The Shiites and Al-Aqsa - Shiite's tafseer books on Al-Aqsa

The Position of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Shiite Tafseer Books

One: Tasfeer As-Saafi.

Concerning Allah’s statement:

“Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allâh) (above all that (evil) they associate with Him) Who took His slave (Muhammad, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) of Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” (Al-Israaa 17:1)

In his commentary on the above verse, Al-Kaashaani, in his ‘Tafseer As-Saafi’ said: “The journey was to the kingdoms of Al-Aqsa Mosque which is in the heaven, as shown by the reports.”[1]

He follows up this statement with this narration: Alqummi narrated from Al-Baqir that he was sitting in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, when He then took a glance at the heaven and another glance at the Ka’bah and then recited the verse, ‘“Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allâh) (above all that (evil) they associate with Him) Who took His slave (Muhammad, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem)’. He repeated this three times and then turned towards Isma’il Al-Ju’fi and said, ‘What do the people of Iraq say about this verse, O Iraqi?’ Isma’il answered, ‘They say that the Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him was taken for a night journey from the Sacred Mosque to Jerusalem.’ Al-Baaqir then said, ‘It is not as they say. But he was taken for a night journey from here to here’, pointing to the heaven. And he added, ‘What is in between them is sacred.’”[2]

Two: Tafseer Nuruth-Thaqalain:

In Tafseer Nuruth-Thaqalain, the author, Al-Huwaizi[3] started his commentary on Surah Al-Israa by mentioning the above narrations to demonstrate his belief in them. He recorded on the authority of Saalim Al-Hannat that a man asked Abu Abdullah about the meritorious mosques and he said: ‘The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) and the Prophet’s Mosque in Al-Madeenah.’ The questioner asked him: ‘What about Al-Aqsa Mosque, may I be your ransom?’ He answered: ‘That one is in the heaven. It was unto there that the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him took a night journey.’ The questioner then said: ‘But the people say it is the one that is in Jerusalem?’ He said: ‘The mosque that is in Kufah (in Iraq) is more meritorious than it.’”[4]

Al-Huwaisi added: “’Ali ibn Ibrahim recorded in his Tafseer on the authority of Isma’il Al-Ju’fi who narrated: I was sitting in the mosque while Abu Ja’far was in a corner of that mosque. He took a glance at the heaven and another glance at the Ka’bah  and then said: ‘Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allâh) (above all that (evil) they associate with Him) Who took His slave (Muhammad, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem)’. He repeated this three times and then turned towards me (Isma’il Al-Ju’fi) and said, ‘What do the people of Iraq say about this verse, O Iraqi?’ I answered, ‘They say that the Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him was taken for a night journey from the Sacred Mosque to Jerusalem.’ Abu Ja’far then said, ‘It is not as they say. But he was taken for a night journey from here to here’, pointing to the heaven. And he added, ‘What is in between them is sacred.’”[5]

Three: Tafseer Al-‘Ayyashi:

Al-‘Ayashi, in his Tafseer, at beginning of his commentary on Surah Al-Israaa, mentioned the narration that affirms that Al-Aqsa Mosque is in the heaven. He recorded on the authority of Saalim Al-Hannat that a man asked Abu Abdullah about the meritorious mosques and he said: ‘The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) and the Prophet’s Mosque in Al-Madeenah.’ The questioner asked him: ‘What about Al-Aqsa Mosque, may I be your ransom?’ He answered: ‘That one is in the heaven. It was unto it that the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him took a night journey.’ The questioner then said: ‘But the people say it is the one that is in Jerusalem?’ He said: ‘The mosque that is in Kufah (in Iraq) is more meritorious than it.’”[6]

Four: Al-Burhaan fee Tafseer Al-Qur’aan:

Al-Bahraani mentioned in his Tafseer, the narration that is often quoted in most Shiite books of Tafseer. So did At-Tabtabaai in his Tafseer Al-Meezaan where it is explicitly mentioned that Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa is in the heaven and not the one that is in Jerusalem. Al-Bahraani mentioned the above-quoted narration from Saalim Al-Hannat.[7]

Five: Bayaan As-Sa‘aadah:

In his work, Bayaan As-Sa‘aadah fee Maqaamaat Al-‘Ibaadah’, Sultaan Aj-Janaabidhi mentioned the following opinions concerning the interpretation of Allah’s statement, ‘Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allâh) (above all that (evil) they associate with Him) Who took His slave (Muhammad, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque’. He said: Al-Aqsa Mosque that is in the fourth heaven which is known as Al-Bayt Al-Ma’moor.”[8]

He interpreted Allah’s statement, ‘the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed’ saying: “The neighbourhood of Jerusalem comprises of Syria and Egypt and both of them excelled other countries with lots of animals of every specie. And Al-Bayt Al-Ma’moor in the fourth heaven is known for the great blessedness of its surroundings.”[9]

In the light of the above, it is clear that the discussion in Shiite Tafseer book concerning the mosque to which the Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him was taken for a night journey revolves around the claim that it is a mosque in the heaven in Al-Bayt Al-Ma’moor and that the mosque’s name is Al-Aqsa and that it only shares the same name with the mosque that is Jerusalem.

Now let us move to another section of the Shiite authorised books to know the reality of the position of Al-Aqsa Mosque in their beliefs.

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[1] 3/166; this Tafseer was published by Mu’assasah Al-A’lami lil-Matbu’aat

[2] Ibid. 3/166

[3] He is ‘Abd ‘Ali ibn Jumu’ah Al-‘Arusi Al-Huwaisi. He died in the year 1112 A.H.

[4] See: Tafseer Nuruth-Thaqalain, with annotations by Hashim Al-Mahallani 3/97; First Edition 1424 (Published by Dar Tafseer, Qom)

[5] Ibid. 3/98

[6] Tafseer Al-‘Ayyashi, by Muhammad ibn ‘Ayyash As-Sulami As-Samarqandi; edited by Hashim Al-Mahallani (2/302); First Edition 1411-1991 Muassasah Al-A’lami lil-Matbu’aat

[7] See: Al-Burhaan fee Tafseer Al-Qur’aan by Hashim Al-Bahraani 4/522 First Edition 1419-1999 Muassasah Al-A’lami lil-Matbu’aat

[8] Bayaan As-Sa‘aadah fee Maqaamaat Al-‘Ibaada 2/431; Second Edition 1408 Muassasah Al-A’lami lil-Matbu’aat

[9] Ibid. 2/431