#1 Muslims Hold Key to Holiest Christian Church

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What is the Church of the Holy Sepulture all about? What do the (Greek Orthodox) Christians hold so dear? What does it mean to them? What Biblical references do they find for all this?
How should we, as Muslims view this, considering we Muslims do hold the very keys to access this place, quite possibly the most holy, for Christian worship?

Read . . (and look at the photos too - LOL):

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Photo #1

Church of Holy Sepulchre (outside)
A general view of the structure is seen from the bell tower of the Redeemer church, on the east side of the Holy Sepulcher.

The larger dome is located over the Rotunda, the round hall where the tomb of Jesus is located.

The smaller dome on its right is located over the Catholicon hall.

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Photo #2 (large) Church of Holy Sepulchre (inner walls)

Christianity's most holiest churches, in Jerusalem on the site of Golgotha. Christians believe Jesus was buried here.


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Photo #3 (small) Church of Holy Sepulchre (inner walls)

Church Sepulchre4Christianity's most holiest churches, in Jerusalem on the site of Golgotha. Christians believe Jesus was buried here.


Photo #4 Gate to Smaller Churches

After passing the gate, there is a gate opening to a yard just before the church.

On both sides of the yard are other, smaller churches. The entrance to the Holy Sepulchre is located on the north side of the yard.

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Photo #5 Chapel - Inside 4th Century (Constantine) Walls

Chapel inside 4th century Constantine Church walls. A fire damaged the alter and surrounding walls.  Jewish tombs from 1st century are located  on south side of chapel, supposed to contain bodies of Joseph of Arimathea and Nikodemus, the men responsible for taking down and burying body of the one on the cross. (mentioned in Luke 23: 50-56)

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Photo #6 Chapel of Thieves and Jesus, peace be upon him

View looking toward the chapel at the end of the north walls. According to Orthodox Christian beliefs, Jesus along with two thieves were kept in here before the crucifixion.

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Photo #7 Smaller Chapel and Alter

Just outside the entrance to the Prison of Jesus is a smaller chapel with an alter. Under the altar, behind a glass window, are two holes in the floor. According to tradition, these holes are the imprints of the feet of Jesus.
Visitors and pilgrims leave notes inside the window.

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Photo #8 Prison of Jesus, peace be upon him

Inside the inner room is the chapel that according to church traditions is the place of the prison of Jesus.

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Photo #9 Greek Orthodox Calvary (place of Golgotha [skull])

An orthodox priest watches as Christians vista the place they believe Jesus, peace be upon him, was put on a cross.

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Photo #10 Archway Staircase to Golgotha

Arched stairway on south side of church, leading to Golgotha (skull) the site supposed to be where crucifixion took place.

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*Photo #11 Chapel of ADAM, peace be upon him

Orthodox Christians believe Adam, peace be upon him, the very first man created by God, is buried at the site of the cross.
Chapel of Adam, on the east side of church has the Golgotha (skull) rock, located behind a window. According to some beliefs a crack in the rock was caused by an earthquake during the crucifixion.
[Matthew 27:51] "Jesus, when he had cried again.. and the earth did quake, and the rocks split".

The same crack is also seen on the floor over the chapel.



Comments   

#10 victoria stefan 2013-04-14 00:51
Skheih Yusuf jazaak Allah kheiran jazaa and all who are working with you may we have a french translation of the islamic news?
#9 Samah Saad 2013-04-06 02:49
Asalam Alikom Shiekh Yusuf my name is Samah from Egypt ,really iam so proud to know that a great Shiekh like you converted Islam after he was a priest and choose the right path may Allah show any astray the right way and make our final destination the great paradise " Al Jannah" Ameen,please pray for me ya Shiekh i need your prayers & supplications ask Allah to heal me and to have his satisfaction, you are a blessed man and iam sure Allah will accept your prayers. thanks
#8 shuaib muazzam 2013-04-05 08:10
although i could not the whole story but what i got was good enough....MA SHA ALLAH.......... ....
#7 Yusuf Estes 2013-04-04 22:57
Salam alaykum, we are excited for this new 3 part article to be on our website (FREE) and you can turn it into a "Book".
Look at top of the page - ICON for PDF file (in the bar right after my name). Click and let it do all the work - PRESTO A FREE BOOKLET
#6 a.a. 2013-04-04 01:56
wat leds to haram is hamarm
opne the odors to the kafr to the wrishiop of jesus is harmam peroid
dshirk beg time!
haram
#5 Yusuf Estes 2013-04-04 01:53
Dear A.A._Salam alaykum,_Thank you for your comments and we do pray to Allah to Guide all of us, ameen._Salahude en al Ayyubi was probably one of the greatest Muslims of his time and he is the one who initiated this idea in the first place._The problem was several Christians were fighting over who would be the ones to open the door and Salahudeen solved the problem by having Muslims do it for them and keep the key safe and the lives of the people safe too._Could we consider it a good thing to be neighbors and keep the peace for everyone? _You are free to comment back if you like, inshallah. We are open to hear more on this topic.
#4 a.a. 2013-04-04 00:31
haram!
muslims have to do nithing of karfirs period.
they cant give kthe keys to dthem as this to be shirk 2
them don get to abed dors to them n them nothng doing to theats the kurfr
haram harm!
#3 Muhammad Sirajuddin 2013-04-02 14:39
A good food for thought for Christians and is certainly something that they must diligently ponder upon, only to realize that Jesus was indeed a Muslim, a Prophet, spreading only the message of almighty Allah.
#2 Yusuf Estes 2013-04-02 09:23
Wow!
That is one powerful story - And shows how things can be if we apply our true Islam and be patient with others, especially Christians.
Let's work together on getting this message out to the people, inshallah.
#1 Abdul 2013-04-02 08:47
asalamu alaikum,

wow I didn't know the muslims are the holders of the keys to jesus(pbuh) church.

ma salama

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