Almighty Allah says in the Quran:

"Glory be to That Being Who transported his servant (Muhammad) by night from the Musjidul-Haraam (Makka) to the Musjidul-Aqsaa (Jerusalem), the environs of which We had blessed....."

Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

"Do not tie your luggage (i.e. do not travel) except to three mosques: the Musjidul-Haraam, this mosque of mine (in Madinah), and Musjidul-Aqsaa."

While it is permissible to travel to other places provided the intention is not evil, this hadith shareef underscores the importance of visiting these holy places, and also to point out the futility of travelling elsewhere. Today thousands of rands are being spent in travelling to Britain and America, or to some exotic island or remote holiday resort, but few if any spare a thought for their very own holy places, for indeed the Ka’ba, the Musjidun-Nabawi, and Musjidul-Aqsaa in reality belong to the Muslim Ummah, and for them were these structures built. In keeping with the plan of Allah to safeguard Islam, He made special arrangements for the protection of the Haramain, but, for reasons only known to Allah, the same arrangements were not set up for Musjidul-Aqsaa. However, this should not detract from the virtue of this historic place of worship, and the etiquette to be observed when going there.

We shall now narrate ahadith that portray the virtue and blessedness of Musjidul-Aqsaa from which we can glean some of its etiquette. Note: Jerusalem is known in the hadith shareef as Baitul-Maqdis or Muqaddas (meaning holy), while the Musjid is called Al-Musjidul-Aqsaa meaning ‘the furthest mosque’, a reference to its distance from Makka. Like the haram of Makka, the area around Musjidul-Aqsaa is also sacred, but does not enjoy the same status as that of the haram, as we mentioned earlier on.

Hazrat Abu Zharr (radhiyallahu anhu) says: ‘I once asked Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) which was the first musjid to be built on earth.’ He replied: "The Musjidul-Haraam (in Makka)." Then I said: ‘Which one next?’ He replied: "The Musjidul-Aqsaa." I asked: "How much time passed between the two?’ He said: "40 years."(Muslim)

It appears in a narration from Ka’b Al-Ahbaar that when Hazrat Sulaiman had completed the building of Musjidul-Aqsaa, he fell down into sajda thanking Allah for this achievement, and he made the following request: "O My Lord! He who is in fear and enters this mosque, grant him security and peace. He who makes a dua here, accept it from him, and he who seeks forgiveness, forgive him."

From the above we gather that when entering Musjidul-Aqsaa, we should seek Allah’s solace against fear, make dua, and ask for forgiveness.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "When Sulaiman (alaihi-salaam) built Musjidul-Aqsaa, he made three requests to His Lord: he asked Him for a kingdom that resembles the Kingdom of Allah; he asked him for a kingdom which no one after him will achieve; he wanted that every person who leaves home for the express purpose of offering salah in Musjidul-Aqsaa, must emerge from his sins like the day his mother delivered him. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) says further: We are confident that Allah had granted this request too (along with the other two)."

Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) also states that the haram of Makka goes right up to the seven heavens, and the holy area around Aqsaa mosque also goes up to the seven heavens. (That is, the area in each heaven is as sacrosanct as its equivalent space on earth around the Ka’ba and Musjidul-Aqsaa.)

Hazrat Ka’b also says that Allah casts His special gaze twice daily on Musjidul-Aqsaa .

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) once visited Musjidul-Aqsaa and remarked: "Verily, like good deeds, sins are also multiplied in this musjid."

Visitors to this musjid should therefore be careful not to contravene or break any Law of Allah or commit any form of sin, for even the smallest bad deed is compounded due to the sacredness of the place.

Once Hazrat Maymoona (radhiyallahu anhu) (the wife of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked him about the virtue of Baitul-Muqaddas (Jerusalem), to which he replied: "Indeed, Baitul-Muqaddas is a wonderful place to stay in. Whoever will offer one salah therein, will get the reward of a thousand salah." She said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, what if one is not able to go there?’ He said: "Then let him send some olive oil there as a gift."

Hazrat Makhool (a great Taabi’ee) says: "Whoever makes Zohar, Asr, Magrib, Esha and Fajr salah in Musjidul-Aqsa, will be granted total forgiveness from all sins."

Hazrat Ka’b says: "He who dies in Baitul-Maqdis, it is as if he has died in the first heaven."

Hazrat Abu Zharr (radhiyallahu anhu) says that one day we were in the presence of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) discussing which of the two was more virtuous: Baitul-Maqdis or Musjidun-Nabawi. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: One Salah in my Musjid is better than four salah in Musijidul-Aqsaa. But it is indeed a good place to pray. Soon a time will come when, for a man to have just the space of one bed in Jerusalem will be better than everything in this world.

Intention or Niyyat

When undertaking any journey always offer two rakaats salaatus-safar. Before leaving home the intention of the journey should be firstly, to practice on the hadith of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in which he encouraged people to travel to the three holy places of Islam. Secondly, to visit a musjid of Allah, which is always a noble act. Thirdly, intend to go and perform salah in Musjidul-Aqsaa and the Haramain, for this too is an act of great merit as the hadith cited earlier proves. Fourthly, intend to go and visit the scene of the Holy Prophet’s mi’raaj, a miracle which we all believe in and cherish. Fifthly, have the hope that by travelling from home to offer salah in Musjidul-Aqsaa, one will achieve total pardon from all sins.

When setting eyes on the Musjid, say the following prayer: "O Allah! Increase the sacredness, and glory of this House of Yours, and grant its congregation guidance and honour." Before entering the musjid make sure one is in the state of wudhu. Upon entering, before doing anything else offer two rakaats Tahiyyatul-Musjid. Thereafter offer another two rakaats Salaatush-Shukar to thank Allah for bringing one to such a holy place.

While inside observe the normal etiquette of the musjid, such as avoiding worldly talks, unnecessary discussion, sit facing qiblah in the front saff if possible, engage in durood and tasbeeh, etc. Visualise that glorious moment when Your Rasool sallallahu alaihi wasallam led all the great Ambiyaa in a jamaat salah. Be fearful of Allah. Contemplate that this area will be part of the plains of Qiyaamat, as Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) stated in his hadith. All this should instill awe and fear into the heart. Make dua for the people in the area, for their guidance and protection. We stated earlier that one should also ask Allah for security and peace, and for forgiveness.

We have read in the above ahadeeth that the vicinity around Al-Aqsaa mosque is sacred, and that sins committed in that area are multiplied and compounded. So, while there try your best to avoid all forms of sin, even if evil deeds are being committed around you. Never allow yourself to be dragged into sin just because of the environment. A strong Muslim is he who is not affected by his surroundings, and in fact, influences the environment with his noble presence and good deeds.

Offer sadaqah and some gifts, no matter how small, to the people there. This too appears in the hadith.

Visit the graves of the Prophets buried there, but avoid acts of bid’ah. A visit to the graveyard entails reciting some portion of the Quran and conveying its reward to the dead, and making dua for them. This only requires a few minutes.