Four Quranic Verses Affirming Palestine as a Blessed Land
The primacy of Palestine is not only recorded in the history of the prophets but is also directly affirmed in the Quran. Several verses refer to the region as a land blessed by Allah SWT, as explained by Dr. Muhsin Muhammad Shaleh in his book Tanah Palestina dan Rakyatnya.
Dr. Muhsin explained that the Quran repeatedly mentions the blessings of Palestine. These mentions are found, among others, in Surah Al-Isra verse 1, Surah Al-Anbiya verses 71 and 81, and Surah Saba verse 18. According to scholars of tafsir, these verses refer to the Syam region, which includes Palestine, particularly Baitul Maqdis and Masjid Al-Aqsa.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says: “Glory be to the One Who took His servant (Prophet Muhammad) by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (QS Al-Isra: 1)
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala also says: “And We delivered him (Ibrahim) and Lut to the land which We had blessed for all nations.” (QS Al-Anbiya: 71). Ibn Kathir commented that this means Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Lut were saved by migrating to Palestine in the Syam region.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala further says: “And to Sulaiman (We subjected) the strongly blowing wind, coursing by his command to the land which We had blessed. And We have full knowledge of everything.” (QS Al-Anbiya: 81). Ibn Kathir stated that “the land which We had blessed” refers to the land of Syam, with the Palestinian territory being part of Syam.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala also says: “And We placed between them and the towns which We had blessed, many visible towns, and We determined the journey between them, (saying), ‘Travel between them by night and day in safety.’” (QS Saba: 18). Ibn Abbas said that “the towns which We had blessed” refers to Baitul Maqdis. The blessing here can be understood both physically and spiritually, encompassing the fruits produced and natural resources, as well as its special status and position, and also because Palestine is the place where prophets were sent and angels descended.