• According to the Book of Genesis in the Bible, the land over which the mosque has been built was bought by Ebrahim (عليه السلام) [Abraham] as a family burial plot after the death of Sarah (عليها السلام) [Sara]. The plot is named as the ‘Cave of Machpelah’ which means cave of the double tombs, referring to the fact that the wives of the Prophets are buried close to them. It is also known as the ‘Cave of the Patriarchs’.
• Some Jews believe that Adam (عليه السلام) and Hawa (عليها السلام) [Eve] are also buried here.
• Almost all of the outer construction which can be seen today was built in the 1st century BC by Herod the Great. Herod’s building did not contain a roof. In 637 CE, the area came under the control of the Muslims and the building was converted to a roofed mosque.

• The Jerusalem geographer al-Muqaddasi, writing in 985 CE described the town as:“In Hebron is a public guest house continuously open, with a cook, a baker and servants in regular attendance. These offer a dish of lentils and olive oil to every poor person who arrives, and it is set before the rich, too, should they wish to partake. Most men express the opinion this is a continuation of the guest house of Abraham, however, it is, in fact from the bequest of the sahabI (companion) of the Prophet Muhammed, Tamim-al Dari and others…. The Amir of Khurasan…has assigned to this charity one thousand dirhams yearly, …al-Shar al-Adil bestowed on it a substantial bequest. At present time I do not know in all the realm of al-Islam any house of hospitality and charity more excellent than this one.”
• The complex was taken by the Crusaders in 1100 CE under Godfrey of Bouillon and became known as the Castle of St. Abraham. Muslims were no longer permitted to enter. It was retaken by the Muslims in 1188 CE under Salahuddin Ayyubi and converted again into a mosque, with Christians still allowed to worship there. Salahuddin also added a minaret at each corner – two of which still survive, and the mimbar (pulpit).
• In 1994, an orthodox Jew, Baruch Goldstein, took a sub machine-gun into the enclosure and killed 29 Palestinian Muslims as well as injuring 125 others, before being killed himself. Bullet holes from the incident can still be seen around the mosque.
• The cemetery underneath the masjid can be viewed from the cupola which is situated opposite the qibla wall.
• The tomb of Yusuf (عليه السلام) is also claimed to be in the Palestinian city of Nablus.

References:  Wikipedia

• Ebrahim (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 69 times in the Quran. He is known as ‘Khalil-ullah’, the friend of Allah. Ebrahim (عليه السلام) is considered the Patriarch of the three great monotheistic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
• Almighty Allah has declared in the Quran in Surah al-Imran: “O People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Abraham, while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense? Verily, you are those who have disputed about that of which you have no knowledge. Why do then dispute concerning that which you have no knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and you know not. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism), to worship none but Allah Alone and he was not of the polytheists (he joined none in worship with Allah). Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad) and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers.” [3:65-68]

• Ebrahim (عليه السلام), along with his eldest son Ismail (عليه السلام) rebuilt the Ka’bah in Makkah, carrying the stones with their own hands.
• Yahya bin Said bin al−Musayyub said, “Ebrahim, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the first to give hospitality to the guest and the first person to be circumcised and the first person to trim the moustache and the first person to see grey hair. He said, ‘O Lord! What is this?’ Allah the Blessed, the Exalted, said, ‘It is dignity, Ebrahim.’ He said, ‘lord, increase me in dignity!’ “
• Ebrahim (عليه السلام) died at the age of 175.

References:  Atlas of the Quran – Dr. Shauqi Abu Khalili, Stories of the Prophets – Ibn Kathir

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)

• Ishaq (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 17 times in the Quran.
• He was born when his father Ebrahim (عليه السلام) was 100 years old, his elder brother Ismail (عليه السلام) 14 years and his mother Sarah (عليه السلام) 90 years old. Allah (ﷻ) mentions the glad tidings of the birth of Ishaq (عليه السلام) to Ebrahim (عليه السلام) in the Quran in Surah As-Saffat:“And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishaq, a Prophet, one of the righteous. And We blessed him and Ishaq. And of their progeny some are good-doers, and some are manifestly wrongdoers to themselves.” [37:112-113]

• The Jews and Christians believe that it was Ishaq (عليه السلام) who was prepared for sacrifice by Ebrahim (عليه السلام) in the al-Aqsa Sanctuary in Jerusalem. The Islamic belief is that it was Ismail (عليه السلام), with the incident happening at Mina, in Saudi Arabia.
• According to the People of the Book, Ishaq (عليه السلام) married Rifaqah (Rebekah), daughter of Batwabil during the lifetime of his father. She was barren and he prayed to Allah for children. His prayer was answered and she gave birth to twin boys, Al-’Ays (Esau) and Yaqoob (Jacob). The former is the parent of the Romans while the latter, also known as Israil, is the forefather of the Banu Israil (Children of Israel).

• When Ishaq (عليه السلام) grew old he lost his eye-sight. He passed away at Hebron at the age of 180 years.

References:  Atlas of the Quran – Dr. Shauqi Abu Khalili, Stories of the Prophets – Ibn Kathir

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)

• Prophet Ebrahim (عليه السلام) had attained the age of 100 years and Sarah was 90. They had practically lost all hope of having an issue at this advanced age when an angel came to Ebrahim (عليه السلام)with the happy news of the birth of a wise son, his wife laughed and did not believe it. She remarked that she had passed the age and now it was simply a folly to expect a child. The Quran tells us how this news was imparted to Ebrahim (عليه السلام) and his wife in Surah Hud:“And his wife standing by, laughed when We gave her good tidings (of the birth) of Ishaq and after Ishaq of Yaqoob (Jacob). She said: Oh, Woe is me! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman and this my husband is an old man? Lo! this is a strange thing. They said: wonder thou at the Commandment of Allah ? The mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, 0′ people of the House! Lo! He is Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory.” [11:71-73]
• The Prophet Ishaq (peace be upon him) was born as Allah willed.

• Sarah (عليها السلام) was the daughter of the paternal uncle of Ebrahim (عليه السلام). It is mentioned in At-Tareef wa Al A’lam by Abu Al-Qasim Al-Suhayli that when Sarah (عليها السلام) died, Ebrahim (عليه السلام) married Qantura, the daughter of Yaqtan and had six children from her; Madyan, Zamran, Sarj, Yaqshan and Nashq while the sixth is not named. He married after her Hajun, daughter of Amin and she gave birth to five children; Kisan, Suraj, Ameem, Lutan and Nafis.

References:  Stories of the Prophets – Ibn Kathir

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)

• Yaqoob (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 16 times in the Quran.
• Yaqoob (عليه السلام) was the son of Ishaq (عليه السلام) and his wife Rifaqah [Rebekah] and was born in Palestine. He passed his life exactly in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
• Yaqoob (عليه السلام) had four wives and twelve sons who became the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. Seven of his sons were from his wife Lia who is buried next to him. The Prophet Yusuf (عليه السلام) and Benjamin were from Rahil [Rachel].
• After Yusuf (عليه السلام) became the custodian of the storehouses in Egypt, Yaqoob (عليه السلام), along with the whole family proceeded towards Egypt on the invitation of his son and settled there. He died at the age of 140 years and was brought back and buried in Hebron (al-Khalil) according to his will.
• When the Prophet Yaqoob (عليه السلام) was on the point of death, be called his sons and held conversation with them. It is mentioned in the following verses of the Quran in Surah al-Baqarah:“The same did Ebrahim enjoin upon his sons, and also Yaqoob (saying): O’ my sons! Lo! Allah has chosen for you the true religion, therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him) or were you present when death came to Yaqoob when he said to his –sons: What will you worship after me? They said: We shall worship your God, God of your fathers Ebrahim, Ismail and Ishaq, One God and unto Him We have surrendered.“ [2: 132, 133]
• Video showing the Jewish side (contains music):

References:  Atlas of the Quran – Dr. Shauqi Abu Khalili, Stories of the Prophets – Ibn Kathir, Islam101.com

(more to follow)

• As well as being the mother of Yusuf (عليه السلام), Rahil also gave birth to a second son, Binyamin (Benjamin), but she had a hard labour and died soon after birth. She was buried by Yaqoob (عليه السلام) in the place above.
• This site is considered the third holiest in Judaism, after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the Tombs of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
• ‘Rachel’s Tomb’ is visited by tens of thousands of people every year, especially Jewish women unable to give birth. Many come to visit on the 11th of the Jewish month of Cheshvan, the anniversary of her death. Jewish tradition teaches that Rachel weeps for her children and that when the Jews were taken into exile, she wept as they passed by her grave on the way to Babylonia.
• Believers in Kabbalah sometimes wrap red string around the tomb and then make it into bracelets that serve as talismans.

References:  Wikipedia

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)

• Yunus (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 4 times in the Quran.
• Yunus (عليه السلام) is also addressed by two other surnames “Dhun-Nun” (Lord of the Fish) and “Sahibil-Hot” (Companion of the Fish). The Quran says:“And (mention) Dhun-Nun when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him but he cried out in darkness, saying: There is no god save Thee. Be Thou glorified! Lo! I have been an evil-doer.” [11:87]“But wait thou for thy Lord’s decree and be not like the Sahibil-Hut who cried out in fear.” [68:48]
• When Prophethood was conferred upon Yunus (عليه السلام), he was commanded to go Nineveh for preaching the truth. Nineveh was situated on the right bank of the river Tigris in ancient Assyria, across the river from the modern-day major city of Mosul, Iraq.

• When Yunus (عليه السلام) departed from his people he stayed at Jaffa in Palestine and boarded a ship to take him to Tirshish, where Tunisia is located today. It was during this journey that he was thrown overboard and swallowed by the fish.
• Ibn Abu Hatim has transmitted a hadith from Rasulullah (ﷺ): When Prophet Yunus (عليه السلام) was in the belly of the fish it appeared to him that he should say,“O Allah, there is no God other than You. Glory be to You. Surely I am of the wrongdoers.” [Quran 21:8]
• This prayer is found beneath the Throne. The angels said to Allah, “O Lord! A faint known voice from a strange land (is detected).” He asked them, “Do you not recognise it?”, “No, O Lord. Who is he?”. He said, “My slave, Yunus.”

• Yunus (عليه السلام) is also claimed to be buried in Mosul, Iraq.

References:  Atlas of the Quran – Dr. Shauqi Abu Khalili, Islam101.com, Wikipedia

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)

• Musa (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 136 times in the Quran, more than any other prophet.
• A Mamluk inscription at the site reads that ‘The construction of this Maqam over the grave of the prophet who spoke with God, Moses, is ordered by his majesty Sultan Dhaher Abu al-Fatah Baybars, in the year 668 Hijri.’

• The building consists of a large central courtyard surrounded by over 120 rooms with the ‘burial chamber’ of Prophet Musa on the right of the mosque which is built against the western wall of the courtyard.

• Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said,  “The angel of death was sent to Musa (عليه السلام). When he came to Musa (عليه السلام), Musa (عليه السلام) slapped him on the eye. The angel returned to Allah (ﷻ) and said, ‘You have sent me to a servant who does not want to die’. Allah (ﷻ) ordered the angel, ‘Return to him and tell him to put his hand on the back of an Ox and for every hair that will come under it, he will be granted one year of life’. Musa (عليه السلام) asked, ‘O Lord! What will happen after that’? Allah (ﷻ) replied, ‘Then death’. Musa (عليه السلام) decided, ‘Let it be now’. Musa (عليه السلام) then requested Allah (ﷻ) to let him die close to the Sacred Land (near Masjid al-Aqsa) so much so that he would be at a distance of a stone’s throw from it”. Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) added, the Prophet (ﷺ) then said, “If I were there, I would show you his grave below the red sand hill on the side of the road.”

References:  Atlas of the Quran – Dr. Shauqi Abu Khalili, Forty Ahadith concerning Masjid al-Aqsa (Ismail Adam Patel), Atlas Tours, HUMA’s Travel guide to Palestine.

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)

• Isa (عليه السلام) is mentioned very often in the Quran. He is mentioned by name 25 times, by the title Al-Masih 11 times, and by the name Ibn Maryam (the son of Mary) 23 times.
• The Quran states that Isa (عليه السلام) was the result of a virgin birth. The most detailed account of the annunciation and birth of Isa (عليه السلام) is provided in Surahs 3 and 19 wherein it is written that Allah sent an angel to announce that she could shortly expect to bear a son, despite being a virgin:“(Remember) When the angels said O Mary! Allah gives thee good news of a son through a Word from Him! His name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to Allah! And he shall speak to the people in the cradle, and when of middle age, and he shall be of the Righteous She said My Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me? He said, That is as it shall be. Allah creates what He pleases. When He decrees a thing He says to it “Be” and it is!” [3:45-47]

• Muslims do not accept the virgin birth of Jesus as evidence of Jesus being God. The Quran further states:“The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: ‘Be.’ And he was.” [3:59]
• Maryam (عليها السلام) gave birth to Isa (عليه السلام) at the age of 13. She did not marry and did not give birth to any other children. She lived a long life and was still alive when Isa (عليه السلام) was raised up to the heavens at the age of 33. Her grave is in Jerusalem.
• Note that some Muslim scholars don’t believe the location of this church to be the birthplace of Isa (عليه السلام) but a place a few kilometres away.

• The Byzantine Queen Helena inaugurated the construction of the Basilica of the Nativity in 339 CE at the site where the Roman emperor Hadrian had built a shrine dedicated to Adonis. The Basilica was destroyed and rebuilt by emperor Justinian in 531 CE and reinforced to its present fortress shape by Tancred in 1169 CE. During Ottoman rule, the main entrance was reduced to the existing small door (called the Door of Humility) in order to prevent horsemen from entering the church while riding.

• An anti-war protest was held in front of the church on 30th March 2003 in which Father Pancratius, the residing parish priest banned George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Tony Blair and Jack Straw forever from entering the church for their role in the Iraq war. He described them as child-killers, who would tarnish the church if they entered it.

References:  Wikipedia,  Atlas of the Quran – Dr. Shauqi Abu Khalili, The Tafsir of Surah Maryam – Sheik Abdur Raheem