The Ancient City of Jerusalem

Jerusalem: The Heart of History and the Trust of the Ummah

Jerusalem is a blessed city situated at the very heart of Palestine — a land upon which countless civilizations have set their eyes and where numerous prophets have walked. The Qurʾān describes it as “the land whose surroundings We have blessed” (Qurʾān 17:1). Jerusalem holds a unique place not only in Islamic history but in the entire history of humankind.

Geographical Location

Jerusalem lies at 31°N latitude and 35°E longitude, approximately 35 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea and 25 kilometers from the Dead Sea in a straight line. It stands 820 meters above sea level on the central highlands of Palestine. To its north are the mountains of Nablus, to the south the mountains of Hebron, and at its center the hills of Jerusalem. To the west lie fertile coastal plains, and to the east stretches the Jordan Valley. This strategic position made Jerusalem, throughout history, both a hub of commerce and a vital crossroads for armies and travelers.

Although it is not rich in natural resources, Jerusalem has always been a densely inhabited center due to its religious and spiritual significance. Its blessing and prosperity are not derived from its soil but from the sanctity and historical mission granted to it by Allah ﷻ.

Jerusalem Throughout History

According to Islamic sources, Jerusalem’s history stretches back to the dawn of humanity. It is reported in authentic ḥadīth (Bukhārī, Anbiyāʾ, 40) that after Prophet Ādam (AS) was sent down to earth, the second mosque built after the Kaʿbah was al-Masjid al-Aqṣā.

Many prophets mentioned in the Qurʾān lived in or passed through this city. Prophet Ibrāhīm (AS) dwelled in this land, Prophet Dāwūd (AS) ruled here, and Prophet Sulaymān (AS) beautified and developed Bayt al-Maqdis. Prophet Zakariyyā (AS), Prophet Yaḥyā (AS), Prophet ʿĪsā (AS), and Lady Maryam (RA) all lived and carried out their divine missions in Jerusalem.

Throughout history, Jerusalem came under the rule of Pharaohs, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans, and finally the British — followed by the Zionist occupation. Yet, regardless of who held power, the city’s true identity was preserved through the faith and steadfastness of its Muslim inhabitants and the ummah at large.

The Sanctity of Jerusalem in Islam

Jerusalem is home to the third holiest mosque in Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Do not undertake a journey except to three mosques: al-Masjid al-Ḥarām (in Makkah), my mosque (in Madīnah), and al-Masjid al-Aqṣā (in Jerusalem).”
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā was the first qiblah of the Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ and his companions prayed toward al-Aqṣā for sixteen or seventeen months before turning toward the Kaʿbah in Madīnah. Moreover, during the miraculous event of Isrāʾ and Miʿrāj, the Prophet ﷺ was taken by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā, where he led all the prophets in prayer before ascending to the heavens.

Jerusalem and the Reality of Occupation

Throughout Islamic history, Jerusalem flourished under Muslim governance as a city of peace, justice, and religious freedom. When ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (RA) conquered Jerusalem in 15 AH, no harm was done to the city, its inhabitants were granted protection, and their places of worship were preserved. When Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn al-Ayyūbī liberated Jerusalem from Crusader occupation in 1187 CE, the city once again became one of the most significant centers of Islamic civilization.

However, in the twentieth century, following the Ottoman withdrawal and the British Mandate, Jerusalem entered a new era of occupation. In 1948, with the establishment of the State of Israel, a new occupation began. After the Six-Day War of 1967, all of Jerusalem fell under Israeli control, and al-Masjid al-Aqṣā has since been subjected to systematic pressure, restrictions, and Judaization projects.

Today, the occupying power of Israel is steadily implementing a plan to alter Jerusalem’s demographic composition, reduce its Muslim population, and place al-Masjid al-Aqṣā under complete control. Islamic Waqf authorities and scholars have repeatedly warned that this is not merely a territorial dispute but a matter of faith, identity, and the unity of the ummah.

For this reason, Jerusalem is not solely the cause of the Palestinian people but the collective cause of the entire Muslim ummah. Protecting this land — which the Qurʾān describes as blessed — is both a matter of faith and a moral responsibility for every believer.