Today I want to begin a conversation with you on a very important topic. It is possible that in this sitting only the beginning will be possible, in the coming sittings we will bring it further under discussion. Let me also tell you the background, I do not want that in any one moral issue your any position should come, several times earlier too brief talk has happened with you on this, I want to understand the problem as a student and those people who are Muslims listening to your talk, they should enter into this issue, in it whatever perspectives there are, whatever religious, historical, political facts there are, they should understand them and after that if they have to take any decision then they can reach that decision and your this has always been a special way of opinion that in disputed issues you take along, explain the problem and then after that give your opinion. The Palestine issue has been going on among us for a very long time, religious, intellectual movements have risen on this very basis. After sharing the mind of a common Muslim I come straight to you. We are familiar with Makkah Madinah, Allah’s Messenger was sent there, our religious sacred places are there, with that our connection, with that region the entire background of Allah’s special guidance is clear. But what is this Palestine? What is this Bait-ul-Maqdis? What is this first Qibla? Some conceptions are among us that earlier prophets came here, the old Qibla was this, the Jews have occupied it, then Crusades happened and now we have to free our this sacred place from their jungle, from their onslaught. The first basic question tell me, standing as a Muslim if I look then this Palestine what status does it hold for me? What is my connection with it? What does my religion tell me about this?

In this first one should understand that this Jerusalem, this Palestine, this in history how did they get related to religion? I have repeated this matter several times that Allah the Exalted the scheme of prophethood that He ran has two periods, the first period was that in which Allah the Exalted says that I sent a messenger to every nation. That is obviously at that time nations also would have been few only, so when those nations started spreading in the world then Allah the Exalted said that to every nation a messenger was sent, “Wa li-kulli ummatin rasulun fa-idha ja’a rasuluhum qudiya baynahum bil-qisti wa hum la yuzlamun”. Okay, the nation to which the messenger was sent for it the court was held and its decision was announced with justice in this very world. This is a divine practice. The Quran has told that the gathering of individuals will be held on the Day of Judgment, but the gathering of nations is this very world. In it the nations that appear on the stage of the world in ordinary conditions, they also pass through the stages of childhood, boyhood, youth and then after reaching old age and white hair they become a target of destruction. Allah the Exalted is giving nations opportunity on the stage of the world in a sequence. He has also stated this as a principle that “tilka al-ayyamu nudawiluha bayna an-nas”, that is in it one after another nation keeps coming. The sending of messengers to the nations that happened as I have submitted, for them this court is held on the earth, that is the same court that is to be held for individuals on the Day of Judgment, that is held on the earth for nations in this very world. Its decisions were issued. And those are the decisions to which the Quran refers on various occasions, like about ‘Ad, like about Thamud, like about the people of Shu’ayb, like about the people of Lut, about the people of Sayyidna Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

This is the first period, after this the second period of prophethood started. This matter is understood that nations when they were scattered in different places, people were somewhat nomadic, at that time the nature was different, but gradually the world in one respect started becoming settled. In nations tribes started being formed and later we saw that they also took the form of large empires, so when this period was near to come then Sayyidna Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was selected. It was told that We have selected you for the leadership of the world. “Ja’iluka li-n-nasi imaman”, on the position of imamate. What is this imamate? This obviously is leadership in the matter of religion and din. So this selection was done, after selecting this responsibility was placed on them that you will settle one part of your progeny in Canaan and the other part you will settle in the Arabian Peninsula. Okay, so after completing the argument on their nation when they left from there, they migrated and on their nation Allah the Exalted’s punishment came, as is stated in Surah Tawbah. Then they came to this region and built that house of worship of Allah which we call Baitullah or Masjid Haram, every Muslim is familiar with its history, its renovations were done, its old foundations were raised, what was the previous history it cannot be said definitively when the beginning happened, through which stages it passed, but its renovations were done, its foundations were raised and when that house was built, that mosque was made then from Sayyidna Ibrahim Allah the Exalted demanded that now you dedicate your son for its responsibilities, for its guardianship. Now the trusteeship will remain in this very family. Along with this the Quran has told us that the change that was made in the scheme of prophethood was this that before this the selection of the individual was done, that is like Sayyidna Ibrahim’s own selection happened, or before this many other prophets came. After this now prophethood was made special with the progeny of Ibrahim. Okay. That is instead of sending a messenger in every nation, from today almost four thousand years ago this decision was made that now prophethood will remain special with the nation of Ibrahim, special with the progeny of Ibrahim. Prophets will come among them, messengers will come among them. And along with this another decision was made that this which is the progeny, to it the responsibility of witnessing of Allah’s din in the world will be given. That is now as if selection or election or choice of individuals was already happening, with individuals now the selection of this entire nation will also happen. This is the same selection due to which they were taken out from there when they were in the slavery of Pharaoh, Sayyidna Musa (peace be upon him) took them out and brought them, their sending happened. This is the same selection for fulfilling the requirements of which. The Quran has stated this in Surah Al-Imran that “Inna Allaha istafa Adama wa Nuhan wa Ala Ibrahima wa Ala Imrana ala al-alamin”. We kept selecting Adam and Nuh that is as individuals. After this We selected the entire family of Ibrahim and then mentioned the family of Imran with reference to Sayyidna Masih. So this which is the selection of an entire progeny, of an entire nation, obviously that the nation will not go becoming individuals in any nation, it should have a region. So what should that region be for this the decision was made that first opportunity will be given to one branch Bani Israel. Who is Bani Israel that is they are the sons of Sayyidna Ibrahim (peace be upon him) Ishaq, Ishaq’s sons are Yaqub, Yaqub’s sons are Yusuf so Israel is the title of Sayyidna Yaqub that is they have been called Israel, it is the title of the grandson of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), of the grandson of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) because from their progeny further it spread more so they call themselves Bani Israel for this very reason and with the title of Bani Israel only we see in the Quran that Allah the Exalted has addressed them. So selection happened of the entire progeny of Ibrahim that is the entire family of Sayyidna Ibrahim was selected but then both branches regarding the third son this decision was not made they settled separately. Regarding them this decision was made that the progeny of Ishaq will settle in Canaan, this is the old name of Palestine. So they will settle there and on this side this decision was made that the messengership of the father of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) the nation in which he was born that is Bani Ismail their beginning will be done. And that happened through the elder son Ismail (peace be upon him). Them they were settled in the Arabian Peninsula. Along with this as if this matter became clear that these two regions Allah the Exalted that is the entire earth is Allah’s, this entire universe is Allah’s but on the earth these two regions Allah the Exalted has made special for Himself. In religious expression this is called sanctification. “Al-ard al-muqaddasa” that is that land which Allah the Exalted has selected for Himself. That land now as if Allah the Exalted has selected for the dissemination of His din, His invitation and His message. So this is as if giving sanctification to this land. This is just like that just as we also buy a plot of land and then decide to build a mosque in it or Christians decide to build a church in it, in the same way is the matter of other nations so now as if according to the conception of every nation it becomes special for the worship of their Lord. So one is this that you selected the place of the mosque. Here this is that because an entire progeny, entire nation is to be given a responsibility so the entire region has been selected. And in it Sayyidna Ismail settled there. They started the beginning there, and as the Messenger of Allah they were settled there. It was said that argument should be completed on the local population, Bani Jurhum etc. whose mention comes in history, and after that those people believed in them and in this way the beginning of Bani Ismail happened. To them the trusteeship of Baitullah was given and to them this responsibility was given that they will protect this house, they will keep it pure from every kind of polytheism and this land of Arabia will remain their land. On this side to Bani Ismail, forgive me to Bani Israel, this was said that now you leave Egypt. This which has been demanded for leaving, that is not the demand of freedom of any nation, rather for fulfilling this responsibility when this was decided after the sending of Sayyidna Musa (peace be upon him) that now the center of tawhid will be made in Palestine, first opportunity was given to them, their selection happened first, this is the thing which the Quran says at various places, “Wa laqadi ikhtarnahum ala ilmin ala al-alamin”, from all the nations of the world We selected them, “faddaltukum ala al-alamin”, this which you see in Surah Baqarah immediately after the introduction that repeatedly mentions this matter, giving preference among the nations of the world selected you, granted you virtue, so what is this virtue? Actually this is the statement of a responsibility, just as when someone is selected for a prophet then that is virtue, in the same way when this entire nation or this generation was selected then this was a thing of great virtue for them, as if from all the nations of the world Allah the Exalted made them special for Himself. In this respect when you will ever read the Bible then it will be known that just as the Quran is the chronicle of the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), a chronicle of the life of a prophet, in the same way the Bible is actually their chronicle, the appearance of the religion through them, the responsibility given to them, the position on which they have been appointed, that is the entire chronicle of it, from where the beginning happened, through which stages they passed, so these people obviously had to come to Palestine now, for this very reason they were ordered that now you do jihad, because there some nations are settled, Allah’s law has always been that when a large number, a large congregation will be, they will be in that position, He has also stated that when do I place this responsibility on humans, otherwise Allah the Exalted does His work through His angels. He can get whatever He wants done whenever He wants but when He places any responsibility on the servants we humans then He has stated one thing that this is a ratio of power also I look at your condition also after that I place the responsibility on you so the responsibility was placed on them that they clear this region because Allah has made this region special for Himself Allah’s decision was that this region of Palestine in which they were already settled and from here they had migrated in the time of Sayyidna Yusuf after the sending of Musa (peace be upon him) now they settled in this region and this was also their test that they clear Palestine actually as a result of Allah the Exalted’s this decision “al-ard al-muqaddasa” became that is the land made special for Allah became this Allah selected it and just as the Quran has stated it and said that now you enter into it, Allah will help you, this is “al-ard al-muqaddasa” that is the decision of its sanctification has been made, this now for Allah’s din for His invitation will remain special and for you Allah has written it, “kataba Allahu lakum” that is this has been written for you. In it just you have to enter, this was exactly like for the companions of the Messenger of Allah this was written that on a large part of the world their empire is to be established, but for this they have to struggle, they have to go out, when they will go out then Allah the Exalted will place the results in their hands. So regarding them also this was the decision, but they showed weakness and they were not ready for this. Sayyidna Musa (peace be upon him) left the world. After his leaving under the leadership of their successors then they entered there and there then later a long history is in which many ups and downs also came upon them, occasions of determination of the crescent also came, then in the time of Sham’un the Prophet occasions of stability were created for them, then Hazrat Dawud came forward and then their empire was established and that was a large empire, the beginning although happened from Talut, earlier among them some tribal nature of system was, but later then Saul who has been called in the Bible, after that then the empire of Dawud (peace be upon him), the empire of Sulayman (peace be upon him), so during this entire period what was the status of the qibla, in the first stage the Quran has told in Surah Yunus that the houses of Sayyidna Musa (peace be upon him) and Sayyidna Harun themselves were made the qibla when they were in Egypt. Prayer since has remained an essential part of the din, so for this reason in it some place or the other is made the qibla. What does making this qibla mean? For creating the congregation of prayer some one place is selected. Because otherwise the congregation cannot be created at all. Someone has to lead the prayer, people have to stand behind, so obviously there will be some direction towards which. From this centrality is also created. Now that direction towards which side is to be done? I have submitted that in Surah Yunus it has been told that when they were in Egypt then there this was done. Here some person can raise this question that Allah’s first house of worship is Baitullah. Sayyidna Ibrahim had settled it, had done its renovations, so there in Egypt why was the same not made the qibla? Look the matter is that sometimes when people’s training has not yet been properly done or some things have become as if the subject of national prejudice for them or regarding some thing some bias has been produced constraint has been produced then it is not touched. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself has given us its lesson. That is in the last period when you saw Baitullah then you said that this which is the place remaining in front of Baitullah which is called Hateem, this is part of Baitullah. And it should have been that on this entire place the building of Baitullah should be made, earlier it used to be like this, the Prophet told. Earlier it used to be like this but the building fell, Quraish did renovation, they had some material, some expenses fell short. So they left so much place outside. In the same way because they were the trustees so they wanted that our a special status should remain so they made the door of Baitullah also only one and made the door somewhat high. So that without our will people may not be able to enter. Even now this happens, it is not that I or you go and enter inside. So both these things the Prophet stated then obviously this question arose that then they should be corrected. So you said that the people of your nation, this entire talk happened with Sayyidah Aisha, the people of your nation have newly newly come into Islam. So there is severe apprehension of this that this thing will become a cause of great division among them. Although the Messenger of Allah will also do it, so obviously these things have to be seen because making whom the qibla this is not a big matter. Allah the Exalted has told that this is merely a matter of creating congregation, from this no Day of Judgment comes. So the houses were made the qibla, after this when they remained in journey then there was a box in which the tablets of Torah were or some relics were of this kind of Hazrat Musa, that was made the qibla. And generally the tent of worship is mentioned as. And how that tent of worship should be made, what arrangements should be made in it, if you see then its details have been transferred in the Bible. And not transferred in any one place, stated with great detail. The next stage was this that now some house of worship of Allah should be made so that house of worship was made here which is called Haykal Sulaymani. It is said that its building was made extraordinarily. It is known that in the court of Sayyidna Sulayman even jinns used to work, they made their own palace which the Quran says “sarhun mumarradun min qawarir” and in the same way the building of Haykal was made. So the grandeur of the building and its greatness and its majesty for this the word Haykal was used. Otherwise it was the mosque that was made. For this very reason the Quran has called it “al-masjid al-aqsa”. So that mosque was built, a very large mosque. Now for a long period when their glory and majesty was and the government of Sayyidna Sulayman was then this very mosque was their center, this was its axis. Regarding this also it is known from the Quran that when Sayyidna Sulayman made it and some of its effects we also find in the Bible, in some places. Rather some researchers’ point of view is that Sayyidna Dawud also and Sayyidna Sulayman also came for Hajj to Baitullah. So some indications some hints are found that its qibla was also kept towards this side towards Baitullah. But anyway this mosque was made and this mosque when it was made and made with great care then it also became a sample of their greatness. For them from the religious point of view also it acquired a central status. For a long period this mosque’s this glory and majesty remained established in the same way then you know that Bukht Nasar attacked and after this when they adopted this way and they did not remain on this position did not fulfill its requirements those few things are which are expected from them one is that they should be single-minded in the matter of din because they are the selected nation of Allah the responsibility given to them of witnessing they should fulfill its requirements and maintain unity within themselves. So this thing because was required from them when they all did not fully measure up to this then Allah the Exalted punished them and this law has also been stated in the Torah that for this selected nation this was the law that if they commit any mistake of great deviation they will be punished in the world this which you see that on the edge of a settlement on the edge of a river in one of their settlements then the Quran has said that when they violated Allah’s commands in catching fish then how We made them monkeys so in this way they are given punishment in the world so the first punishment they got its mention the Quran has done in Surah Bani Israel its details are in it what happened that was a very painful incident but that punishment they got and in it the Haykal’s also that is this mosque’s also brick by brick was demolished so when Allah the Exalted gives punishment then this is the form the government of Babylon Bukht Nasar he attacked, he is also called Nebuchadnezzar, so both pronunciations of it are correct, so this who was the personality or the king, he attacked, actually this region had come under control, among them rebellions happened, one rebellion after another happened, so just as in the old times the method used to be, the kings then used to come for punishing, so they got the punishment of slavery, of subjugation, they took them, took them as captives, its story you find in the Bible, this in the time of Daniel the Prophet how they were there, what restrictions were on them, even prayer was not possible going outside, so this is a story in its place, in this if we go then its many details are, people can see it themselves. So the first time this happened, after this Allah the Exalted created causes such, some return was produced within them, among them the sending of prophets was also happening, so then they got the opportunity to return, in the time of Cyrus it is told. When they returned then again, that is the pages of the Torah also had scattered somewhere, that was also rearranged again, so then this matter happened, that is you understand that from the birth of Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him) almost five hundred and fifty years before, then their life started again there and of Haykal also this second construction happened, that is it was rebuilt. Until the time of Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him) this was the situation. The sending of Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him) happened, from his side the final argument was completed on them. At that time their corruption had reached the extreme. They had already presented the head of Sayyidna Yahya (peace be upon him) cut before the dancer. Regarding Masih (peace be upon him) the Quran says that they became bent upon killing Allah’s Messenger, became bent upon crucifying. That is a heart-rending story in its place. When the argument was completed then Allah the Exalted took out Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him) from among them and regarding them the decision was made that once again Allah’s punishment will come upon them and then the Romans attacked and demolished this entire house of worship also. Their also its many details are, in what way they were killed, in how many thousands number they were caught, what happened with the women, made subjugated and captive and where where they were scattered. So then this second punishment or the second time from Allah the Exalted’s side this punishment they got and then Allah the Exalted as if announced the decision that now the matter is finished. That is the last opportunity that was given after Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him) the followers of Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him) that is those who keep the least relation with them the people who I will keep them dominant over you until the Day of Judgment so two announcements were made one this that because this was the selected nation of Allah so regarding the remaining nations regarding the nations of the messengers then this is that the generation with which the matter happens punishment comes upon it and the matter finishes among them that came in the year seventy in 70 CE but after this the entire nation because is the selected nation of Allah so this decision was announced that “ja’ilu alladhina ittaba’uka fawqa alladhina kafaru ila yawm al-qiyamah” now until the Day of Judgment those who claim the following of Masih they will remain dominant over these Jews or Bani Israel and until when will they remain? Until the Day of Judgment they will remain. This announcement was made and just as you will see in Surah A’raf that there it has been told that in this from time to time such people will rise that is respite will be given, in between opportunities will come, a hundred years came, fifty years came but such people will keep rising who will keep giving them the worst punishment and this series will also continue until the Day of Judgment. That is both these things the Quran has stated, in this way as if Allah the Exalted the selection that He had done of them that reached this result and as if the decision of their removal was made. Now this driven away their matter was this except that they repent on their mistakes, return, acknowledge Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him), this was for them. Until then Allah the Exalted decided the sending of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah from the other branch that is the progeny of Hazrat Ibrahim Bani Ismail. The sending happened, after this there a completion of argument happened. For these people Allah’s court was held on the earth and then Allah the Exalted announced the decision that now actually these people that is Bani Ismail are to whom that same position has been given. What is that position? The position of witnessing. So in this also the same was said “ijtabakum”, Allah has now selected you. “Millata abikum Ibrahim”. Now you have to remain established on the din of your father Ibrahim and follow it, he was your father. And you in the same way, you in the same way. This responsibility as if now transferred was given to Bani Ismail. This is a very great trust of Allah the Exalted, that is Allah’s din, His message, His invitation, very great honor, very great virtue Allah the Exalted has selected. This which is the incident of Isra among us, in which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in the night itself, the Quran has told in Surah Bani Israel that from Masjid Haram to Masjid Aqsa was taken. In this which is the word of mosque, sometimes people who are a bit literalist make it a topic that there was no building there. So building is not mosque, the meaning of mosque is place of prostration. That is that region, that enclosure which is, that is special and because a prophet selected it and the selection of prophets happens with Allah’s determination, so now until the Day of Judgment that is mosque, place of mosque. Keeping this style in front the Quran has called it “al-masjid al-aqsa”. That acres spread enclosure. If you ever see, the meaning of aqsa is distant, that is obviously from the point of view of Makkah it was distant, so that distant mosque and people knew it, that is that house of worship, that place of prostration, so that you select a platform in some market then that becomes mosque only, on it there is no need of making any pulpit and erecting any pillar and making any dome and erecting any minaret from it. Building was made, was made not. The building of Baitullah you know, in the time of Abdullah bin Zubayr it was demolished, for new construction, or Quraish demolished, then at that time also it was Baitullah, and at that time also this will be said. So this is the matter keeping which in front this was said that until there you were taken and Allah showed some of His signs, so that actually as we have stated it in Surah Bani Israel, the interpretation of this matter was said this was the representation that that trust which was entrusted to them in Palestine, now after this new sending that trust and this trust. All have come in one place and that is the person of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah with attributes and now these are Bani Ismail who have to deal with this matter until the Day of Judgment. So this is the special status of the Arabian Peninsula and this is the history of the special status of Palestine. That also is “al-ard al-muqaddasa”, this also is “al-ard al-muqaddasa”. Regarding this also the law was this that as long as Bani Israel remained there then their responsibility was that there no disbelief and polytheism can grow and regarding this also this same responsibility is. So this I have told you a bit briefly that what was the nature of Allah’s this selection and why with reference to Bani Israel or Palestine a city or country from the point of view acquired so much importance in religious matters? As if this Allah the Exalted for the center of His tawhid had done the first selection of this entire region, just as He selected the Arabian Peninsula and then after the sending of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) He renewed its this status and until the Day of Judgment made the Muslims bound that “la yajtami’u fihi dinan”, now in it never two dins will gather.

Okay we all, with very detail you have told the matter. Until now whatever talk has happened, on this I want to place some incidental things before you so that further clarification happens, the first matter now you will tell me that at the time when they were removed, at that time the transfer happened and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and Bani Ismail were appointed on this position, so that which was the matter of sanctification of the land, the matter of making the region special when one nation was removed from it then reason says that all those remaining matters should also automatically finish, this you at the end also said that this is the reason that these two lands were sacred, so after giving them the charge then also that previous land remained sacred only. No, the matter finished, that is Allah the Exalted’s punishment descended, it has been told that now your that status itself has not remained, “ja’ilu alladhina ittaba’uka fawqa alladhina kafaru ila yawm al-qiyamah”, now then Allah the Exalted’s glance of favor towards them will be at that time, this then was Allah’s selection, its matter was this that Allah the Exalted has entrusted the land of Arabia to us, now God forbid if Muslims also adopt the same kind of deviation, the Muslim ummah also and Allah snatches, that is I am again submitting the same, may Allah not let any such situation ever arise, but if Allah the Exalted snatches it then what will be its meaning? Its meaning will be that people have come under the strike of punishment. So from Allah the Exalted’s side warnings keep happening, but regarding them the final decision was announced after the sending of Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him). Earlier also warning was given, earlier also on them Allah the Exalted’s punishment rained down, the entire history the Quran has narrated in Surah Bani Israel, but the last time this decision was made that now until the Day of Judgment you will remain under the strike of punishment, except that you return and adopt the correct attitude. In this obviously there is a very big condition, Sayyidna Masih will also have to be accepted and Muhammad the Messenger of Allah will also have to be acknowledged. So if they do not do this then now these matters have all finished, from Allah the Exalted’s side finished. Then what is returning returning this only is that they accept Hazrat Masih also, accept Muhammad the Messenger of Allah also then all problems finish. That is then what is returning then that is the part after the sending of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah Bani Ismail are standing in the field of invitation, to them the responsibility has been given, they are giving invitation, if this accepts the invitation then I also become their part, if you accept then you also become their part, if they accept then they also become their part. So then that is a very big matter if this happens, that is now this is not that they say that we will not accept Allah the Exalted’s these decisions, that is neither accept the sending of Masih (peace be upon him), nor accept the sending of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), then we have returned then where do you return? That is the entire problem what happened that Allah the Exalted sent Masih (peace be upon him), the final argument was completed and instead of accepting their invitation and bowing themselves before them, what did they do? They became bent upon killing them, became bent upon crucifying them and did the extreme of rebellion. So now obviously correction will have to be done, so His invitation is always for them, Allah the Exalted immediately on them will do favor, will do mercy, that on this nation will be only when they come to this side, accept it. So this is Allah the Exalted’s law which has been stated, that is Palestine from the religious point of view this status acquired in this background and the Arabian Peninsula also which has this status, acquired in this background.

Okay this tell Ghamidi sahib that when Bani Ismail were appointed then after this we read in the Quran, the entire incident of the change of qibla is, verses are, there you narrated the story of the qibla that first the houses were made, then the box and then this construction of Haykal happened, construction of a mosque. When they were appointed Bani Ismail then why were they told that you turn towards that Bait al-Maqdis and offer prayer. Its answer the Quran has given, that is Allah the Exalted’s din if you that is on the basis of heard heard talks not, understand from Allah’s book then in it there are two kinds of commands. One is those which are the abdi commands of the Shariah, others are the commands of trial, that is Allah the Exalted puts through trial. So the matter of Bani Ismail was that their entire prejudice was for Baitullah. Allah the Exalted told that qibla is nothing, this then a mosque, some building, some place is appointed as a mark. That acquires central status. The real thing is the command of Allah and Allah’s Messenger, what was given? This I have submitted that in Surah Yunus it has been told that when the sending of Sayyidna Musa (peace be upon him) happened then their houses were made the qibla. So here what was done that to Bani Ismail it was told that the real thing is Allah’s command, so for them Bait al-Maqdis or say Haykal Sulaymani or according to our expression Masjid Aqsa, Masjid Aqsa does not mean any building, rather that enclosure within which that building was made, that now until the Day of Judgment is the place of prostration, that enclosure is the place of prostration, this is on acres. So that was told that this will be your qibla. So the Quran says that this We tested Bani Ismail that Allah’s Messenger’s following they do or keep going into the historical discussion of the qibla, We wanted to see this matter. So it was the command of trial, given for some years, at the time when the Muslims came to Madinah. Now the question was that you then invitation is being given to the People of the Book, now their test was intended, Allah the Exalted tests with complete equality, the test of Bani Ismail was this that on the command of Allah’s Messenger they turn there or not, and their test was this that which you have made your qibla sitting, obviously among them many changes had come in the din, so now on the command of Allah and Allah’s Messenger they turn towards Baitullah or not, so both were put through trial, two groups are who are the addressees of the Messenger of Allah, originally in the Arabian Peninsula one the polytheists of Arabia who are the people of your own nation that is Bani Ismail and the other the People of the Book, so first Bani Ismail were put through one trial then in it from other secret words it has been told that this which We did for what did We do so that see who follows the Messenger who follows the Messenger and who on hearing the talk of the change of qibla turns back on his feet, okay, so this was the command of trial which was given, certainly it was given in this there is no doubt at all, the Quran is completely clear in this matter.

Today the last question of the session this tell Ghamidi sahib that when they were removed and Bani Ismail’s appointment was done then now did Allah the Exalted give any affirmative guidance to Bani Ismail that the previous nation was I had made the entire region special in the middle of the world for a long period prophets came they could not fulfill the responsibility the responsibility is yours your this region is but this region also you because that had become special for Allah there a construction had been done Allah’s house of worship that also you people have to take care of or that also have to settle or regarding this also any guidance was given no? No completely any guidance was not given clearly it has been told that the Arabian Peninsula is in which now two dins will not gather so on the Arabian Peninsula Allah’s argument was completed in it the Muslims’ or Bani Ismail’s authority was established along with this the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in the last period four years before leaving the world his invitation also reached the surrounding regions so those all regions as many surrounding were, all of them also were conquered. The companions punished those nations also as a result of the completion of argument. That enforcement of punishment also happened on them and that which is the Quran’s law that “hatta yu’tu al-jizyata ‘an yadin wa hum saghirun” that they live accepting subjugation, this was enforced on this entire region. In this entire region Palestine was also included. So this is the general talk which has been said, remaining specially any command was not given. That actually became the story of the past, from the religious point of view that thing finished.

Okay, we all the problem of Palestine the religious, historical and this political which is the scene, on this we have started the conversation with you. InshaAllah we will take it further that after this when the companions took action, there Sayyidna Umar went, Jerusalem was conquered, after this what events happened and I want that I take the discussion until there. We begin, next week on one topic for detailed exchange of views I had requested you, the problem of Palestine, the religious status of this land, historical status, what is this problem? Where are we Muslims standing in this problem? How can we understand? With great detail you had stated that Allah the Exalted had selected nations, some regions He had made special with them and then after this one nation He removed from its responsibility and appointed the other nation. From there I will take the discussion further that when this appointment of Bani Ismail happened the Arabian Peninsula was their limits, there they had to do this work as nation. After this what matter happened? This Palestine remained on one side, now from the Arabian Peninsula the companions have gone out towards Palestine. This their going out was for what reason? After this what happened there? And then the history of the Muslims tells us what that with this land what matter kept happening? This matter from this entire conversation completely had become clear that Allah the Exalted in a special way just as He selected Palestine that this land now will remain the center of the invitation of My din. In this land Bani Israel will settle. Prophethood will also become special with them only. This from this land Allah’s invitation, Allah’s message they will take to the people. I had submitted to you, the Quran has stated its entire history. Its details we before this have clarified. A few big things once again keep in mind. That is Sayyidna Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he was sent to his nation, he completed the argument on his nation, there according to the law of the messengers for their nation Allah’s court’s decision was issued, they migrated and left then to them another mission was given. And on this occasion they were also told that now until the Day of Judgment the leadership of the din has been given to you. On this occasion when this leadership was given, they asked “wa min dhurriyyati” that is is this matter limited only to my person or my progeny is also included in it? He said that if they are unjust then they will be removed, otherwise they are also included, “la yanalu ‘ahdi al-zalimin”. All these things the Quran has itself stated, and along with this it has clarified that to Bani Israel this very virtue was given, this was the position of witnessing, on this very position they were appointed and for a long period on this very position they remained. It can be estimated that almost fifteen hundred years, that is the time of Sayyidna Masih (peace be upon him) came then from the time of Musa (peace be upon him) until almost fifteen hundred years period had been completed. When their last prophet completed Allah’s argument on them then I had submitted that on one side on this generation punishment came. And in the year seventy they were lifted from there and thrown. And Allah the Exalted the two forms of punishment that He has stated, that is one nation’s annihilation is done, it is afflicted with the punishment of subjugation and slavery, regarding them this second form was adopted. They because were not only the nation of one messenger, like ‘Ad were, like Thamud were, their own this status was that they were Allah’s selected nation, their selection had happened, them Allah the Exalted had chosen for the service of His din, so in this respect this which “faddaltukum ala al-alamin”, that is giving virtue among all the nations of the world selection was done, of that also there is a law. And that law has been stated with great detail in the Torah, at that time also if you read the book of Deuteronomy, then in it its many details are. This has been told that now with you the same matter will happen which Allah does with His messengers in individual capacity. That is if you remain established on the truth then Allah’s help will be, assistance will be, the appearance of His company will be, success in the world will be. And if you deviate then punishment will be given in the world itself. This is not the matter with the remaining nations. So consequently in the world from this aspect the punishment that was announced to them, that punishment has been stated in the Quran in this way and its I had mentioned that now until the Day of Judgment in this these same words are. “Ja’ilu alladhina ittaba’uka fawqa alladhina kafaru ila yawm al-qiyamah”, through Sayyidna Masih because the final argument was completed then He said that those people who claim the following of Masih to them dominance over them will remain until the Day of Judgment. And in Surah A’raf further clarification has been done that this dominance will not only remain but from time to time that is sometimes the interval of a century came, sometimes the interval of fifty years came, on them the whip of punishment will also keep raining. So these things the Quran has clarified in principles, from this it became known that now Palestine’s that status finished and this also the Quran has stated, that is it has said in Surah Baqarah when this entire story has been narrated now just as they were appointed on this position, in the same way O Bani Ismail that is to the nation of the Messenger of Allah, to the companions it has been said. Now you are being appointed on this position. “Wa kadhalika ja’alnakum ummatan wasatan li-takunu shuhada’a ‘ala an-nasi wa yakuna ar-rasulu ‘alaykum shahidan”. That is this matter has been said. I had submitted that in Surah Hajj this has also been clarified that this responsibility to whom has been given? He has said “millata abikum Ibrahim”. And there also further these same words are that Ibrahim is the din of your father, his invitation is, this house he settled, this Masjid Haram he built, you are his heirs only, among you the sending of the last Messenger has happened, the status that Palestine had, now until the Day of Judgment that is your status. So from the religious point of view now this status is of the Arabian Peninsula. Consequently regarding this in the Quran this has been stated that after the completion of argument of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) now in this land only Allah’s din will remain, “li-yakuna ad-dinu kulluhu li-llah”. And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on the same following and clarification said that “la yajtami’u fihi dinan”, now until the Day of Judgment in the Arabian Peninsula this is the sanctuary, this is the center of tawhid, this is Allah’s house, this is Baitullah, for its Hajj people will come and in this land now never two dins will gather. So from the religious point of view the matter finished here. That is Palestine’s special status that special status or that sanctification now until the Day of Judgment the Arabian Peninsula has, the commands of Allah that are for it those also now relate only to the Arabian Peninsula, the results and consequences that have been stated in the Quran those also now will remain related only to this island.

The next aspect if you see then what is it? That aspect is this that through the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when in the Arabian Peninsula the completion of argument happened then it was not limited until here. That is the last prophet is, the last messenger is, in the capacity of the last prophet and last messenger now after you from Allah the Exalted’s side neither any prophet is to come, nor any messenger is to come. Allah the Exalted the series of giving din to people by making contact that He started after Adam (peace be upon him), its ending has been announced. So your completion of argument also then one region or one nation was not limited to. Rather first this was said that this nation in which you have been sent rather the words of Umm al-Qura have been used this Makkah, the sending then yours happened the same, “li-tundhira Umm al-Qura wa man hawlaha”. That is this which is Umm al-Qura, this which is the settlement, basic settlement or central settlement, this and its surrounding regions you warn. When this stage was completed then then this was said that now to the remaining people this same talk should be taken, consequently you see that in the Quran which is the first chapter, Baqarah is, Al-Imran is, Nisa is, Maidah is, its entire direction is towards the People of the Book, that is the People of the Book of the Arabian Peninsula. In the Arabian Peninsula when Allah’s argument was completed and its law’s enforcement happened, its court’s decision was announced then from that any four years before the result appears, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) invited the surrounding regions. In this you know that at that time on one side the Byzantine empire was, on the other side the Sasanian empire was. Under it also many people were whose some free governments you can say were established so to those about eight people you wrote letters and then to them this opportunity was given that Allah’s prophet is present in the world, Allah’s last prophet is, whoever wants to meet meet, whoever wants to talk talk so in this way as if a messenger when he gives invitation and a hard work is given on it that also was given and Allah the Exalted’s company’s appearance necessarily happens with the messenger and this becomes the means of the completion of argument that also happened. And then you told the companions that now this stage is starting, I then will leave the world but that stage is starting in which these regions now you will devastate and in them the people who are deniers you will punish. The same punishment which in the Arabian Peninsula was given to the people. Those punishments the Quran has stated in Surah Tawbah and that is that the people who are open with polytheism, who declare polytheism as their religion, who say regarding polytheism itself that this is the correct din, for them the punishment of death is and those people who are the original believers of tawhid, they express the relation with Allah the Exalted and they say that no we then accept only Allah as one Allah, accept only Him as the one deity, He alone is our Creator and apparently do not consider themselves involved in polytheism, for them what is although they will be doing polytheism, but what is that thing that is any person afflicted with the mistake of interpretation does polytheism, so regarding them He said that the punishment of subjugation is. So the companions gave the same punishment and that punishment has been stated in Surah Tawbah, its words are these that against these people also war will be done “hatta yu’tu al-jizyata ‘an yadin wa hum saghirun”. Until they by giving jizyah and becoming under hand becoming subjugated become ready to live. So against Palestine they did not take any separate action, rather this same action is whose appearance happened in Palestine also. So in Palestine to whom was the letter written first? This then was under the Byzantine empire, their governors were handling the responsibilities there. This is known that for some period the Sasanians also occupied it. This is the same occasion whose mention also comes in the Quran in “ghulibat ar-Rum”. This was about twenty years period in which the Sasanian dominance remained on it, but later when the prediction of “ghulibat ar-Rum” was fulfilled and the Romans regained their authority then here also their government was established. In different regions at that time the method was that direct government also used to happen, their governors or officials were appointed. In the same way just as among us some sultans used to rule. So such some governments also used to be that which are somewhat tributary governments or subordinate governments or keep autonomy to a limit, such arrangements we also do in the present time, in the times also used to be done, but if you see from the principled point of view then the Byzantine empire was, which is called the Roman empire and on the other side Sasanian was. This Caesar and Khosrau, actually both represent those two empires, Caesar theirs and Khosrau theirs. This Heraclius etc. whose name comes and the invitation of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also reached them and there the conversation with Abu Sufyan also you saw, has also been transferred in Bukhari, so this all is the same on which the Messenger of Allah’s message reached, your invitation reached, you wrote letters, your messengers went to them, in this way Allah’s last Messenger invited them directly, gave opportunity of almost four years, they meet, come, talk, in this period the Quran had been revealed. Its show was happening, this invitation was also reaching the surroundings and Allah the Exalted’s help’s which appearance, Allah the Exalted’s company’s appearance happens with the prophets and becomes the means of the completion of argument, that also had happened in the land of Arabia. And then that with a gradualness later also with its glory kept becoming prominent. That is the companions used to attack and after that Allah the Exalted’s same kind of help used to be obtained, just as with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) Allah the Exalted has promised. In the same connection Palestine also was conquered. The Muslims had besieged Palestine, in it no war happened. As a result of the siege itself Abu Ubaydah had besieged (may Allah be pleased with him), as a result of this only there the religious leaders were they demanded from them that to us then your caliph will come then we will give the keys. That is peacefully its authority will transfer. So as a result of their this demand Sayyidna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went to Palestine, that is many regions were which were conquered, many regions were with which by making peace they accepted becoming tributary. Such many events you will find in history, here this happened that their religious leaders made this demand, obviously they were Christians and Sayyidna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) as a result of their this demand went there and then the keys of the city were handed over to them. So in this way in the conquered regions of the Muslims Palestine also got included. That is the Muslims as a result of their conquests which a great empire they established and established in a few years, exactly according to the predictions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) established, showing the appearance of Allah’s this law which has been stated in the Quran that Allah and His Messenger necessarily gain dominance. So the large empire that was established and as a result of these conquests was established, of that one part this Palestine also was. Palestine’s this then is the political status, but its that religious status that there many such places are with which the Christians also have extraordinary connection. There the place of Haykal Sulaymani is present, that enclosure is present which is spread on several acres and which the Quran has also called Masjid Aqsa. I had submitted that the incident of Isra that happened to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), in it many signs were also shown there and along with that trust, what was that trust? That is this invitation, this tawhid, this witnessing, this position also was transferred to you. So this position then was transferred to you, but this city’s religious status’s history along with this finished. Now as if just as other cities were, the same kind this city was, just as other regions were, the same kind this region was, just as in other regions conquests happened, in the same way here also happened. In other regions also conquests in some places by fighting happened, in some places as a result of some agreement happened, in some places as a result of some siege happened. Here I had submitted to you that as a result of the siege finally the people of the city announced handing over the city with this condition that if the Muslims’ caliph comes here and he himself comes and deals with us, himself makes the agreement then we will hand over the keys of the city to him. So from the political point of view history starts from this, that is the religious background became clear and then with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as a result of the companions’ action this how became part of the Muslims’ empire its I have placed the detail before you.

Allah the Exalted’s law in the Quran this has been stated that “tilka al-ayyamu nudawiluha bayna an-nas” that is in the world for the people Allah the Exalted the matters in this same way sometimes entrusts to one now sometimes keeps entrusting to the other. In this world empires are established, large large nations come forward, for them also Allah’s law is this that this very world is their gathering. Consequently this the Quran has stated and this said that “wa in min qaryatin illa nahnu muhlikuha wa mu’adhdhibuha ‘adhaban shadidan illa nahnu muhlikuha qabla yawm al-qiyamah wa mu’adhdhibuha ‘adhaban shadidan” that whichever nation has appeared on the stage of this world, for it our law is this that “illa nahnu muhlikuha”. That is We anyway a time comes when We take it to the place of destruction, muhlikuha, and this until the Day of Judgment, qabla yawm al-qiyamah, until the Day of Judgment this series will keep continuing in this same way. Here what happens? “Aw mu’adhdhibuha ‘adhaban shadidan”. Here this is that on it the hardest punishment comes, just as on the messengers’ nations kept coming. And this said, “kana dhalika fi al-kitabi masturan”. This law with Allah is written, is Allah’s writing, this is the divine practice, its necessarily appearance has to happen. So this appearance in the matter of the Muslims also happened? Its causes are produced, that is this just as happens then regarding the Muslims also this happened, Allah the Exalted’s punishment’s matter then finished now for this reason that now the sending of messengers will not happen, Muhammad the Messenger of Allah came in the capacity of the last Messenger, the completion of argument happened and its results came out, now the book given by them and the din given by them, this only until the Day of Judgment will remain the reference for the people in the capacity of Allah’s din and Allah’s book, this matter then finished, so “aw mu’adhdhibuha ‘adhaban shadidan”‘s matter then finished, but “muhlikuha” this series will continue, and in this on the stage of the world different nations will keep coming, this destruction happens with gradualness…