History of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Explore the rich heritage of the third holiest site in Islam and the first Qibla of the Muslims.

Knowledge & History

Understanding the Sanctuary

A common misconception is limiting "Al-Aqsa" to just one building. The reality is much grander.

Al-Haram Al-Sharif

The entire 35-acre compound is legally and historically considered "Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa". Any prayer performed anywhere within these walls carries the multiplied reward.

Al-Qibli Mosque

The dark, lead-domed building in the southern part of the compound facing towards Mecca. This is where the Imam stands to lead the congregational prayers.

Dome of the Rock

The iconic golden-domed structure (Qubbat al-Sakhrah) built in the center of the compound over the Foundation Stone, marking the site of the Prophet's ascension to heaven.

Historical Timeline of Al-Aqsa

Antiquity

The Original Foundation

According to authentic Hadith, Al-Aqsa was the second mosque built on Earth, constructed forty years after the Kaaba in Mecca. Islamic tradition links its initial construction to the early Prophets, commonly Prophet Adam or Ibrahim (AS).

Prophet Sulayman

The Rebuilding

Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) extensively rebuilt and expanded the sanctuary. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mentioned that after completing it, Sulayman asked Allah for three things, one of which was that anyone who comes to this mosque solely to pray will have their sins wiped away.

621 CE

Al-Isra wal-Mi'raj

The Night Journey. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) traveled miraculously from Mecca to Al-Aqsa in one night. Here, he led all previous prophets in prayer before ascending to the heavens (Mi'raj) to receive the commandment of the five daily prayers.

637 CE

Umar's Peaceful Conquest

Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab entered Jerusalem peacefully. He personally cleaned the rubbish from the Temple Mount that had accumulated under Roman rule and established a wooden mosque at the southern end (site of the current Al-Qibli Mosque).

691 - 705 CE

Umayyad Grand Architecture

Caliph Abd al-Malik and his son Al-Walid commissioned the monumental stone architecture we see today. They built the breathtaking Dome of the Rock (691 CE) and reconstructed the larger Al-Qibli Mosque.

1099 CE

The Crusader Occupation

The First Crusade captured Jerusalem. A horrific massacre occurred within the compound. The Crusaders repurposed Al-Qibli Mosque into a palace and the Dome of the Rock into a church.

1187 CE

Liberation by Salahuddin

Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi (Saladin) recaptured Jerusalem. He restored the compound to its Islamic function, purifying the sanctuaries with rosewater from Damascus and installing an intricately carved wooden minbar (pulpit).

The Virtues and Importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Islam

Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, located in the heart of Jerusalem (Al-Quds), is not just a piece of historical architecture; it is fundamentally intertwined with the Islamic faith. It is one of the three holy sites to which a Muslim is encouraged to undertake a specific religious journey.

1. The First Qibla

Before the Kaaba in Mecca became the direction of prayer, the early Muslims faced Al-Aqsa Mosque. It served as the first Qibla (direction of prayer) for the Muslim Ummah for approximately 16 to 17 months after the Hijrah (migration) to Medina, underscoring its deep spiritual significance.

2. The Multiplied Reward of Prayer

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly stated the spiritual merit of praying in this sanctuary. According to various authentic narrations, a single prayer performed in Al-Aqsa is multiplied significantly in reward (often cited as 250 or 500 times the reward of a normal prayer), surpassed only by prayers in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and the Sacred Mosque in Mecca.

3. Land of the Prophets

The land surrounding Al-Aqsa is often described in the Quran as "blessed." It is the resting place and historical homeland of numerous prophets, including Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob), Dawud (David), Sulayman (Solomon), and Isa (Jesus), peace be upon them all.