Muslim Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

by Mahmoud Abdel-Baset, Ph.D.
Islamic Center of Southern California, Los Angeles

Almost a year ago, [in 2004] Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein of Wilshire Boulevard Temple asked me to join in organizing an interfaith trip to visit the Holy Land. For me as a Muslim, this will be a journey through the history of revelations which goes back to Abraham; the father of all prophets. Although, I was torn between the ideals of my faith in One Merciful God and the reality of the bloody Israeli - Palestinian conflict among the current descendants of Abraham, I would relish the opportunity to experience the unity of faith in all God’s revelations as stated in Quran: “Say: We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendents, and that which has been vouchsafed to Moses and Jesus, and that which has been vouchsafed to all the prophets by their Lord: we make no distinction between any of them. And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.” (Quran; 2:136). This pilgrimage guided me through a journey in The Quran in search of that inherently unifying truth in all God’s revelations from Abraham to Mohammed (peace upon them).

When Abraham passed God’s ultimate trial of sacrificing his only son, God would bestow the covenant of prophet hood upon him and his progeny. “And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commandments, which he fulfilled; He (God) said: “Behold! I will make you a leader (Imam) for the Nations.” He pleaded: “And of my offspring!” He answered: But My Covenant does not embrace the evil doers.” (Quran; 2:124).

“And remember Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House (while praying): Our Lord accept this from us; You are All-hearing, All-knowing. “Our Lord! Make us true submitters to You; and make out of our offspring a people submissive to You, and show us Your ways of worship, and accept our repentance; surely, You alone are the Most Forgiving, the Most Gracious. Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall convey to them your messages and teach them the divine writ and the wisdom as well, and cause them to grow in purity; You are the All-mighty, the All-wise. And who unless one who fooled himself, would not want to join Abraham’s creed; We (God) have indeed chosen him (for high rank) in this life, and in the life to come he shall be among the righteous. And Abraham admonished his children (with this), and so did Jacob: “O my children! God has chosen to you the purest of faith, die not save in submission to Him.” (Quran; 2:127-132).

Abraham is described in the Quran as “a nation”: “Verily, Abraham was a nation who combined all virtues, devoutly obeying God’s will, turning away from all that is false, and not being one of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God.” (Quran, 16:120).

The story of Moses (Mousa) in the Quran; from his birth in Egypt till the end of his mission in Sinai urging the Israelites to go to the holy land – is a proof that God’s will ultimately prevails.

“And has ever come to you the story of Moses? When he saw a fire, and said to his family, “Wait here, I perceive a fire (there), perhaps I can bring you an ember, or find at the fire some guidance.” But when he came close to it, a voice called out: O Moses! I am your Lord! Take off your shoes! Your are in the sacred Valley Tuwa. I have chosen you (to be the conveyor of My message). Listen, then, to what is revealed (unto you). Verily, I -alone- am God; there is no god but I; hence worship Me alone, and be constant in prayer to keep alive your consciousness of Me. The Last Hour is bound to come but, I have willed to keep it concealed so every soul shall receive its reward by the measure of its endeavors. So, let not anyone who does not believe in its coming and follows only his own whims turn you away from (belief in) it, lest you perish. “And what is that you have in your right hand, Moses?” He answered, “It is my staff; I lean on it, and with it, I beat down leaves for my sheep, and I find other uses in it.” Said He: “Cast it down, O Moses!” And he cast it down, and it was a snake, crawling. Said He: “Take it and fear not, We shall restore it to its former state. Now gather your hand to your armpit; it will come forth shiny white without any wrong about it. This is another sign (to prove your message), so, We might make you aware of some of Our greatest signs. Go to Pharaoh; he haughtily transgressed all bounds in his tyranny!” Said (Moses); “O my Lord! Open my heart, and make my task easy for me, and loosen the knot from my tongue, so that they might fully understand my speech, and appoint for me out of my kinsfolk one who will help to bear my burden: Aaron (Harun), my brother. Add through him to my strength, and let him share with me my task, so that we might abundantly remember You. Surely, You see all within us and care about us.” Said He: “You are granted all that you have asked for, O Moses.” And We bestowed Our favor upon you at another time before; when We inspired your mother with that inspiration: “Place him in a chest and cast it in the river, and thereupon the river will cast him ashore; and an enemy of Mine and of him shall take him. And from the beginning, I spread over you love from Me, and My will has been always to get you formed under My own sight and care. (And) when your sister went forth and said (to Pharaoh’s household), “Shall I guide you to (a women) who might rear him?” And so, We returned you to your mother, so that she might be comforted and might not grieve. And when later you killed a man, but We did save you from a grief, and We tried you in various ways. And then you stayed for years among the people of Median; and now you have come (here) as it is decided (by Me), O Moses; and I have chosen you for My service (to convey the message). “Go forth you and your brother, with My signs and messages, and never be weakened in remembering Me. Go forth, both of you, to Pharaoh; he has transgressed all bounds in his tyranny.” (Quran; 20:9-43)

Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea to freedom from the tyranny of Pharaoh, and God revealed the Torah, within it guidance and mercy to mankind. “Said (God); ‘O Moses! Behold, I have raised thee above all people by virtue of the messages which I have entrusted to thee, and by virtue of My speaking (unto thee); hold fast, therefore, unto what I have vouchsafed thee, and be among the grateful!’ And We have ordained for him in the tablets (Torah) all manner of admonition, clearly spelling out everything. And (We said:) "Hold fast unto them with all your strength, and enjoin your people to hold fast unto the best guidance in them.” (Quran, 7:144-145).

After all the blessings that God bestowed on the Israelites, many of them transgressed and worshiped the golden calf and even refused and did not have the will to enter the Holy Land. “And when Moses said to his people: "O my people! Remember the favors that God had bestowed unto you, when He raised up prophets from amongst you, made you masters of your own affairs, and gave you favors that He had not given to anyone else in this world. "O my people! Enter the holy land which God has assigned unto you, and turn not back in your faith, for then will you be overthrown, to your own ruin." They said: "O Moses! In this land are a people of exceeding strength: Never shall we enter it until they leave it; once they leave, then shall we enter." (Whereupon) two men from among those who feared (God), whom God had blessed said: "Enter upon them at the gate: then once you are in, victory will be yours. And in God you should put your trust if you have faith." They said: "O Moses! So long as they remain there, never shall we be able to enter till the end of time. Go forth, you and your Lord, and fight together, while we sit here (and watch)." He said: "O my Lord! I have no power but over myself and my brother, so separate us from these rebellious people!" God said: "Therefore, this land shall be forbidden to them for forty years: In distraction will they wander through the land: But, have no sorrow over these rebellious people.” Quran (5:20-26).

Unlike any other man, God refers to Jesus Christ as His word and spirit from Him.

"… Christ Jesus the son of Mary was but an apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him ..." (Quran; 4:171). The miracle birth of Jesus to Virgin Mary is mentioned in the Quran as a manifestation of the will of God. "And when the angels said: “O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God. "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so: God creates what He will: When He decreed a plan, He but says to it, 'Be,' and it is!" And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Injil (Gospel), "And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I bring life to the dead, by God's leave; and I declare to you what you eat, and what you store in your homes. Surely therein is a Sign for you if you did believe; "'(I have come to you), to confirm the Torah that I have found there before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a sign and message from your Lord. So be conscious of God, and obey me. "'It is God Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a way that is straight.” (Quran; 3:42-51).

In the seventh century, Prophet Mohammed; the descendent of Abraham’s son Ishmael – received God’s last revelation to all mankind: “And thus (O Mohammed), We sent Our inspiration to you; you knew not before what the (divine) book is, nor what the faith is (and what it comprehends). But We have caused this message to be a light, whereby We guide whom We will of our servants; and you surely shall guide (people) to the straight way, the way of God, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Surely, and unto God all matters end.” (Quran; 42:52-53).

God admonishes Mohammed to follow the footsteps of Abraham whose massage of oneness and absolute submission to God is the foundation of true faith.

“We have inspired thee (Mohammed) with this message: ‘Follow the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribed divinity to aught beside God.” (Quran, 16:123).

In the eleventh year of his mission, Prophet Mohammed was taken in a mystical night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he prayed with all previous prophets, then he was ascended to heavens.

“Glory to Him, Who took His servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) to the Farthest Mosque (in Jerusalem), the surroundings of which We have blessed, so that We might show him some of Our signs; surely, He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing.” (Quran; 17:1).

“By the star when it goes down. Your companion is neither astray nor being misled. Nor does he speak of his own whim. It is no less than inspiration sent down unto him. He was taught by one mighty in power. Endued with wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form). While he was in the highest part of the horizon, then he approached and come closer. And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or nearer. So did God convey the inspiration to His servant; conveyed unto him what he meant to convey. The heart in no way falsified that which he saw. Will you then dispute with him concerning what he saw? Indeed, he saw him another time by the lote-tree of the farthest limit, near unto the garden of promised final reproach. Behold, the lote-tree that is veiled by a veil (of nameless splendor). The eyesight swerved not, nor did it sweep astray. Truly did he see some of his Lord’s greatest signs.” (Quran; 17:1-18).

I close by translation of the Preface, or the Opening of the Quran (Al-Fatiha), which is recited with every prayer and referred to as the mother of the Book.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Owner of the Day of Judgment.
Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
Show us the straight path.
The path of those upon whom You bestowed your favors.
Not (the path) of those who earn Your displeasure, nor of those who go astray.
Amen!