AL-SALT: TOMB OF NABI SHOAYB. Bethany: Where Jesus Was Baptised by Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist).

Jordan: The Land of Prophets

(Part 3 of 5)

As-Salt: Tomb of Nabi Shoayb,

Bethany: Where Jesus Was

Baptised By Prophet Yahya (John),

Son of Prophet Zakariah

Shoayb was the Father-in-law of Moses.

He was from Midian (south of Jordan)

(M. Javed Naseem)

(Tomb of Prophet Shoayb (Jethro) in As-Salt, Jordan)

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)

Abraham was the head of the family of messengers of God. He was from a country which is known as Iraq today. He also lived in Syria, Palestine and Egypt and preached there. His final destination was Arabia.

Abraham was one of those Prophets of Allah who had the privilege of spreading the word of God along with other messengers from his family at the same time. Lot was a messenger of Allah and he was Abraham’s nephew. He preached in the central regions of Jordan. Abraham had two sons, the elder son Ishmael (or Ismail) and the younger son Isaac (or Ishaq). Isaac preached in Syria and Palestine. Ishmael assisted his father Abraham in the Arabia and helped him built the holy ‘Kaaba’, which is the centre of Islam today.

(The mosque and tomb of Prophet Shoayb (Jethro) in As-Salt.)

Prophet Shoayb (Jethro or Yitro)

Prophet Shoayb (Shoaib) – Jethro in Bible; Yitro in Torah; also called Reuel – was the father-in-law of Prophet Musa (Moses). He was a shepherd and a well-known priest in Midian or Madyan, a town in the south of Jordan. He gave his daughter Zipporah (also called Rohaya) in marriage to Musa (Moses).

Note: Some say that Jethro was not Shoayb; he was another saint who preached in the same area but centuries after Shoayb’s era. Allah knows best.

(Wadi Shoayb - The Valley of Shoayb (Jethro) in As-Salt, Jordan.)

Prophet Musa’s (Moses’s) Father-in-Law

Prophet Shoayb’s daughter, Zipporah (or Rohaya), became Moses's wife after Moses had fled Pharaoh’s Egypt, having killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Having fled to Midian, Moses intervened in a water-access dispute between Shoayb’s seven daughters and the local shepherds. Consequently Shoayb invited Moses into his home and offered him hospitality. However, Moses remained conscious that he was a stranger in exile. He named his first son (Shoayb's grandson) “Gershom”, meaning "stranger there".

Moses is said to have worked as a shepherd for Shoayb for 40 years before returning to Egypt to lead the Hebrews to Canaan (now in Israeli territory), the "promised land.” Prophet Shoayb (Jethro) is mentioned in the Bible in Exodus.

Shoayb, Moses' non-Hebrew father-in-law, is a central figure, particularly in the rites and pilgrimages, of the Druze religion. Jethro is revered as the chief prophet in the Druze religion. They believe he was a "hidden" and "true prophet" who communicated directly with God and then passed on that knowledge to Moses, whom they describe as a "recognized" and “revealed” prophet.

Shuayb's mission is often mentioned in the Quran with the mission of Noah, Hud, Saleh and Lot. Scholars have pointed out that these five Prophets exemplify the early prophetic missions: The prophet would be sent to his community; the community would pay no attention to his warning and would instead threaten him with punishment; after years of preaching, God would ask him to leave his community and his people would be subsequently destroyed in a punishment. Scholars interpret the listing of the five prophets to be chronological, with Noah being the only prophet in the list who preached before the Great Flood. He was also a descendant of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).

Shoayb was selected by Allah as his messenger for the people living in the region of Madyan, south Jordan. They lived in an area surrounded by thick forests. Their general occupation was trading – buying and selling. But they were not very honest people. They often lied to each other and cheated in their trade. They were like merchants from Hell. They opposed Shoayb’s teachings and kicked him out of town.

When Prophet Shoaib and his followers left the township. there came the commandment of Allah to pass. One night a big blast struck the inhabitants of Madyan and by next morning they were lying there, under the debris of their houses, lifeless, as if they had never lived. Allah narrated their account in the Holy Quran:

“So the earthquake seized them,

and morning found them prostrate

in their dwelling-place. Those who

denied Shoaib became as though

they had not dwelt there. Those who

denied Shoaib, they were the losers.”

(al-Quran 7:91-92)

Prophet Loot (Lot)

Lot was the nephew of Prophet Abraham and he preached in the regions that, geographically, are part of Jordan and its surrounding countries today. The big towns of Sadom and Gamorrah were situated on the east and west sides of the River Jordan, and are inside of Jordanian and Israeli territory today. Lot was selected as a Messenger of Allah for the people who were extremely perverted. They loved naked lewdness. They went lustfully after the young men instead of women. In today’s language, they were ‘gay’ or ‘homosexuals’.

(Town of Sodom destroyed by rain of Fire and Brimstone.)

God commanded Lot to tell his people to give up their sinful habits and perversion; and fear Allah. But those people were not ready to listen to him. They jeered at Lot. They called Lot and his family ‘the despicable’ and decided to get rid of them. So, they started demanding the expulsion of Lot and his family from their neighborhood. Eventually, they chased Lot and his followers out of the township.

And then came the Commandment of Allah to pass. The towns of Sadom and Gomorrah were destroyed by the rain of fire – the burning brimstones.

According to the Torah, the kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah were allied with the cities of Admah, Zeboim, and Bela. These five cities, also known as the “Cities of the Plain” (from Genesis in the Authorized Version), were situated on the Jordan River plain in the southern region of the land of Canaan.

Daily Mirror, UK, adds:

Biblical sin city Sodom FOUND in Jordan,

claim archaeologists after decade-long dig

A dig in the Middle Eastern country could have unearthed ruins from the notorious metropolis of vice. The ancient biblical city of sin Sodom may have been found in Jordan, a team of archaeologists claim. Experts excavating the site, in Tall el Hammam, say they have discovered a Bronze Age city-state that matches "every Sodom criterion".

According to the Bible, book of Genesis, God consumed Sodom and neighboring Gomorrah with fire and brimstone due to their resident's depraved behavior.

"When we explored the area, the choice of Tall el-Hammam as the site of Sodom was virtually a no-brainer since it was at least five to 10 times larger than all the other Bronze Age sites in the entire region."

The site is in the Jordan valley, close to the Dead Sea. It appears to have consisted of an upper and lower city - where inhabitants would live according to their wealth/standard.

(Courtesy: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/biblical-sin-city-sodom-found-6635533)

The Dead Sea: The Lowest Point On Earth

The Dead Sea has a very strategic and religious location. It has become a ‘Holy Sea’ since the historians found the Dead Sea Scrolls there. So many Prophets of God passed by it. Most Prophets who traveled from the south (like Egypt or Arabia) to the north (Syria, Jordan, Palestine, etc.) passed by it. Similarly, the Prophets traveling from the northern areas to Egypt, also passed by the Dead Sea. It touched the lands of Egypt, Palestine, and Jordan; but today its west coast is occupied by Israel.

The Dead Sea, lying 1,300 feet below sea level, is the lowest and most mineral-rich body of water in the world. A significant landmark, too salty to sustain any marine life, the Dead Sea is famous for the water’s mysteriously buoyant qualities which allow people to float across the top of the water, without needing to swim.

(The author at Dead Sea, Jordan)

As well as being famous for its numerous health benefits and year-round warm climate, the Dead Sea also contains a profound heritage. The sea is mentioned numerous times in the bible and has long been associated with mysticism, wonderment, and religious significance in the Biblical era.

(The Dead Sea, south Jordan.)

According to the Biblical narrative, when people hear that Lot was hosting two young guests, the residents of Sodom surrounded his house, angrily demanding that they are released from his protection. The angels then revealed their true nature to Lot, urging him and his family to flee the city before the incoming apocalypse. However, they cautioned Lot and his wife not to turn back and watch the city’s destruction.

(The pillar symbolizing Prophet Loot's wife after destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.)

The Biblical narrative says that Lot’s wife decided not to heed the angel’s warning, and when she turned back to survey the city’s destruction, God turned her into a pillar of salt.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are Biblical manuscripts, dating back to the third Century BC. They were first found by a Bedouin shepherd called Muhammed edh-Dhib in 1947, who was examining the Qumran Caves, which are located near the northern bank of the Dead Sea. This discovery prompted a full-scale archaeological dig in the caves and many additional parchments were later found.
Today, the Dead Sea Scrolls collection is housed in the Shrine of the Book Monument in the Israel Museum.

(The Dead Sea scrolls, now kept in an Israeli museum.)

Bethany: Prophet Yahya (John) Baptizes Jesus

The Spot Where Christianity Was Born

Bethany Beyond Jordan is the place where Jesus was baptized by Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) in the River Jordan. In Jordan it is known by the Arabic name of Al-Maghtas. It is near the Madaba city. Jordan River is the border between Jordan and Palestine – actually between Jordan and Israel. The Baptism Site is the spot where Christianity was first borm.

{River Jorder separating Jordan from Palestine (now Israel), at Bethany where Prophet Jesus was baptized by Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist)}.

Since there is no Palestine country, Israel controls everything officially. Palestine does not exist for practical purposes. It exists on paper only. Ironically, before 1945, Israel didn’t exist; it was all Palestine that existed for centuries and during the period of Prophets.

(Exact spot where Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan. The river has changed its course during time and flows a few meters away now.)

Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) was the son of Prophet Zachariah (or Zakariah). Prophet Zakariah was the Guardian of Maryam (Mary), the mother of Jesus. Both Zakariah and Yahya preached in and around the Jordan Valley. Yahya (John) was well known in the region for baptizing people. He pleaded people to repent and ask God for forgiveness of their sins. Those who confessed to him, he used to give them the baptism in the Jordan River to remove their sins. After the baptism of Jesus, the Prophethood was transferred to Jesus, and Jesus himself started baptizing people. That’s how and where the Christianity was born.

In the Bible, the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan has been described in three of the gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).

The site of Al-Maghtas (Arabic word meaning: baptism or immersion) on the East side of the River in Jordan has been deemed the earliest place of worship. This site was found following the UNESCO-sponsored excavations. Al-Maghtas was visited by Pope John Paul-II in March 2000, and he said: "In my mind I see Jesus coming to the waters of the River Jordan not far from here to be baptized by John the Baptist."

Prophet Yahya (John The Baptist) Was Beheaded

John the Baptist, well-known for baptizing Jesus in the river Jordan, is commonly referred to as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus. They both preached about repentance and the Kingdom of God and criticized the religious leaders of their day.  Additionally, they were both considered martyrs persecuted by officials of the Roman Empire.

According to the gospels of Matthew and Mark, John the Baptist (Prophet Yahya) had been imprisoned because he condemned Empror Herod Antipas for divorcing his wife and unlawfully taking Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip-I. On Herod's birthday, Herodias' daughter, Salome, danced before the king and his guests and Herod was so pleased that he promised to give her any request she desired.  Out of revenge for criticizing her marriage to Herod, Herodias told Salome to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.  Although Herod was dismayed by the request, he reluctantly agrees to have John executed in the prison of Machaerus. His head was presented to Salome in a platter.

(Umayyad Mosque -- or Umwi Masjid -- in Damascua, Syria, where the head of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) is buried in a tomb. His body is buried in Samaria/Sebastia, Palestine.)

Tomb of Yahya (John the Baptist)

The tomb of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) is situated in the Umayyad Mosque (Umwi Masjid) in Damascus, Syria. His body was buried in Palestine at Samaria, now called Sebastia. According to Christian tradition, (legend had it that) Saint John's head was buried there. Ibn al-Faqih relays the story that during the construction of the mosque, workers found a cave-chapel which had a box containing the head of St. John the Baptist, or Yahya ibn Zakaryah in Islam. Upon learning of that and examining it, al-Walid-I ordered the head to be buried under a specific pillar in the mosque that was later inlaid with marble.

(Tomb of Prophet Yahya or John the Baptist in the Umayyad Mosque (Umwi Masjid) in Damascua, Syria.)

In 2001, Pope John Paul II visited the mosque, primarily to visit the relics of John the Baptist. It was the first time a pope paid a visit to a mosque. Similar to the account of John the Baptist in the Bible, the birth of the Prophet Yahya in the Quran is miraculous, since Zakariah and his wife were unable to conceive together—before Zakariah’s desperate prayers for a child were answered.

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