Why should Muslims visit Masjid al-Aqsa?

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

There are so many reasons for Muslims to visit Masjid al-Aqsa. It has been described as a blessed place in the Holy Quran. In Hadith the Prophet encouraged visiting it and mentioned virtues related to it. Many of the Prophets visited or lived in that area. Significant aspects of Islamic history are connected to it.

Explanation

Blessed land

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّه هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

Transcendent is He who took His servant, during the night, from the Sacred Mosque to the Furthest Mosque. Whose surroundings We have blessed. Showing him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All Hearing, the All Seeing. (Surah al-Isra, 1).

As we see in the Holy Verse above, even the area around Masjid al-Aqsa is considered blessed. As Muslims we seek blessings. Therefore, we have great interest in any place, time or action that is confirmed to contain blessings.

Many of the great Prophets of Allah Most High (peace be upon them) either resided in that area or visited it. The Prophets are undoubtedly blessed people. Anything connected to them may also be considered blessed. Our love for the Prophets (peace be upon them) dictates that we visit places that they were connected to.

Forgiveness

وسَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ سَأَلَ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا، أَعْطَاهُ اثْنَتَيْنِ، وَنَحْنُ نَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ لَهُ الثَّالِثَةُ: فَسَأَلَهُ حُكْمًا يُصَادِفُ حُكْمَهُ، فَأَعْطَاهُ اللهُ إِيَّاهُ ، وَسَأَلَهُ مُلْكًا لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ، وَسَأَلَهُ أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ لَا يُرِيدُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةَ فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ خَرَجَ مِنْ خَطِيئَتِهِ مِثْلَ يَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ، فَنَحْنُ نَرْجُو أَنْ يَكُونَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ

And I (Abdullah bin Amr bin al-Aas) heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: Indeed, Sulaiman bin Dawud (peace be upon Him) asked Allah (Most High) for three things. He (Most High) gave him two, and we hope that he will have a the third. He asked Him (Most High) for decisions in line with His (Most High) judgement. So, He gave it to him. He asked Him (Most High) For a kingdom that will not be bestowed to anybody after him. So, He gave it to him.

He asked Him (Most High) that any man who has left his home, only to pray in this Masjid, emerges from his sin like the day his mother gave birth to him. We hope that Allah (Most High) has given it to him. (Musnad Ahmad 6644, Sahih).

One of the many rewards and benefits linked to Masjid al-Aqsa is the forgiveness of previous sins. This is yet another reason to visit Masjid al-Aqsa and pray therein. It is also the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ to visit al-Aqsa. During one of the most blessed nights in the life of the Prophet, the night of Isra and Miraj, he ﷺ was miraculously taken to Masjid al-Aqsa and led the Prophets in prayer.

One of the three Masjids

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلَّا إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ. المَسْجِدِ الحَرَامِ، وَمَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى

The Prophet ﷺ said: Do not travel, except to three Mosques: the Sacred Mosque, the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the furthest Mosque (al-Aqsa). (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1189)

There is specific encouragement to visit three Masjids in the above Hadith narration. The blessed Masjids in Makkah and Madinah, and then Masjid al-Aqsa. Simply being mentioned in the same context as the two great Masjids in Makkah and Madinah illustrates the special position Masjid al-Aqsa has in Islam.

Just as we embark upon a specific journey to visit the Masjids in Makkah and Madinah, we should do so with Masjid al-Aqsa. This is the advice of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, great blessings can be anticipated from such a journey. The advice of the Prophet ﷺ is always filled with blessings.

Conclusion

As seen above, there are so many reasons to visit Masjid al-Aqsa. In our time, there is an additional reason. Supporting our brothers and sisters who are being oppressed in those lands is an obligation. One of the greatest ways to support them is to visit them. Their oppressors seek to isolate them. We have a duty to stand with them.

May Allah Most High bless the people of Palestine and strengthen their hearts.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (07.02.24)

-With special thanks to Sidi Yusuf Asghar for assisting with Nusoos translation