Masjid Al Aqsa: Lesson 19 @Masjid Al Falaah - TGFC (The Great Fajr Campaign)

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MASJID AL-AQSA? (LESSON 19)
Delivered by Mufti Adam Esmail at Masjid al Falaah on Sunday 22nd October 2023

PRE-ISLAMIC HISTORY PART 7

The Roman Occupation - The Era of Isa عليه السلام
During the Roman era, Jerusalem became synonymous with violence. Among the Romans, it earned the reputation of a city rife with revolutions and unrest. Roman policy alternated between wielding the sword and dispensing wealth. Rabbis and scholars from the Bani Israil were endowed with religious authority over the guardianship of Masjid Al-Aqsa and its related rulings, a continuation of prior policies.

The Mission of Sayyiduna Isa AS
Religious fervor in Jerusalem had declined significantly. Few households of the Bani Israil remained steadfast in their faith and commitment to the divine covenant. The sole exception was the family of Imran, whom Almighty Allah had chosen: Imran, his wife Hannah, their daughter Maryam, Hannah's sister Isha, and her husband Sayyiduna Zakarria عليه السلام, along with their noble offspring, Prophets Isa and Yahya عليهما السلام.

Over centuries, Allah provided the Bani Israil numerous opportunities to fulfill their mission. The final warning came in the form of three simultaneous messengers: Zakarria, Yahya, and Isa عليهم السلام. Surat Yasin's story of the village suggests that dispatching three messengers concurrently serves as an ultimate caution:

'As We sent to them two, but they rejected them, so We reinforced them with a third, and they said, 'Indeed, to you, we have been sent' (Yasin: 14).

'The village's fate was sealed with one shout, bringing its total destruction' (Yasin: 53).

The Divine Law of Substitution Applied to the Bani Israil
Despite their final chance, the Bani Israil plotted to crucify Isa AS. Yet, Allah's mercy intervened, sparing him and elevating him unto Him, as the Holy Qur’an attests.

Jewish and Christian accounts suggest the Bani Israil were responsible for the deaths of both Zakarria and Yahya عليهما السلام. While this isn't explicitly stated in the Qur’an or the hadith, their attempt to crucify Isa AS, followed by the crucifixion of a look-alike, indicates their antagonism towards prophets.

"Titus" Ends the Jewish Revolution and Destroys Jerusalem
The First Jewish Revolt erupted in 66 AD against Roman rule. In response, Rome dispatched several armies, with the most significant assault occurring in 70 AD. Asserting their dominion over Jerusalem, they even minted their own coins.

In light of this uprising, Roman Emperor Vespasian arrived in the Levant, stationing himself outside Palestine. He delegated the task of suppressing the revolt to his son, Titus, who subsequently laid siege to and captured Jerusalem. In the process, he razed Masjid Al-Aqsa. The Arch of Titus commemorates this Roman triumph, a monument erected in Titus's honor by his sibling.

Subsequently, the Romans subjected both the Canaanites and the Bani Israil to their rule in the city, appointing a Roman governor. The Bani Israil thus became subjects under direct Roman governance, akin to the Canaanites.

Subsequent Jewish Uprising
Stability persisted until 132 AD when the Bani Israil rebelled once more against Roman authority with the “Barkokhba” revolution. The Romans responded with force. The Canaanites either allied with the Romans or remained neutral, but they certainly didn't support the Bani Israil. When Roman Emperor Hadrian entered Jerusalem in 135 AD, he devastated the city, banishing the Bani Israil. Only the Canaanites remained, overseen by a Roman garrison.

Jerusalem's Redesign and Renaming to "Aelia Capitolina"
Hadrian undertook a comprehensive redesign of the city, transforming its structure. The renovated city was christened "Aelia Capitolina." Notably, the confines of Masjid Al-Aqsa were excluded, leaving behind merely the rock and the ruins of the mosque's walls, save for its western wall which became the outer city wall of Hadrians redesign.

The moniker "Aelia Capitolina" represents the city's inaugural non-Arabic name. "Aelia" derives from Emperor Hadrian's full title, "Aelianus Hadrianus," while "Capitolina" either references "Capitol" (signifying a capital city) or more likely the Roman goddess of victory.

With these events, the Divine Law of Substitution was enforced upon the Bani Israil, revoking their divine favour. The stage was set for the divine message to transition to the other Abrahamic lineage: the descendants of Ismail AS.

SUMMARY OF LESSON 19
☆ During the Roman era, Jerusalem was a centre of unrest & The Bani Israil, saw a decline in religious commitment.

☆ Two significant Jewish revolts against Roman rule occurred in 66 AD and 132 AD. The 2nd led to Emperor Hadrian's restructuring of Jerusalem.

☆ Hadrian's redesign excluded important landmarks such as Masjid Al-Aqsa, renaming the city to "Aelia Capitolina." This shift symbolised the Bani Israil's diminished divine favour and the focus transitioning to descendants of Ismail عليه السلام.