City Spotlight

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Masjid al-Aqsa is not only the Qibly mosque (with the silver/black dome). It is in fact the whole region including the Dome of the Rock where it is the 3rd holiest Mosque in Islam (any prayer done within this area is a multiplication of 250x and other hadith is 500x each prayer). Also known as Bayt al-Maqdis or Bayt al-Muqaddas (House of the Holiness). The name ‘Masjid al-Aqsa’ translates as ‘the farthest mosque’ and is the third most holy place in Islam. It was here that in around 621 CE the Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) came on the night journey from Makkah riding on the Buraq. Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No 3366: Narrated Abu Dhar: I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Which mosque was first built on the surface of the earth?" He ﷺ said, "Al- Masjid-ul-,Haram (in Mecca)." I asked, "Which was built next?" He ﷺ replied "The mosque of Al-Aqsa ( in Al Quds [Jerusalem]) ." I asked, "What was the period of construction between the two?" He ﷺ said, "Forty years." He ﷺ added, "Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, for the best thing is to do so (i.e. to offer the prayers in time). https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3366 . . . The first qiblah for Muslims; The station of al-Isra and al-Mi’raj; The second house of Allah built on earth; The place where hundreds of Messengers of Allah (ﷻ) are buried; The place where many Sahabah are buried; A place where miracles were shown by Allah’s will; A place which Allah (ﷻ) Himself calls a ‘blessed place’; Referred to directly and indirectly, 70 times in the Quran; The place where angels have descended with Allah’s message; The only place on earth where all the Messengers of Allah prayed at the same time led by the Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) The only Masjid mentioned by name in the Quran apart from the Ka’bah Most religious Jews regard entry into the al-Aqsa compound (which they call the Temple Mount) as a violation of Jewish law. This restriction is based on the belief that even though the Temple (of Solomon) was destroyed centuries ago, the precise location of the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary that was once entered by the High Priest, is not known. Hence the restriction is applied to the entire compound. They believe that the Temple should only be built after the coming of their Messiah, and it is their belief that it would be presumptuous of people to force God’s hand. However, there are several Jewish groups who differ from this opinion. Many Evangelical Christians consider it to be a prerequisite to Armageddon and the Second Coming (of Jesus), and both are actively encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple on the Aqsa ground. There are ten open gates leading in and out of Masjid al-Aqsa. Nine of these are can be used by Muslims, the exception is the Moroccan Gate (Bab al-Magharib) which is solely for non-Muslims to enter from. Masjid al-Aqsa has 25 wells within its compound.