Why did Miraj (ascension) take place in Quds (Jerusalem)?

Why did Miraj (ascension) take place in Quds (Jerusalem)?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- As it is known Masjid al-Aqsa is the first qiblah of Muslims and the third one of the haram mosques. Almighty Allah mentions Masjid al-Aqsa in the Quran with its name and states that the precincts of this mosque have been blessed.

The following is stated in verse 1 of the chapter of al-Isra regarding the issue:

"Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things)."

- Quds had been a place of prophets and the qiblah of ummahs for a long time. It might have been made the first stop to show that Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) is the real inheritor of all prophets.

- One of the most important issues in the incident of Miraj is daily prayers being rendered fard. It is appropriate for the position of Quds that the Prophet stopped by Quds, which was the qiblah place of prophets for centuries, and after that he received the gift of prayer in Miraj.

- The incident of Miraj took place seventeen months before the Migration. That Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) stopped by Quds at that time might have been an indication that it would be conquered by his ummah in the 17^th year of the Migration.  

- The travel from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa in the journey of Miraj is important in that it shows the connection of a slave with mosques. That the Prophet (pbuh) led a prayer in front of the prophets that gathered in Quds shows that he is the imam of all prophets in terms of his personality and personal perfection. 

- Quds has represented revelation, divine declaration and the institution of prophethood since the day it was established. Therefore, it has been a city of Islam since the day it was established. Many prophets spent some parts of their lives in this city. Hz. Muhammad (pbuh), the last prophet, was taken to Quds first before he was raised to heavens. If Allah had wished, He would have raised him to heavens from Makkah. However, the reason why Hz. Jibril, who accompanied the Prophet (pbuh) in the incidents of Isra (Night Journey) and Miraj (Ascension), took him to Quds first and raised him to heavens after that was due to the significance and importance of this city. Allah wanted Hz. Muhammad (pbuh), his last prophet, to visit Quds and to witness the divine signs in this city of prophets.

We can think of some other wisdoms similar to the ones above regarding the issue.

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