Mona Khalef

Dr. Barzegar
Religious Studies
15 December 2014

Masjid Al-Aqsa
Masjid Al-Aqsa is among the holiest monuments in Islam. Rich history dwells within the
walls of this mosque, make it the third most significant place of worship for Muslims. Also
known as Bayt al-Muqaddas meaning home of the sacred, this early Islamic style mosque
was originally built approximately 1,300 years ago by Caliph Al-Walid ibn AbdulMalek Marwan
in 709 AD.1 Masjid Al-Aqsa is the oldest remaining monument in Islamic history.
In Arabic, it is known as al-quds, bayt al-maqdis, and al-Quds al-Shareef. The city
of Jerusalem is of paramount importance to Muslims and Islamic history like it is to Christians
Jews. Jerusalem was the very first qibla in Islam. The word qibla refers to the direction in
which prayer is conducted. This is important because Muslims around the world prayer five or
more times a day towards a specific area. In this case, Jerusalem was the very first recognized
qibla. Later, it was changed to the Kaaba in the Holy city of Mecca. Masjid Al- Aqsa was
among the three mosques noted in the Quran making it of great significance.2 It is said that
Prophet Muhammad visited this holy city during his journey (Isra and Miraj). In Islam, every
detail of the Prophets life is noteworthy and should be emulated; therefore, the travel to
1
2

Mohsen, Mohamed K. Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, Palestine. Heart Reviews 14.2 (2013)
The Holy Quran (2:142-144)

Jerusalem is already prominent. During his travel to Jerusalem, the angel Gabriel lifted the
prophet to Masjid Al-Aqsa then to the heavens to meet God and his previous prophets and
messengers. Prayer, one of the five pillars of Islam, was then created and sent down for mankind
to recognize. Written in the Quran is: Immaculate is He who carried from the Sacred Mosque to
the Farthest Mosque whose environs We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our
signs. Indeed He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing.3 The city of Jerusalem holds one of the most
glorified miracles mentioned in the Quran. An article from Church & Society states, it is the
place of divine blessing. This blessing both purifies and is a source of holiness. Moreover, this
blessing is not limited only to the mosque but has spread to the surrounding city. Thus, Jerusalem
is known as the House of Holiness or Sanctum, Home of the Sanctuary.4 For one, Masjid AlAqsa is called the third holiest mosque because it is pronounced that by the Prophet, and also
because it is in the heart of a city which holds account for all three major religions. Muslims,
Christians, and Jews consider the land that this mosque was built on especially divine.
The story of Isra and Miraj is what makes Masjid Al-Aqsa so momentous. Al-isra (night
journey) is one of the greatest miracles in Islam. An entire chapter of the Qur'an was dedicated to
this famous moment in time. Prophet Muhammad was lifted through the night sky by the angel
Gabriel who came to him and woke him from his sleep. He found himself, after the blink of an
eye, at the entrance of Masjid Al-Aqsa. There, the Prophet was greeted by the previous prophets
such as Moses, Jesus, and Abraham. He then led them in prayer. Next, the angel Gabriel carried
him up to the night sky once again. The Prophet was ordered to have his people commit to 50
prayers a day. He agreed then descended down the levels of heaven. The Prophet went to his
Lord and asked for a reduced number of prayer for he knew that his people, the believers, could
3
4

The Holy Quran (17:1)

Jerusalem In Islamic Consciousness. Church & Society 96.1 (2005)

not commit to such a large number. The number of prayers was reduced by 5 times each time the
Prophet asked until finally, it was left at a total of 5 prayers to be completed by the Muslim
people. This established one of the 5 pillars of Islam: prayer. Then, at the blink of an eye, the
prophet returned to Jerusalem and prayed in the Al-Aqsa mosque. According to John Esposito,
editor of The Night Journey, It was briefly mentioned in the Quran but known primarily through
hadithThe Night Journey made Jerusalem the third holiest city in Islam and affirmed the
continuity of Islam with Judaism and Christianity.5
Masjid Al-Aqsa was initially built by caliph AbdulMalek of the Umayyad Dynasty and
completed by his son Al-Walid in 709 AD. He also built the eminent Dome of the Rock, also
known as Qubbat al-Sakhrah. The Dome of the Rock is located on the Haram al-Sharif or the
Temple Mount. It is not a place of worship, like Al-Aqsa, however it is a compliment to it. The
stone in which the shrine is built over is said to be the site in which Prophet Muhammad
ascended to heaven from. The Dome was built between 688 and 691 AD under the command of
the same caliph who built the mosque, Abd al-Malik. The dome was originally covered with pure
gold until much later when it was replaced with lead and aluminum. Now, the dome is topped
with brass coats and gold. The Dome of the Rock has a height of about 115 feet with the actual
dome having a 65 foot diameter. On the inside of the dome, there are some of the oldest existing
inscriptions from the Quran covering the lower structure. 6 The interior and exterior are
decorated with marble, mosaics, and gold. This Dome commemorates Prophet Muhammads
journey to heaven, Miraj, and serves to remind Muslims of Gods power, miracles, and
bounties.

5
6

"Night Journey." In The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Ed. John L. Esposito

Dome of the Rock. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. (2014) p.1

The Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock have undergone an abundant amount of
repairs and renovations. The entirety of Al-Aqsa has a rectangular shape to it with 144,000
square meters though the mosque itself is only about 35,000 square meters. The architecture of
the mosque is as important and artistic as its history. Masjid Al-Aqsa is extremely aesthetically
pleasing with its early Islamic architectural style and elegance. Antonie Wessels comments that
The building of the Dome of the Rock was also clearly intended to be a rival of the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher and to celebrate the triumph of Islam over Christianity. The Dome therefore
had to exceed the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in beauty. The Dome of the Rock thus played a
role in the symbolic appropriation of the country by Islam.7 There are about 120 stained glass
windows inside the mosque that bring color to the walls of the mosque when sunlight shines
through.
Masjid Al-Aqsa is rich with Islamic history and antiquity. It is the third holiest mosque
because the Prophet Muhammad shared the miracles of God with his believers, appointed it as
the first qibla for Muslims, and blessed it with endless tradition, faith, and prayer. This mosque
was born in the heart of the sacred city of Jerusalem which only adds to its riches and treasures.
With its outstanding mark in architecture and brilliant symbol of the life of the Prophet, al-Aqsa
mosque is the oldest remaining monument in Islamic history.

Wessels, Antonie. The Historical Significance Of Jerusalem For Muslims. Church & Society 96.1 (2005) 42-52