Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

The temple of Jerusalem is honoured in the Koran (17:1) as al-majid al-Aqsa (lit. the remote mosque). The sacredness of Jerusalem is emphasized on numerous places. Abraham migrated to the land of Canaanite around 1805 BC. The Koran states: "And We made them the greater losers. But We delivered him and (his nephew) Lot (and directed them) to the land which We have blessed for the nations" (21: 69-71). The Koran reports Moses telling his people: "O my people! Enter the holy land, which God has prescribed for you" (5: 21). It is further stated: "(It was Our power that made) the violent (unruly) wind flown (tamely) for Solomon. To his order, to the land which We had blessed..." (21: 81). Jerusalem is the resting place of the prophets including Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and according to the commentators, there are over hundred prophets buried in its soil. It was the first qibla of the Muslims. This practice continued until 16-17 months after hijra. To Muslims, Jerusalem houses one of the holiest mosques, the masjid al-Aqsa and represents a place of greatest religious significance.