City Spotlight

Al Ibrahimi Mosque (Masjid Al Khalil)

Muslim built the Ibrahimi mosque Jews and Christians call it the Tomb or Cave – of the Patriarchs. Four of the most illustrious Prophets and their wives are buried. The four prophets are Ibrahim (عليه السلام), his son Isaaq (عليه السلام), his grandson Yaqoob (عليه السلام) and his great grandson Yusuf (عليه السلام). The other son of Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام), Prophet Ismail (عليه السلام), Ibn Kathir reported that the grave of the Prophet Ismail (Ishmael), peace be upon him, is in Makkah. Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 69 times in the Quran. He is known as ‘Khalil-ullah’, the friend of Allah. 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’. According to most Islamic scholars, the grave of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) is within the famous complex of what is now the famous Masjid in Al-Khalil city. The precise location within the complex is not known. Almighty Allah has declared in the Quran in Surah al-Imran, Chapter 3: “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] Imam Scholar Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr (d. 774/1373) writes that Prophet Ibrahim was buried in a village called Al Khalil and the whole complex should be revered and respected. The Jerusalem geographer al-Muqaddasi, writing in 985 CE described the town as: “In Al Khalil (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.” All three Abrahamic faiths believe this is where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives are buried inside the Old City of Al Khalil (Hebron) Ibrahimi Mosque falls under the 1997 Hebron Agreement. H1 is under Palestinian control and covers about 80 percent of Hebron, while H2 is under Israeli control, covering the remaining 20 percent which includes the Jewish Tomb of the Patriarchs, the adjoining Muslim Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City. The agreement stipulated that the Palestinian Authority (PA) would oversee planning and construction for the entire city, including the Ibrahimi Mosque. It is is recognised as a Palestinian World Heritage site by UN cultural agency UNESCO.