March 2018 DEEN. COMMUNITY. SERVICE. The Monthly Observer VIRTUES OF JERUSALEM AS-SIHĀH AS-SITTAH BOOKS OF HADITH MASJID VISION REFLECTED IN LOGO The city of Jerusalem houses one of the Majority of Islamic seminaries around the The MCA logo defines the vision and is re- holiest sites of Islam, Masjid al-Aqsa. globe require students to study `the six au- flective of the sophistication and plurality of thentic books` of Hadith before graduating the blessed Ann Arbor muslim community. as `ulama (Islamic scholars) Table of Contents The city of Jerusalem houses one of the ho- liest sites of Islam, Masjid al-Aqsa. The land The Virtues of Jerusalem and the whole area around Masjid al-Aqsa has been “blessed” Allah and is “Holy” as mentioned in the Qur’an. The new MCA logo utilizes visual symbols, color, and words to reflect the vision of the Masjid Vision Reflected in Logo masjid. It is reflective of the sophistication and plurality of the blessed Ann Arbor mus- lim community. The Majority of Islamic seminaries around As-Sihāh As-Sittah Books of the globe require students to study `the six Hadith authentic books` of Hadith before gradua- ting as `ulama (Islamic scholars). The MCA executive committee (EC) is Meet the board - Br. Khaled fortunate to have Brother Khaled Mahmood, Mahmood, EC Education ian Environmental Engineer with more than 20 years of experience as the incumbent EC Committee Chairman education committee chairman. The February Executive Committee meeting EC Meeting Minutes Summary finalized the 2018 budget and approved a series of from February 11, 2018 programs. Welcome to the MCA Monthly Observer. The news magazine was established to Welcome to the MCA provide an independent perspective on issues important to Muslim communiites as well as being a reliable source of Monthly Observer information. 2 / THE MONTHLY OBSERVER The Virtues of Jerusalem Mufti Abdullah Al-Mahmudi Solomon’s Throne The Golden Gate The city of Jerusalem houses one of the Dome of the Rock holiest sites of Islam, Masjid al-Aqsa. (Qubbat as-Sakhrah) Dome of the Chain Masjid al-Aqsa is the second masjid (house of Allah) built on earth, forty years Muslim Quarter/Old City after the Ka`bah in Makkah by Adam Masjid al-Aqsa Musallah Marwani (peace be upon him). It was since been renovated by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Buraq Wall and then later it was renovated by Dawud (Western Wall) and his son, Sulayman (may peace be Mughrabi Gate upon them all) (Nasai and Ibn Majah). Masjid al-Buraq Blessed Land – The land and the whole Islamic Museum area around Masjid al-Aqsa has been “blessed” by Allah and is “Holy” as mentioned in the Qur’an. It is referred (peace be upon him) said, “one prayer in to in the Qur’an, directly or indirectly, my mosque is better than four prayers Visiting Masjid al-Aqsa is an authentic almost seventy times. Allah has endowed offered there (in Masjid al-Aqsa), and what sunnah – The Prophet (peace be upon physical and spiritual blessings on a good place of prayer it is” (Haakim). One him) visited Masjid al-Aqsa on the the land from which all humanity can prayer offered in the Prophet’s Mosque journey of Isra` and also exhorted the take benefit. According to a prophetic is equivalent to one thousand prayers believers to visit this blessed land. The tradition, al-Aqsa is “the land of (offered elsewhere). Therefore, one prayer Prophet (peace be upon him) said, offered in al-Masjid al-Aqsa is equivalent resurrection and doomsday” (Ahmad). “Do not undertake a journey except to two hundred and fifty prayers. Furthermore, al-Aqsa was a place of to three mosques: this masjid of mine residence for many prophets, including (in Madinah), Masjid al-Haram (in Adam, Ibrahim, Ishaq, Dawud, Sulayman, Al-Isra and al-Mi`raj – About one year Makkah) and Masjid al-Aqsa” (Bukhari). Zakariya, and Yahya may peace be upon before the hijrah (migration to Madinah), them all (Al-Qurtubi’s al jami’ Li’akham Allah took the Prophet by night on a Furthermore, he (peace be upon him) al Qur’an). Many companions of the miraculous journey from the Ka`bah in also said, “If anyone adorns an ihram Prophet travelled to the Holy Land to visit Makkah to al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (al- for Hajj or Umrah from al-Masjid al- the sacred places. These included Abdur Isra), mounted on a celestial animal Aqsa and then proceeds to al-Masjid al-Rahman ibn Awf, Abu Darda, Abu Dharr called al-Buraq, accompanied by angel al-Haram, his former and latter sins will al-Gaffari, Bilal ibn Rabah, Khalid bin Jibrāʾil. It was in Masjid al-Aqsa that Allah be forgiven, or [the Prophet said] he will Walid, Muadh ibn Jabal, Muʿawiyah ibn Abi assembled all the prophets, from Adam be guaranteed Paradise” (Abu Dawood). Sufyan, Salman al-Farisi, etc.. Many of the to Isa (may peace be upon them all) for Thus, many companions adorned their companions died and are buried there as the prayer led by Prophet Muhammad ihram from al-Aqsa, including, Umar ibn well. (peace be upon him) himself. This is the al-Khattab, Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, Abu This legacy was maintained by numerous only known ground on earth where all Hurayrah, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Tamim scholars who were born and lived in the prophets observed prayer together at al-Dari, and Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be this blessed land of al-Quds (Jerusalem) one given time (Ibn Katheer). The Prophet pleased with them all) (Abu Dawood’s thereafter ascended from the precincts including: Imam al-Shafiʿi (born in Gaza); Awn al-Ma’bood Sharah). Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (lived in `Asqalan); of al-Aqsa to the heavens (al-Mi`raj). It is Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (lived in Nablus); on this occasion that the Prophet and his A Few facts about Masjid al-Aqsa: Musa ibn Nusayr, the conqueror of Spain ummah (nation) received the gift of five Masjid al-Aqsa is referred to as the (lived in Hebron). The famous scholar time daily prayer. Imam al-Ghazali also used to teach in al- Blessed House (Baytul Muqaddas) Aqsa and wrote part of his famous treatise The First Qiblah – Masjid al-Aqsa, in Masjid al-Aqsa was the second masjid Ihya `Ulum al-Din while residing there. Jerusalem, was the first qiblah (direction built of prayer) for Muslims. The Prophet and Masjid al-Aqsa is the first of the two Reward in Prayer – Masjid al-Aqsa is the his companions prayed facing Masjid al- prayer directions (Qibla) the Muslims third most sacred masjid in Islam. It is Aqsa in Jerusalem throughout the Makkan faced towards the only mosque besides the Masjid al- era and for sixteen or seventeen months in Prayer in Masjid al-Aqsa will wipe away Harām in Makkah which is mentioned by Madinah until the qiblah was changed to name in the Qur’an. Prophet Muhammad Ka`bah in Makkah (Fathul Bari Ibn Hajar). Continued on page 11 THE MONTHLY OBSERVER / 3 Masjid Vision Reflected in Logo In 2017 the MCA Executive Committee deen. The MCA strives to provide the with the community at large. This can created a new logo utlizing visual venue for obtaining and acquiring be in the form of spreading knowledge symbols, colors and words to capture knowledge to better understand such as through our Islam 101 class, the values of the community. The and live out our deen. This includes participation in interfaith events with new MCA logo was selected for its support services for new Muslims community partners like the Interfaith articulation of the institutional through our “Living Islam” series, Council for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) and vision and reflection of the blessed Islamic education for youth through the Interfaith Roundtable of Washtenaw Ann Arbor Muslim community. By both Michigan Islamic Academy (MIA), County (IRT), opening the masjid to being meaningful and reflective, the the full time K-12 private school the greater Ann Arbor community with hope is that the logo will serve as a affiliated with MCA, and the weekend the annual Open House and providing guiding reminder that will inspire Islamic school (MCAIS), as well as tours for local groups, and having a our community to achieve its full Islamic sciences classes and lectures presence at citywide events like the potential. or workshops for the congregation at annual Ann Arbor Art Fair. It also means large. providing assistance to those in need Part of the logo redesign was also the through social services such as the free food distribution partnership with Food development of a motto reflective The hands holding together around Gatherers, helping tragedy-stricken of all of the different programs the the book symbolize our community, areas like Puerto Rico, and advocating masjid provides and roles it plays as strengthened through diversity, for social justice in alliance with like- well as its core values: coming together around the deen. The minded organizations and efforts. hands emphasize the importance of Deen . Community. Service. community and unity to our religion, The logo not only inculcates the vision and reflect these as core principles of of the MCA through symbols and words, The MCA is blessed to be a community our institution. The MCA serves the but also through its use of color which, of great diversity: we have in our midst needs of the community by providing according to psychology, affects how people of many different races and religious services and distributing we act and feel subconsciously. In ethnicities, social economic classes, zakat, but also through helping our design, we were cognizant of the education levels, and interests, yet we community members experiencing meanings and uses of different colors in gather and pray shoulder-to-shoulder, emotional distress or needing art, design and life.