The importance of al Masjidul Aqsa Haram Sharif and Jerusalem have been central to those who submitted to the will of Allah (Muslims) from time immemorial. According to an authentic narration of Prophet Muhammad (saas), al Masjidul Aqsa was the second house of worship for the Lord on planet earth. Further, this was only built forty years after the first house, the Ka’ba in Makkah.
Allah (swt) through verses in the Holy Qur’an, Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) teachings and his visiting al Masjidul Aqsa during his miraculous journey – al Isra wal Meiraj - to the heavens has connected al Masjidul Aqsa and Jerusalem to the believes and respect of present day Muslims.
Allah (swt) through verses in the Holy Qur’an, Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) teachings and his visiting al Masjidul Aqsa during his miraculous journey – al Isra wal Meiraj - to the heavens has connected al Masjidul Aqsa and Jerusalem to the believes and respect of present day Muslims.
Site Plan:
Masjid al Aqsa:
A Mosque of timber was originally built here by Hazrat Umar (ra) in 638 AD. Abdul Malik ibn Marwan after the completion of the Dome of the Rock commissioned an extension to al Aqsa Mosque. His son Al Walid in 705 AD completed the work. The mosque at the time was large enough to accommodate five thousand worshippers. This building called al Aqsa must not be confused with the whole area also known as al Masjidual Aqsa Haram Sharif.
Directly beneath the eastern half of al Aqsa Mosque building is another subterranean area, leading from the courtyard in front of the Mosque to the Double Gate in the southern wall of the Sanctuary. Sealed for hundreds of years, this gate led to the Umayyad palaces which once lay to the south. This area has also been opened by Palestinians, against the wishes of Israelis, for worshipping.
The al Aqsa Mosque has been the centre of learning and worship throughout Islamic history. It has been modified several times to protect it from earthquakes, which sometimes occur in the area and to adopt to the changing needs of the local population.
The form of the present structure has remained essentially the same since it was reconstructed by the Khalifa Al Dhahir in 1033 AD. It is said he did not alter it from the previous architecture except to narrow it on each side.
The al Aqsa Mosque has been the centre of learning and worship throughout Islamic history. It has been modified several times to protect it from earthquakes, which sometimes occur in the area and to adopt to the changing needs of the local population.
The form of the present structure has remained essentially the same since it was reconstructed by the Khalifa Al Dhahir in 1033 AD. It is said he did not alter it from the previous architecture except to narrow it on each side.
Masjid Al Sakhra:
Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al sakhra)– Jerusalem became known as al Quds (The Holy). Many of Prophet’s Companions travelled to worship at the blessed precincts from which area the Prophet Muhammad (saas) was brought by night and from where he ascended through the seven heavens to his Lord.
In 690’s (72AH) the Umayyad Khalifa Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan commissioned the work to built the Dome over the rock. Essentially unchanged for more than fourteen centuries, the Dome of the Rock remains one of the world’s most beautiful enduring architectural treasures.
The gold Dome stretches 20m across the rock, rising to an apex of more than 35m above it.
In 690’s (72AH) the Umayyad Khalifa Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan commissioned the work to built the Dome over the rock. Essentially unchanged for more than fourteen centuries, the Dome of the Rock remains one of the world’s most beautiful enduring architectural treasures.
The gold Dome stretches 20m across the rock, rising to an apex of more than 35m above it.
Sura “Ya’sin” is inscribed across the top in the dazzling tile work commissioned in the 16th century by Suleiman the Magnificent.
The interior is exquisitely decorated, the two most important decorative elements are the glass mosaics and the carved marbles.
