Excerpts from : Zâd el Ma’âd by ibn el Qaïyam el Jawziya (1/42-52).

If we meditate a little on the universe, we realize that in choosing and selecting certain creations, the Almighty showed great Wisdom and Majesty, as He showed His Almighty Power. He also expresses through this His Oneness in knowing that He chooses whomever He wants from among His creation[1] Among the seven heavens He created, He chose the highest one, as He chose the Firdaws -which is just below His Throne- from among all the Paradises. Among the angels, He has chosen three; Jibrîl, Mikâîl, and Isrâfîl.[2] Among the sons of Adam, He has chosen one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets, among whom He has chosen three hundred and thirteen messengers. Among these, He has chosen the « messengers-resolute » (Ûlû el ‘Azm), who are five in number: Nuh, Ibrâhîm, Mûsâ, ‘Îsâ, and Mohammed. These two intimate Friends are Ibrâhîm and the descendant of Ismâ’îl (Muhammad) who is the great chosen one of the creation.

His community is the best of all; this is evident in their knowledge and deeds on earth as well as in their mansions and degrees which will be the highest in the next world. It was fitting for this nation to have in its patrimony the most illustrious place and country, namely Makkah.

The Lord (I) chose this city for His Prophet (r) and prescribed certain rituals for His servants there. He ordered them to go there wherever they are. They should enter it in humility, having previously uncovered their heads and removed their profane garments.

Mekka is sacred and peaceful; it is forbidden to shed blood, to cut down its trees, to scare away its game, and to cut down its living vegetation. It is not permitted to take any object found in it, except to point it out. It is enough to go there to have all one’s past sins erased and to be purified of one’s faults. According to el Bukhârî and Muslim, according to Abû Huraïra, the Messenger of Allah (r) said :

« Whoever goes to this Temple without committing or saying any evil, will return home as on the day his mother gave birth to him. »[3]

By going there, one cannot claim any other reward than Paradise. According to e-Sunan, according to ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas’ûd (t), the Messenger of Allah (r) said:

« Make Hajj and ‘Umrah succeed each other, for they remove sins and poverty as the bellows remove the dross (waste) of iron, gold, and silver; a pious pilgrimage cannot merit less than Paradise. »[4]

If the « Peaceful Land » was not the most beloved of the Lord, He would not have granted it any election; He made its precincts a place of rituals, He prescribed His servants to go there considering it among the most imperative obligations of Islam. Moreover, He swears by the « Peaceful Land » twice in His Illustrious Book.[5]

There is no other place than Makkah where it is obligatory for the one who is able to do so to make the Tawaf (circuit) around a monument and the Sa’î (circuit) between two landmarks. There is no place on the surface of the earth that it is lawful to kiss or to pass one’s hand over, or that would allow one to erase sins, except for the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner.

One prayer in the Holy Mosque is worth a hundred thousand prayers.

It can be said that Makkah is the best place on earth, and therefore it is necessary to make a « spiritual journey » to it. The birthplace of Muhammad serves as the Qibla (direction) for all mankind, no other place in the world can claim such a privilege.

One of its particularities is that it is forbidden to stand in its direction or to turn one’s back to it during one’s « natural needs ». In this respect, there is no difference between being covered by a wall and being in the open air according to the most relevant opinion of the scholars.

Among its features, we can mention that the Holy Mosque is the first temple built for men. According to Bukhari and Muslim, according to Abû Dhar, the latter asked the Messenger of Allah: « What was the first mosque (temple) built on earth?

– The Holy Mosque », he answered.

– And then?

– The Aqsa Mosque.

– How long was it between the two?

– Forty years. »[6]

 

This Hadith poses a problem for those who do not understand its meaning, for it is known that Sulaimân son of Dâwûd is the founder of the Aqsa, knowing that there are more than a thousand years separating him from Ibrâhîm. The author of such a word is, after all, an ignorant person, because Sulaïmân only renovated the Temple, but he is not its founder. His first founder was his ancestor Ya’qûb the son of Ishâq (r), who started to work forty years after the construction of the Ka’ba by his grandfather.

Allah teaches us that it is the « Mother of cities » in the sense that all the other cities succeed it (or depend on it) and are derived from it; it thus has the role of a progenitor. Apart from those who are often driven to it, it is not allowed to enter it without sacralization (Ihrâm); in this respect, it differs from other cities although there are some nuances and discrepancies on the matter.

The simple fact of planning to do an evil deed in it is counted as a sin as revealed in the following verse: (We will make anyone who wants to commit any deviation therein taste a painful punishment)[7] From this point on, the sins committed there are more condemnable not from a quantitative point of view, but from the point of view of their gravity. Even though a sin – small or great – is only counted once, it is still more serious when it is committed in the heart of the Sacred City. Disobeying a king away from his court is not like disobeying him in his own court wa Allah a’lam!

If hearts are so attracted and enchanted by this land of light, it is not without reason. Allah informs us that it is a place of refuge and return for men; that is to say, they return to it constantly every year and from all walks of life. This attraction cannot be satisfied through a simple visit, but it becomes a growing need.

One hardly blinks while contemplating it

That its sight becomes even more bewitching

How many souls and money are sacrificed to it! How sweet it is to leave one’s dearest ones in order to meet her! And to leave one’s beloved land to go through all the dangers and a long and hard journey! So sweet, however, to the heart that is overwhelmed with her love, and sweeter still than the most succulent delights with which it is familiar!

Can one love and consider at the same time

As suffering, the efforts for his beloved?

 

Here is the key to the mystery that explains why the Lord has affiliated it to Himself in the verse (and purify My House).[8] This particular affiliation invites more admiration and praise for the « House of Allah ». Any affiliation with the Almighty gives the thing in question a special consideration that raises it to the rank of election…

May the prayers of Allah and His Salvation be upon Muhammad, his relatives, and all his Companions!

Source : Islamhouse.com
[1] See : The narrations; 67

[2] Each of these three angels is responsible for a form of life; Jibrîl is in charge of the Revelation which feeds the spiritual life; as for Mîkâîl, he is in charge of the rain which feeds the human body, the nature, and the animals; Isrâfîl for his part is in charge of blowing in the Trumpet to give the signal of the Resurrection of the men (new life) on the Day of the Great Judgment

[3] Reported by el Bukhârî (3/302) and Muslim (1350).

[4] Reported by e-Tirmidhî (810), and e-Nasâî (5/115), and Ahmed (3669) in his Musnad with a good narrative chain.

[5] E-Tin; 3 and El Balad; 1

[6] Reported by el Bukhârî (6/290, 291), and Muslim (520).

[7] The Pilgrimage; 25

[8] The Pilgrimage; 26