Masjid Al-Aqsa Al-Mubarak is the third holiest site in Islam and a landmark of our Islamic heritage. Al-Aqsa has been important to this ummah since the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Not only was it the first Qiblah of the Muslims, but it was also the site of the miraculous Al-Isra Wal-Mi’raj (the Night Journey and Ascension). During this night journey, the Prophet led all 124,000 Prophets (as) in prayer in Masjid Al-Aqsa, as well as numerous angels. Therefore, Masjid Al-Aqsa is a place where Prophets and angels have stood upon every inch of it.
The Prophet then ascended from the Dome of the Rock through the skies, where he saw many miraculous sights as was welcomed by Prophets (pbut) and angels. Finally, he was brought into the Divine Presence, where he was given the gift of five daily prayers, a continuous source of comfort and strength for Muslims everywhere.
This night journey was also mentioned in the Qur’an:
Glory be to the One Who took His servant (the Prophet (saw)) by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings we have blessed, to show him some of our signs.
(The Noble Qur’an, 17:1)
Incidentally, Masjid Al-Aqsa is the only masjid, except the Ka’bah, to be mentioned in the Qur’an. It is referred to, directly or indirectly, seventy times in the Qur’an. It is a place which Allah has directly blessed, and it is the second House of Allah built on earth. This is why, throughout Muslim history, many believers have given their wealth and their lives to serving it.
The status of Al-Aqsa is so high that a prayer in Al-Aqsa is worth a thousand prayers performed anywhere else (Ahmad) – except, of course, the Ka’bah and Masjid An-Nabawi. The emotional connection between a Muslim and Al-Aqsa runs deep, and many of us would give anything to be able to travel there and pray within its blessed walls.
Unfortunately, though we may dream of travelling to the Sacred Sanctuary, we know we may never be blessed in this way. The Prophet was well-aware that many from his ummah would be unable to pray in Masjid Al-Aqsa. That’s why he promised that lighting the lamps of Al-Aqsa carries the same reward as praying in the Blessed Masjid – the reward of a thousand prayers.
The Prophet was asked, ‘If one of us cannot visit it [Al-Aqsa], what should we do?’ He said:
Then he should make a gift of some oil to be lit therein [in its lamps]. For indeed the one who gifts this to it, will be like the one who has prayed therein.
These are amazing rewards that we don’t want to miss out on. Alhamdulillah, Muslim Hands is honoured to invite you to take part in the historic opportunity to illuminate the Qibali Masjid Grand Prayer Hall at Al-Aqsa – for the first time in over 30 years. The current lighting system was installed in 1986 and has not been renovated since. The lighting is very dim and due to the cables being so old, there is a huge risk of them catching fire.
We have been entrusted with lighting the lamps of Masjid Al-Aqsa – a blessed opportunity to serve Al-Aqsa while ensuring the safety of the thousands of people who pray and study in this masjid. Working closely with the Al-Aqsa Waqf, we are installing a new, state-of-the-art lighting system which will benefit worshippers for generations to come, in sha’ Allah.
Any amount you can contribute to this project will be immensely rewardable, as the Prophet (saw) instructed us to “make a gift of some oil” to Masjid Al-Aqsa, and did not specify how much. SubhanAllah, even the phrasing of this is so beautiful – he (saw) did not tell us to make a donation but to give a gift, and this is the spirit we should give in.
In this blessed month of Ramadan, we hope you and your loved ones take advantage of this incredible Sadaqah Jariyah opportunity. Help us preserve the history, beauty and dignity of the Sacred Sanctuary. The chance to light a lamp in Al-Aqsa may not be available again in your lifetime.
Check out our LaunchGood page to help us light Al-Aqsa and to see how much we’ve raised so far here.