Islamic Landmarks
The exact place where Musa (عليه السلام) is buried is unknown but tradition holds that Salahuddin Ayyubi once had a dream where he was shown this spot. He had a mosque built on the site which was further expanded by Sultan Baybars in 1269 CE. The Maqam is located 11km south of Jericho and 20km east of Jerusalem.
- 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)
