The construction of the walls surrounding al-Quds (Jerusalem) began during the time of the Prophet Sulayman and these walls and the city continued to develop as late as the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. Surrounding the Old City, these walls embraced the whole city and remained strong and resilient despite facing harsh winters and being subjected to wars.
Have you ever wondered how many cities in the world possess such an ancient history and an extraordinary destiny? Al-Quds, the holy city whose testimony holds great significance, is a place where everyone aspires to be in it, and it is where everyone leaves their mark as they pass through it.
The original name of the city of al-Quds translates to “the land of peace” in every language. More than just a city, it is like a nurturing mother to those who truly see its soul. Although it had been ruled by civilizations such as the Canaanites, Jebusites, Hurrians, and Persians for centuries, its true honor was given to it by the hand of Prophet Dawud. The Bayt, which crowns its sanctity, was built by the Prophet Sulayman. Allah, in His blessing of al-Quds with the Bayt al-Maqdis, sanctified it as a city of Islam. Those who attempted to establish idolatrous societies briefly succeeded through oppression and tyranny, but al-Quds always reverted to its core essence with divine support.
Al-Quds is the capital of tawhid. The path of prophethood, which commenced with the Prophet Adam courses through this sacred city of al-Quds. The blessed city bears witness to the esteemed legacies of the blessed Prophets including Ibrahim, Lut, Isma’il, Ishaq, Isaac, Ya’qub, Yusuf, Dawud, Sulayman, Zakariya, Yahya, Isa, and the final Prophet Muhammad. Throughout al-Quds, one can find the remnants, monuments, resting places, effects, and reminiscences of the prophets. Even in modern times, those who explore al-Quds within the embrace of its ancient stone walls unmistakably experience the profound sense that they are truly in the city of prophets at every turn.
For the inhabitants of al-Quds, Prophet Abraham is Khalilullah (Friend of Allah). Indeed, Ibrahim (as), the forefather of the prophets who passed through al-Quds and resided in al-Khalil, actually left a lasting legacy in al-Quds, carrying with it all the memories of his presence. It was in this city that his sons were born, with one of them settling in Mecca and the other in al-Khalil.
The people who settled there have become just as much a part of the local community as those who were born in the city. The city of Jerusalem (al-Quds) could have been the city where the Banu Israil could have lived in peace had they heeded the divine command delivered to them by Prophet Musa. However, they made life difficult for themselves through their own decision. Their fear prevented them from responding to the Prophet Musa's call to enter the holy land. He said to them, “O my people! Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you to enter. And do not turn back or else you will become losers.” (Ma’idah 5:21). Consequently, al-Quds became a test for them, leading to their forty-year wandering in the desert.
The city of al-Quds is also a place of pilgrimage for the followers of Prophet Isa. This great prophet, who was saved from his persecutors with the help of Almighty Allah, has been commemorated with prayers for centuries in this land where he was born and raised.
For the believers, Mecca is the source of guidance, Medina is the source of mercy, and al-Quds is the source of abundance. The value of one does not overshadow the other; on the contrary, they complement each other. That is why our beloved Prophet (saw), the last link in the chain of prophets, ascended to the divine presence not from Mecca but from al-Quds. With this night visit, he engraved Masjid al-Aqsa and al-Quds in the consciousness of his Ummah. Due to him, hearts are purified and minds are enlightened.
The city of al-Quds reached its golden age a few years after the passing of the Prophet (saw). The new inhabitants of the city that Prophet Dawud had saved from the oppressors and that Prophet Sulayman had built were the companions of the Messenger of Allah. Umar dictated a deed of trust to guarantee the freedom of all those who wanted to stay and worship in al-Quds. Khalid bin Walid, Amr bin As, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, and Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan, the great commanders of the companions, became the honor of humanity by signing this document. With this act, they and their followers obeyed the Prophet’s command, “Go and establish prayer there,” and as long as they lived, they carried oil to the lamps of Masjid al-Aqsa, illuminating not only it but also the entire region.
The holy land that houses Masjid al-Aqsa is praised in the verses of the Qur’an, and the people of al-Quds are praised in the hadiths. In addition to being a “safe haven” (Yunus 10:93), it is an honor for al-Quds to host worthy believers. The Prophet Muhammad, who said, “A group of people from my ummah will continue to fight in defense of truth and remain triumphant until the Day of Judgment” was asked, “Where is this group of people?” and he responded, “In and around Bayt al-Maqdis”.
The first qiblah, the second sanctuary, and the third masjid are all located in al-Quds. As reported in the Qur’an, the first masjid built by Allah’s command is “the one at Bakkah—a blessed sanctuary and a guide for all people.” (Al-Imran 3:96). Although the Bayt al-Maqdis, which is known to have been built for the first time by the Prophet Adam forty years after his creation, was destroyed due to various reasons such as wars and natural disasters over time, the hill, which includes the Qubbat al-Sakhra, has rarely remained without a sacred sanctuary. This sacred land was officially joined to the Islamic lands during the rule of Umar (ra), and it already had a mosque when the Muslim army entered the sacred city. Over time, the Haram al-Sharif, spanning one hundred and forty-four acres, has been adorned with various places of worship, both above and below ground.
Al-Quds is akin to an open-air museum, and the presence of pre-Islamic elements in the city is most evident in its places of worship. Since it became an Islamic territory, successive dynasties such as the Umayyads, Abbasids, Ayyubids, Mamluks, and Ottomans have constructed everything that was needed, especially the essential infrastructure, in this holy city. Thanks to their efforts, there is scarcely anything in Al-Quds that a visitor cannot find. Mosques, madrasahs, fountains, mihrabs (prayer niches), and minbars (pulpits) coexist with soup kitchens, libraries, inns, baths, and hospitals. All of these contribute to the rich heritage and cherished memories of the holy city.
The city of al-Quds never forgets those who kept it alive. It holds deep affection for historical figures like Saladin, Selim the Resolute, Suleiman the Magnificent, and Abdul Hamid II, just as it reveres Umar, preserving the monuments they left behind at great cost. This ancient city, one of the world's oldest, is exceptional in its commitment to preserving its history. It has no other wish but for peace and tranquility to prevail.
