Al-Aqsa Mosque History

The Mosque built on Temple Mount is known as Haram al-Sharif, this was expanded by King Herod the Great. Before this, in Islamic beliefs, the masjid is known to be dated to the time of Prophet Ibraham (PBUH). The Aqsa mosque was an important mosque during the lifetime of Prophet Ibrahim, his son Prophet Ishaq and grandson Prophet Yaqub(PBUH). When Prophet Yaqub’s son, Prophet Yusuf (PBUH) came into power, he suggested leaving Egypt where they were engulfed by poverty. Ever since there was no one to guard the Al-Aqsa mosque as their own and hence it expanded, renovated, and reconstructed many times. He trusted the people of Palestine, who were his believers to take care of the mosque.

The Israelites migrated to Egypt to look for better prospects of better material life. But these people fell into becoming slaves for the Egyptians until Prophet Musa (PBUH) or Moses was ordered by Allah to save them. However, they refused to return to Palestine on the orders of God and therefore were banished to wander around the desert for 40 years. This was the history of the Jews. Prophet Daoud (PBUH) started his kingdom in Palestine, and his son re-established the masjid with the help of the local people aside from which he also built a palace.

Importance and Story of Al-Aqsa Mosque

The masjid Al Aqsa Jerusalem played a very important role in the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The main reason for significance of Al Aqsa Mosque was that the masjid was home to many Prophets before Muhammad (PBUH) went there. It was the center of preaching monotheism. Later by order of Allah, the believers turned from facing the masjid to the holy Kaaba. A significant part of the history of Al Aqsa, which actually makes it an important mosque in Islam is the night of the journey or the night of Isra. During this journey, the Prophet fell asleep on the Kaaba, late at night. That is when the angel Jibreel provided him with a winged creature known as Burqa, who carried the Prophet(PBUH) to this mosque. Later that night, the Prophet (PBUH) departed his journey to Heaven.

Suggested Read: Isra Miraj: The Night Journey Of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

After the Prophet (PBUH) died, the second kalif of Islam, Umar Al Khattab entered Jerusalem without shedding any blood, when a Christian leader invited him. Umar’s personality resembled that of their liberator and thus, it wasn’t that difficult to accept him as their leader. Both Christians and Jews were happy to have him and the Muslims with their justice.

Al-Aqsa Mosque Architecture

The history of Al-Aqsa mentions some important architectural changes. The mosque is constructed upon an artificial platform supported by arches that were built to overcome difficult typographic conditions. The first renovation started in 1922. The renovations caused the establishment of the mosque’s ancient Umayyad foundations that changed the interior columns by the replacement of beams. These conserved the arches and drums in the interior of the main dome. The southern wall was also rebuilt and replaced timber with a slab of concrete.

However, earthquakes destroyed some of the renovations. And thus, finally, the architecture came down to:

• A rectangular mosque, that goes over for 36 acres and can accommodate 5000 worshipers.
• There is a Dome of Rock, which exhibits Byzantine architecture. Although nothing remains originally, the present-day dome is woodwork plated with enamelwork.
• Under the dome is a chapel or a Muslim prayer hall which is situated in the southern part of the masjid.
• The mosque also consists of a facade filled with balustrades consisting of arcades and small columns.
• The interior of the mosque features seven aisles with many halls. The mosaic and the inscriptions are facing the main entrance near the dome.

Al-Aqsa Mosque facts

1. Masjid Al Aqsa is not just one mosque but a collection of mosques.
2. The main mosque in the Al Aqsa complex is Qibla Mosque, present in the southern corner of the premises.
3. Buraq Masjid and Marwani Mosque are also present in the Haram Al-Sharif or Al Aqsa Mosque.
4. There are many graves of noble Muslims present in the complex, such as the grave of Prophet Suleiman.
5. The name of the Masjid is mentioned in the holy book of the Quran along with the Holy Kaaba.
6. Ihyaa Ulum Al-Din by Abu Hamid Al Ghazali, a famous Islamic literature book, was written inside Al Aqsa.
7. The dome of the rock is among the initial domes built in Islam.
8. Al Aqsa for long was used as dumping grounds by Romans until Hazrat Umar cleared the trash and litter from the premises.

An important part of the Islamic history, this mosque is a symbol of Allah’s greatness. It stands for a lot of things, and is an important Islamic religious site for Muslims around the world. A visit here is all one needs to witness the grandeur and the beauty of the Al Aqsa mosque.

FAQs about Al-Aqsa Mosque & Its History

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3 Holy Mosques Tour Significance

There are numerous holy sites that Muslims can visit and see. Especially the ones written in the holy Qur’an are of massive significance to devout Muslims. The 3 holy mosques tour covers the three most important of these places. Islamic traditions and verses in the holy book of the Qur’an reflect the significance of these mosques.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Do not prepare yourself for a journey except to three Mosques i.e. The Great Mosque of Makkah, the Mosque of Aqsa and My Mosque.” – (Bukhari 20:2)

The 3 Holiest Mosques

1. Masjid al-Ḥarām – The first site of the 3 mosques holy tour

Masjid al-Ḥarām is also known as the Great Mosque of Makkah. The name literally means ‘The Sacred Mosque’. For Muslims, it is one of the holiest places to visit and is credited as the world’s largest mosque. During the pilgrimage of Umrah and Hajj, millions of pilgrims gather in this mosque to pray at the holy Kaaba and attain salvation.

As per Islamic belief, the Great Mosque of Makkah was the creation of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) along with his son Ismail or Ishmael. Under the orders of Allah, they built both the Kabba and the Mosque. The revered Black Stone is located on the holy Kaaba’s eastern corner. Muslims believe that is the only remaining part of the actual structure built by Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH). Islamic teachings mention that the holy well of Zamzam is a miraculous well. It is believed to have never dried since it was discovered.

Presently, the Great Mosque of Makkah stands covering 356,800 square meters. It includes both indoor and outdoor praying areas. It is one of the most important sites in the 3 holy mosques tour.

2. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi – The second mosque of the 3 mosques holy tour

Situated in Madina, the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is also known as the Mosque of the Prophet. It is the second-largest and the second holiest mosque in the world. It is the third mosque built in the history of Islam and now serves as the final resting place of Allah’s peaceful messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The foundation of the original mosque was laid down by the Prophet (PBUH) himself. It was adjacent to the house where he lived after his migration to the holy city of Madinah in 622 AD. At that time, it was an open air structure that had an elevated dais for the Quran reading sessions. The mosque acted as a religious educational institution, court, and community center.

Apart from the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Mosque also houses the final resting place for the Rashidun caliphs, Umar and Abu Bakr. The southeast corner of the mosque has special importance. The Green Dome, which was actually the house of Bibi Aisha, now serves as the tomb area of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

3. Al-Aqsa – The final site of the 3 mosques holy tour

Situated in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is also known as the Temple Mount. The place is not only sacred for Muslims but for Jews and Christians too. As per Islamic teachings, Al-Aqsa is the second mosque built right after the Masjid al-Ḥarām located in Makkah. Al-Haram Al-Sharif, also referred to as the Noble Sanctuary, is a 3-acre compound area that houses the Al-Aqsa. Here, pilgrims also pay homage at the Dome of the Rock. As per Islamic traditions, this is the structure where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is believed to have stepped into Heaven. It is also a source of major conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Facts one should know on the 3 holy Mosques tour

• With a total mosque area of around 356,000 sq meters, Masjid Al Haram can accommodate more than 4 million pilgrims and visitors at a time. It has 9 minarets with an average height of 292 feets.
• Masjid An Nabawi was the first place to have electricity in the whole of Arabia. Also, the mosque has expanded 100 times its old original area and now can accommodate around 1 million pilgrims simultaneously.
• Masjid Al Aqsa was a dumping ground for a long time and used by Romans to dump their garbage in the area. Later, Umar (ra) cleared the trash from the city and the masjid and also gave the right to refugees to occupy the city once again.

During the 3 holy mosques tour, the mosques can be visited in any order, depending upon where you are starting from. Since two of these mosques are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pilgrims spend more time in Makkah and Madinah. Flights to these cities are available from all parts of the world. Pilgrims must have valid visas for both Saudi Arabia and Israel.

FAQs regarding the 3 Holy Mosques Tour

Suggested Read: Life After Umrah: 5 Things To Do Once You Are Back

The post The 3 Holy Mosques Tour – Masjid Al Haram, Masjid Al-Nabawi, Masjid Al Aqsa appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.