The Holy Land in the Qur’an: Understanding Its Significance
The area adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque is referred to as the ‘Holy Land’ in the Qur’an. Hazrat Musa (a.s.) and his followers, Bani Israel, were commanded by God to take control of the Holy Land from the idolatrous Amalekites. Today we will explore whether Syria Is included in the holy land described in the Quran ? described in the Qur’an or not.
Allah’s Command to Enter the Holy Land
Allah says: “And when Musa said to his people, ‘O my people! Remember Allah’s favor upon you when He made prophets from among you and made you rulers and gave you what He has not given to anyone in the world. O my people, enter the holy land which Allah has appointed for you and do not turn back; If you do, you will be harmed.” (Surah al-Maida: 20, 21)
Interpretations of the ‘Holy Land’ by Prominent Scholars
Among the commentators of the Qur’an, according to Ibn Abbas (RA), the area adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque is referred to as the ‘Holy Land’ in this verse. According to Abu Ishaq Jazzaj (RA), the ‘Holy Land’ here means Palestine, Damascus (present-day capital of Syria), and some areas of Jordan. According to Qatadar (RA), the ‘Holy Land’ here refers to the whole region of Sham or Greater Syria. Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the entire territory of present-day Palestine were part of ancient Syria. In other words, according to Abu Ishaq (RA) and Qatadar (RA), a part or the whole of present-day Syria is included in the holy land described in the Qur’an.
Read More : Conquest Of Jerusalem By Salahuddin Ayyubi
Why the Area Adjacent to Baitul Muqaddas Is Called the Holy Land
On why the area adjacent to Baitul Muqaddas, Palestine, or the whole of Syria is called the Holy Land, the famous mufassir Allama Qazi Nasiruddin Bayzabi (R.A.) said, ‘Masjid al-Aqsa, Palestine, and Syria are the memorials of many prophets and messengers of God, so this area is called ‘holy.’ (Safwatut Tafasir) That is, since Allah has sent many Prophets in this region, believers lived widely, worshiped Allah, and Allah did not want this region to be under the rule of idolatrous polytheists. So He ordered His Prophet Musa (a.s.) and Bani Israel to defeat the polytheist Amalekites and take control of this ‘holy land’ and settle there.
The Disobedience of Bani Israel and Its Consequences
“إِنَّا لَنْ نَّدْخُلَهَا أَبَدًا مَّا دَامُوا فِيهَا فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هُنَا قَاعِدُونَ”
“As long as they are there we will not enter it, you and your Lord go and fight, we will sit here.” (Surah al-Maida: 24)
Because of such disobedience, rudeness, and cowardice of Bani Israel, Allah was displeased with them and suspended their entry into Palestine for forty years. They wandered through a small area of the Sinai desert; they could not find any way forward and could not go back to Egypt.
