By Shaykh Anisul Haque
17 April 2026

﷽ 

Alhamdulillah, the reopening of Masjid al-Aqsa for Jumu‘ah after nearly forty days of closure is a moment of gratitude for this Ummah. We thank Allah for allowing our brothers and sisters to gather once again in prayer in that blessed place. But we should not let this moment lead us into false comfort.

We should not assume that the situation has returned to normal, or that the hardship faced by our brothers and sisters has come to an end. The reality is that the restrictions remain, the oppression remains, and the struggle continues.

When I think about Jerusalem, I think about ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه.

The story of ‘Umar entering Jerusalem is one of the clearest lessons this ummah has ever been given about where honour really comes from. The city had agreed to surrender, but only on the condition that the keys would be handed directly to the Amir al-Muʾmineen, ‘Umar رضي الله عنه. He was in Madinah at the time, yet as soon as the message reached him, he set out on the journey. 

He did not come with an entourage. He did not come dressed like a king. He did not arrive trying to impress anyone. He came with one servant and one camel, and they took turns riding. By the time he approached Jerusalem, it was his turn to walk. So ‘Umar رضي الله عنه entered the city on foot, while his servant was riding.

That image says everything.

A man who ruled over vast lands. A man before whom empires had fallen. A man who could have entered with power and grandeur. Yet he came in humility. The people expected a ruler who looked like a king. Instead, they saw a servant of Allah.

That is what made that generation great. They understood that honour does not come from appearance, wealth, or status. It comes from Islam. It comes from obedience to Allah. It comes from humility.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

Whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah raises him.

And that is exactly what we see in the life of ‘Umar رضي الله عنه.

There is another powerful moment from his life that makes this even clearer. On a journey toward Damascus, he came across a stream with Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah رضي الله عنه. ‘Umar took off his sandals, placed them on his shoulder, and began walking the camel through the water. Abu ‘Ubaydah رضي الله عنه felt uncomfortable seeing the leader of the Muslims in that state and said that the people might think less of him. But ‘Umar رضي الله عنه replied with words that should stay with all of us:

“We were the most humiliated of people, and Allah honoured us with Islam” ‘Umar رضي الله عنه is reported saying.
“So whenever we seek honour through other than what Allah honoured us with, Allah will disgrace us.”

That is the principle.

If we want honour as individuals, families, or as an ummah, we will not find it in chasing the standards of this world. We will not find it in status, money, image, or recognition. We will only find it in Islam. And one of the clearest signs that a person understands that is humility.

Humility is not just about how someone dresses or whether they appear simple. It is deeper than that. Humility is how you carry yourself when Allah gives you something. If Allah gives you knowledge, do you look down on others? If Allah gives you wealth, do you become proud? If Allah gives you a good position, do you start treating people beneath you differently? If Allah gives you righteous children, do you become blind to the struggles of others?

Allah describes His righteous servants at the very beginning of their description by saying: 

So this quality matters. It mattered in Jerusalem. It mattered in the lives of the Sahabah. And it matters now.

Sometimes we speak about the state of the Ummah as though the solution is entirely out there. We speak about power, politics, numbers, and leadership. But the story of Jerusalem reminds us that the first battle is in the heart. Do I really believe honour comes from Allah? Do I live like it? Or am I still chasing honour in other things?

The opening of Jerusalem did not happen through arrogance. It did not happen through love of status. It happened through men whose hearts were humble before Allah. Men who understood that victory is a gift from Him, not something they own for themselves.

That is why this story still matters. It is not just history. It is a lesson for us. A reminder that if we want Allah to raise us, we need to humble ourselves before Him.

May Allah make us people of humility. May He protect our hearts from arrogance and self-admiration. May He allow us to seek honour only through Islam. May He relieve the suffering of our brothers and sisters in فلسطين, protect Masjid al-Aqsa and its people, and return dignity and safety to that blessed land.

Ameen.

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