There is no way you have not heard about the Masjid Aqsa attack in recent times. This news has sent shivers down the spine of everyone.
It holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims. It is Islam’s one of the holiest spots. During the journey of Israa and Miraj, the Prophetallallhu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was transported to this place. It was the setting for the most remarkable meeting in human history – When every Prophet who has ever lived gathered in front of Prophet Muhammadallallhu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) for congregational prayer.
Nonetheless, here are a few things you may not know about Masjid Al Aqsa:
It isn’t just one mosque
Yes, the place known as Masjid Al Aqsa contains a number of mosques. The building at the Mosque’s southernmost corner is known as Masjid Al-Aqsa. That is, in reality, the Qibly mosque, named because it is the one that is nearest to the Qibla. Masjid Al Aqsa refers to the entire mount and is often referred to as Haram Al-Sharif to avoid confusion. Other mosques on the site, such as the Buraq masjid, the Marwani masjid, and others, are typically associated with historical events.
It is a burial ground
It is unknown how many Prophets and Sahaabas of the Prophetallallhu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) are buried there. However, there are a lot of them. Prophet Sulaiman’alayhi’l-salm (peace be upon Him) may be buried there since we know that Prophets are often buried where they died, and He passed away while supervising the construction of the mosque.
It was a garbage dump
During the era when Jews were not permitted to live in the city, the masjid’s area was used as a garbage dump by the city’s Roman residents. When UmarrayAllhu ‘anhu (may Allah be pleased with Him) rescued the city, he used his bare hands to clear the garbage. He also put an end to the Jews’ centuries-long exile by inviting 70 families from a nearby refugee village to return to Jerusalem.
Al Ghazali lived and wrote his magnum opus there
Ihyaa Ulum Al-Din by the great Islamic scholar Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali is a well-known book in Islamic literature. Both schools of thought admire Him for his ability to delve into the complexities of the human soul while staying accurate to Quranic and Prophetic teachings. Most people are unaware that Al-Ghazali lived in Masjid Al-Aqsa for a time and wrote the book while there.
It was used as a stable, palace, and execution chamber
The bulk of Jerusalem’s Muslim community was imprisoned in Masjid Al Aqsa when the first Crusaders arrived. They slaughtered approximately 70,000 people before converting the Qibly Masjid into a palace, the Dome of the Rock into a church, and the basement chambers into a stable. Muslims who survived the initial attack were later crucified in the center of the Masjid on a massive cross.
The Dome of the Rock used to look very different
The Umayyad Caliph, Abdul Malik ibn Marwan, constructed the Dome of the Rock, which is thought to be the first dome ever built in Islamic history. It was initially a wooden dome with brass, lead, or ceramic cover. Despite this, a special gold coating was added to the dome during the Ottoman Caliph Suleiman the Magnificent’s reign, along with Ottoman tiles to complete the construction.
These are some of the interesting things about Masjid Al-Aqsa that many people are unaware of. If you want to be updated with Masjid Aqsa news, keep visiting
