Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام

As we commemorate Al Aqsa Week this week, we are taking a look at the noble and famous Prophets of Allah عليه السلام whom are closely linked to Masjid Al Aqsa.

وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

And We saved him and Lot and brought him to the land upon which We had bestowed Our blessings for all the people of the world. [Sūrah al-Anbiyā’ 21: 71]

Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام migrated from his hometown of Ur in modern-day Iraq with his wife Sarah RA and nephew Luṭ عليه السلام and moved towards Palestine and settled there. The particular city of Palestine in which he first settled is a matter of conjecture. However, after a short period, he and his wife Sarah RA moved towards Egypt where they encountered a tyrannical leader.

The Egyptian tyrant was enchanted by Sarah RA’s beauty and tried to seduce her. However, she was protected from him by Allah who debilitated his hand when he tried to touch her. The tyrant begged Sarah to “break the spell” because he thought she had bewitched him. Sarah RA prayed to Allah and the tyrant was cured. Again, he tried to get hold of Sarah RA and a second time his hand became debilitated. He once again asked Sarah RA to “break the spell” and she prayed to Allah and he was cured. The tyrant was now convinced that Sarah ra was a witch and he became scared of her. To safeguard himself from her, he offered gifts and a servant called Hajar RA, to escape further spells.

Sarah RA and Ibrahim عليه السلام returned to Palestine and settled there.

Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام later married Hajar RA. Although Ibrahim عليه السلام was very old (some say 80 years) Hajar RA bore him a son.

Thereafter, Ibrahim عليه السلام was commanded by Allah to take his wife Hajar RA and their young son, Ismail عليه السلام, to the Arabian Desert (modernday Makkah) and leave them there. He followed the command of Allah and left Hajar RA and Ismail عليه السلام in Makkah and returned to Palestine.

Throughout his lifetime, Ibrahim عليه السلام made several visits to the growing settlement of Makkah to see his son Ismail عليه السلام and together they re-built the Ka‘bah.

However, Sarah RA, who remained in Palestine, also became pregnant in her old age and a second son called Isḥaq عليه السلام was born. The Holy Qur’ān states:

وَبَشَّرْنَـٰهُ بِإِسْحَـٰقَ نَبِيًّا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

And [in time] We gave him the glad tiding of Ishaq, [who, too, would be] a prophet, one of the righteous; [Sūrah al-Ṣāffāt 37: 112]

This good news of the birth of Isḥaq عليه السلام was given to Ibrahim عليه السلام in Palestine when he was approximately 100 years old. Isḥaq عليه السلام lived with his father in and around al-Quds (Jerusalem), where he preached, traded, and eventually grew old and passed away. The graves of Ibrahim عليه السلام and Isḥaq عليه السلام are very near al-Quds (Jerusalem) in the city of Khalil now called Hebron.

Ibrahim عليه السلام re-built the Ka‘bah in Makkah with his first son Ismail عليه السلام, and the Masjid al-Aqṣa in al-Quds (Jerusalem) with his other son Isḥaq عليه السلام.

After Adam عليه السلام, Ibrahim عليه السلام and Isḥaq عليه السلام, are the second group of Prophets عليه السلام who re-built Masjid al-Aqṣa.