Occupation. Palestine. Al-Aqsa.

I recently went to Mecca, Madinah and Palestine simply because I had wanted to travel to places - but could not bring myself to do so until I had stepped foot into Masjidil Aqsa. I guess dear friends, this further shows how I like to make things hard for myself but the hadith was just stuck in my mind that whenever I tried to get around it, I can't. No Al-Aqsa, no Europe or Nepal or wherever it is that I dream of going. The hadith is as follows:

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، وَمَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques i.e. Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Mosque of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) , and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, (Mosque of Jerusalem). [Bukhari]

Alhamdulillah, I've had the opportunity to set out on a second journey to Al-Masjidil Haraam and the Mosque of Allah's Messenger - and for the first time, to Al-Aqsa. Despite the close to 6 hr long wait at the Israeli immigration and the presence of armed guards within the Old City and all across Palestine, I fell in love with Al-Aqsa, Palestine and Palestinians. 

Which is why seeing the video below pains me. Israeli soldiers had stormed into the Al-Aqsa compound after Friday prayers - apparently after being thrown stones at by some youths. It pains me how them Israelis exert their control over the Palestinians. I used to be the guy who would point my finger at the youths for provoking the raid but not anymore. May Allah give patience to the Palestinians in their struggle against their oppressors. May Allah reward those who stood firm to defend the mosque against the violence of these oppressors. 

Stumbled upon a comment in the comments section of an Al-Jazeera's article which says: Rock throwers should be arrested, and those who used to fire from Warsaw ghettos at German soldiers should be given "pension", "compensation" and a "certificate". Perspective.

Post by ‎رضوان الأخرس‎.

A wonderful experience

It's been a wonderful experience - one that I wanna relive over and over again. Travelling alone was fun - as I had the freedom to move around freely. But as I spend my time at the mosque looking at families with cute little children, I quietly pray that the next time I'm here, I wouldn't be alone.