet Dawood (as).  He became the king and prophet of Banu Isra'il after his father.  Allah says in the Quran:

"Solomon succeeded David. He said, ‘People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given a share of everything: this is a clearly a great favour.’ " (Surah An-Naml: 16)

Like his father, Allah blessed Sulayman (as) with special favours not given to anyone else before him.  As well as these, Sulayman (as) enjoyed the same ability to understand the speech of birds and even other animals which was given to his father Dawood (as).  One incident mentioned in Quran relating to an ant refers to this blessing:

"Solomon’s hosts of jinn, men, and birds were marshalled in ordered ranks before him, and when they came to the Valley of the Ants, one ant said, ‘Ants! Go into your homes, in case Solomon and his hosts unwittingly crush you.’  Solomon smiled broadly at her words and said, ‘Lord, inspire me to be thankful for the blessings You have granted me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You; admit me by Your grace into the ranks of Your righteous servants.’ " (Surah An-Naml: 17- 19)

The next post will inshaAllah cover some of the unique blessings given to Sulayman (as) by Allah S.W.T.

US vetoes UN resolution on Israeli settlements

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Nearly half a million Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They are held to be illegal under international law.

The UN's latest draft resolution on the issue of Israeli settlement building has been vetoed by the US, despite all other members of the Security Council voting in favour.  Read about it in the Al Quds Today page.

Gaza- The World's Largest Prison

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SubhanAllah, the plight of more than a million depicted in an animation one minute long...in audio/video now.

Gaza Children bear Scars of War

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Video report on the impact of Israel's actions on the children of Gaza.  In the audio/video page now.

Dawood continued: The Brothers in the Masjid

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This post will cover the incident I referred to at the end of my last post on Dawood (as).  The incident occured when Dawood (as) was in Masjid Al Aqsa.  ***However, it is important to note that when I refer to Masjid Al Aqsa in this post I am not referring to the black domed masjid we refer to as 'Al Aqsa' today (shown above); that building did not exist in the time of Dawood (as)***.  Instead the term is used to signify the equivalent place of worship in the time of Dawood (as).

In Quran Allah refers to the blessing of wisdom which He granted His prophet Dawood (as).  It was important for Dawood (as) to have sound and decisive judgement as king of Banu Isra'il so he could arbitrate fairly in their disputes.  On one occasion Allah sent some angels to test the judgement of Dawood (as).  The story of this test is told in Surah Sad:

“Have you heard the story of the two litigants who climbed into his private quarters?  When they reached David, he took fright, but they said, ‘Do not be afraid. We are two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other: judge between us fairly- do not be unjust- and guide us to the right path.  This is my brother. He had ninety-nine ewes and I just the one, and he said, “Let me take charge of her”, and overpowered me with his words.’” (Surah Sad: 21- 23)

Dawood (as) had his own chamber in Masjid Al Aqsa where he retreated to make remembrance of Allah in private.  On one occasion he was surpised by the sudden appearance of two men, who were actually angels sent by Allah to test Dawood (as).  When one 'brother' complained about the other taking his single ewe, Dawood (as) passed his judgement:

“David said, ‘He has done you wrong by demanding to add your ewe to his flock. Many partners treat each other unfairly. Those who sincerely believe and do good deeds do not do this, but these are very few.’ [Then] David realized that We had been testing him, so he asked his Lord for forgiveness, fell down on his knees, and repented: We forgave him [his misdeed]. His reward will be nearness to Us, a good place to return to.” (Surah Sad: 24- 25)

As soon as Dawood (as) judged in favour of the brother whose ewe had been taken both of the men disappeared and it was then that Dawood (as) knew it had been a test from Allah.   Dawood (as) realised that as the arbitrator of the dispute he should have listened to both sides of the story before passing judgement.  His repentance to Allah was not only accepted, but Allah also honoured Dawood (as) in the next verse by confirming that Allah had given him authority in the land:

 “‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’ ” (Surah Sad: 26)

This incident reveals the sanctity of Al Quds by giving an example of a prophet who had a private chamber in Masjid Al Aqsa dedicated to the worship of Allah.  May Allah give the believing men and woman the tawfeeq to follow in this sunnah, aameen.