kaburi la mtume YUSHA

This is the tomb of Yusha (a.s.), a Prophet who was very close to Musa (a.s.) and took his place as the leader of the Bani Israil after his death. He is known as Joshua in the Bible.

    Yusha (a.s.) was the great grandson of Prophet Yusuf (a.s.), his full name being Yusha bin Nun bin Afraeem bin Yusuf. Although he is not mentioned by name in the Holy Quran there are references made to him in two places.

    After the Bani Israil fled bondage in Egypt and wandered the desert for 40 years Musa (a.s.) died close to Bayt al-Maqdis, often referred to as ‘The Promised Land’. Yusha (a.s.) took over and led the Bani Israil over the River Jordan and into the surroundings of Jericho (also known locally as Ariha). It was a splendid city with large palaces. He laid siege over it for six months and then with a final push, raising the takbeer, he led his army in and conquered it.

    It is said that when they were about to take the city of Jerusalem it was on a Friday at Asr time. The sunset was close approaching which would subject them to the observance of the sabbath (on Saturday), meaning that they would have had to cease fighting. Yusha (a.s.) addressed the sun that it was under a command while he was under another command and he prayed to Allah, “O Allah, hold it back from setting!”. It was stopped till Allah made him victorious.

    A hadith has been narrated from Abu Hurairah (r.a.) that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, ”Surely, the sun has never been stopped from setting down for a human being except for Yusha (a.s.) on the evening he invaded the Bayt al-Maqdis.”

    The Bani Israil lived in the Bayt al-Maqdis for some time and Yusha (a.s.) taught them the Torah and ruled according to it. He lived for 127 years