Masjid Al-Qibly in the Noble sancuary of Al-Masjid al-Aqsa




As we turned to leave, the old man said in a passionate plea,

Do not forget Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa!
We turned and said emotionally,Insha Allah we wont

Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, its beauty and serenity in its very simplicity! How can I forget this blessing? I recall the woman in charge at the Dome of the Rock whose concern for my welfare touched the core of my heart. She said, Look after yourself and look after your bag!

What could I say to her? Tears pouring, I hugged her with love and she hugged me back.

We left with a mixture of happiness at this special blessing of a visit to Baitul Maqdis, and sadness at not being able to stay longer. And as we safely crossed back into Jordan amid wide welcoming smiles from brother officials, yes, shamefully I admit, a sense of relief; relief at being out of danger! Alhamdulillah after Umrah and Ziyarat we are back home safely and I am overwhelmed with the feeling of having abandoned my Palestinian brothers and sisters.

We had returned to peace and safety, leaving behind uncertainty and constant security checks; we had returned to freedom leaving behind restriction of movement where brother was separated from brother and father from son, and where young people were restricted from entering the Noble Sanctuary; we had returned to spacious homes and families leaving behind refugees made homeless and dispersed, living on meagre supplies and in confined spaces.

No, Insha Allah we wont forget the plea of the old man at the far distant place of worship, the inviolable place of worship, the first qiblah of the Muslims, the place of the ascension for the Meraj of our beloved Prophet S.A.W.
and the blessed lands around Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.

O the state of our hearts! Look at ourselves, those of us with a shameful lack of concern and who are in ignorance of their plight. Relying on media propaganda, the true situation covered up, we are too engrossed in our dunya to spare them a little money or even a silent tear. While we concern ourselves with petty differences, with fashions and delicious foods, with fancy homes, massive screened T.V. sets and expensive cars, and our youth preoccupation with football, mobile phones and the latest electronic games, our Palestinian brothers and sisters are ready to sacrifice their lives to safeguard the Holy Precincts. Those terrorized from their homes and made widows and orphans spend their days and nights in enclosed refugee camps or in exile. Do we even have time to earnestly beseech Allah on their behalf?

O Allah! Soften our hearts with sincere love and concern for the welfare of the Ummah. Soften our hard hearts with tears of regret and repentance, and O Allah, protect Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa and the people of Palestine, protect the Haramayn Sharifayn and the whole Ummat of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. Aameen