Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, Palestine

This post was updated on October 31, 2025 to improve accuracy and add architectural details.

In the Old City of Jerusalem, Palestine, stands Masjid al-Aqsa, the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina. This mosque complex, whose name translates as "the Farthest Mosque," occupies the entire platform known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary). The silver-domed congregational prayer hall, completed in its current form by the 11th century, forms the southern anchor of a 35-acre sacred precinct that has witnessed fourteen centuries of Islamic devotion, architectural evolution, and Palestinian steadfastness. For Muslims worldwide, al-Aqsa represents not merely a building but a living connection to Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) miraculous Night Journey and an enduring symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance against occupation.

Who Built Masjid al-Aqsa and Why?

The mosque's origins reach back to the early Islamic period following the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 637 CE. Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Rashidun caliph, established the first simple prayer structure on the site. According to the 15th-century historian Mujir al-Din, Umar deliberately positioned the mosque on the southern end of the platform to orient it toward Mecca, establishing the proper qibla direction. This modest wooden structure could accommodate approximately 3,000 worshippers.

The transformation into a monumental congregational mosque began under the Umayyad Caliphate. Caliph Abd al-Malik (685-705 CE) initiated construction of a grand mosque on the same axis as the Dome of the Rock, which he had built around 691 CE. The mosque was finished by 705 CE, establishing the architectural ensemble that would define the Haram for centuries.

The Umayyads built al-Aqsa for multiple reasons: to mark the site of Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) Night Journey, to create a major congregational space for Jerusalem's Muslim community, and to establish Islamic architectural presence in a city sacred to multiple faiths. The mosque's construction utilized materials and labor from across the empire, with massive stones transported by ox-drawn wagons from nearby mountains.

What Makes Masjid al-Aqsa's Architecture Distinctive?

The congregational mosque building measures 80 meters long and 55 meters wide, employing the hypostyle plan (a hall of columns) characteristic of early Islamic architecture. Unlike most mosques of its era, al-Aqsa lacks a clearly defined courtyard; instead, the entire Haram platform functions as its outdoor prayer space.

The mosque's interior features seven aisles running north to south, supported by 45 columns. The central aisle is both the widest and tallest, creating a processional axis that leads toward the mihrab (prayer niche) on the southern qibla wall. This arrangement follows the basilica form, adapted from Byzantine architectural traditions that dominated the region before Islam's arrival. The stone columns are ancient, some likely reused from earlier structures, while marble columns were added during 20th-century restorations.

Above the mihrab rises a wooden dome covered in lead sheeting. This dome (one of the few early Islamic examples positioned directly before the prayer niche) creates a visual and spiritual focal point. The current dome reconstruction dates to after a 1969 arson attack that destroyed the original wooden structure.

The mosque's northern facade consists of fourteen stone arches, most in the Romanesque style. These arches, built by the Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir Billah in 1065 CE, were later modified by Crusaders and subsequently restored by the Ayyubids. The facade represents the layering of architectural interventions across nearly a millennium.

What Structures Make Up the al-Aqsa Complex?

The term "Masjid al-Aqsa" refers to the entire sanctuary covering approximately 144,000 square meters. The silver-domed congregational mosque (also called al-Qibli Mosque or Jami' al-Aqsa) is only one component of this sacred precinct. The compound includes numerous prayer halls, commemorative shrines, fountains, madrasas, and four minarets that together create one of Islam's most architecturally rich sites.

The Dome of the Rock

At the visual center of the Haram stands the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra), the gold-domed octagonal shrine built by Caliph Abd al-Malik between 691-692 CE. This structure, the world's oldest surviving work of Islamic architecture, was constructed over the Foundation Stone from which Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ascended to heaven during the Mi'raj. The Dome was never designed as a congregational mosque but rather as a commemorative shrine. It lacks a mihrab and minbar, distinguishing it from prayer halls.

The octagonal structure measures approximately 20 meters in diameter, with its design influenced by Byzantine churches including the Church of the Seat of Mary. The interior features elaborate mosaics depicting lush vegetation, and a lengthy inscription band circles the interior arcade. The exterior's appearance changed dramatically during the Ottoman period when Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent replaced original Umayyad mosaics with distinctive blue and turquoise tiles in the 16th century. The golden dome, which defines Jerusalem's skyline, was gilded by Jordan between 1992-1994 using 5,000 gold plates at a cost of $8 million.

Al-Marwani Mosque

Beneath the southeastern corner of the compound, 12.5 meters below the courtyard level, lies al-Marwani Mosque. This underground vaulted space covers approximately 3,750 square meters and can accommodate 4,000 worshippers, making it the largest roofed prayer area in the entire al-Aqsa complex.

The structure dates to the Herodian period when engineers built massive vaulted substructures to support the expanded Temple Mount platform. These vaults, supported by 88 pillars arranged in twelve rows, originally functioned as storage areas. During Crusader rule (1099-1187 CE), the space was converted into cavalry stables. Metal rings for tethering horses remain visible on some pillars, giving rise to the name "Solomon's Stables" that persisted for centuries despite having no historical connection to Prophet Suleiman (AS).

After Saladin's victory, the area returned to use as occasional storage and passage space. In 1996, the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf converted the long-dormant area into a functioning mosque, officially inaugurating it as al-Marwani Mosque (named after the Umayyad Marwani family of Abd al-Malik). The conversion provided desperately needed prayer space, particularly during Ramadan when tens of thousands gather at al-Aqsa. Worshippers enter via stone staircases from the main courtyard level.

The Four Minarets

Four stone minarets punctuate the complex's perimeter, all built during the Mamluk period. These towers, constructed across a single century, enabled the call to prayer to reach Jerusalem's Muslim neighborhoods on the mosque's southern, western, and northern sides.

The Ghawanima Minaret, built in 1297-1298 CE on the northwestern corner, stands as the tallest. Sultan Lajin commissioned architect Qazi Sharaf al-Din al-Khalili to design this nearly all-stone structure, which has withstood numerous earthquakes. The Fakhariyya Minaret occupies the southwestern corner, while the Bab al-Silsila Minaret rises directly above the Chain Gate on the western side. The Asbat Minaret stands at the northeastern position. Ottoman sultans later added elements to these minarets while constructing additional structures throughout the Haram.

Other Significant Structures

The complex includes numerous smaller domed structures, each with specific historical and religious significance. The Dome of the Chain (Qubbat al-Silsila), built adjacent to the Dome of the Rock during Abd al-Malik's reign (691-692 CE), consists of open arcades supporting a hexagonal dome. Its original purpose remains debated by scholars, though it served various functions including as a treasury and as a Christian chapel during Crusader rule before being restored by the Ayyubids.

The Dome of the Ascension (Qubbat al-Mi'raj), a small Umayyad or Abbasid structure rebuilt by the Ayyubid governor Izz al-Din al-Zanjili in 1200-1201 CE, commemorates the Mi'raj. The Dome of the Prophet, built in the 16th or 17th century during Ottoman rule, adds to the collection of commemorative shrines.

Throughout the compound stand numerous ablution fountains (sabils), including the Fountain of Qasim Pasha (1527), commissioned by Ottoman governors to serve worshippers. The complex also housed 19 madrasas at various points in its history, centers of Islamic learning that attracted scholars from across the Muslim world. Many of these educational institutions now serve as residences for Palestinian families, while others remain active.

The Women's Mosque occupies a vaulted space on the western side, originally a Crusader addition later adapted for Muslim worship. The Islamic Museum, formerly the Magharba Mosque, preserves artifacts from different Islamic periods. Together, these structures create a layered architectural record documenting fourteen centuries of continuous Islamic presence and devotion.

How Did Earthquakes Shape al-Aqsa's Evolution?

Seismic activity fundamentally altered the mosque's architectural history. In 746 CE, a major earthquake destroyed significant portions of the structure. The Abbasid caliph al-Mansur (754-775 CE) rebuilt it in 758 CE, financing the work by selling gold and silver decorations from the mosque's doors. His successor, al-Mahdi (775-785 CE), further expanded the mosque around 780 CE, creating a vast prayer hall with fifteen aisles and a central dome.

The devastating 1033 Jordan Rift Valley earthquake destroyed most of this Abbasid structure. The Fatimid caliph al-Zahir (1021-1036 CE) undertook a complete reconstruction that established the mosque's current footprint. Rather than rebuilding the fifteen-aisle structure, al-Zahir reduced it to seven aisles while investing heavily in decorative elements. He commissioned elaborate vegetal mosaics on the central archway leading to the mihrab, depicting lush garden imagery in the Classical and Umayyad style. Four gold pendentives feature intricate geometric patterns including eight-pointed stars, peacock eyes, and palm fronds.

Above the mihrab arch, al-Zahir installed a lengthy gold inscription explicitly linking the mosque to the Quranic verse about the Night Journey: "Glory to the One who took his servant for a journey by night from the Masjid al-Haram to the Masjid al-Aqsa." Art historian Oleg Grabar noted this was the first time this verse was inscribed in Jerusalem, suggesting the Fatimids sought to emphasize the site's sacred character during a period of political instability.

What Happened to al-Aqsa During the Crusades?

The Crusader conquest of Jerusalem in 1099 CE transformed the mosque into symbols of Christian occupation. The prayer hall became a royal palace and, from 1119 onward, served as headquarters for the Knights Templar. The Crusaders built vaulted western and eastern annexes, expanded the northern porch, and added an apse and dividing wall. They covered Islamic calligraphy, removed prayer carpets, and bricked up the mihrab. The Dome of the Rock, meanwhile, was converted into a church called Templum Domini.

How Did Saladin Restore Islamic Character to al-Aqsa?

When Saladin (Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi) recaptured Jerusalem in October 1187 CE, he moved swiftly to restore the mosque within one week, in time for the following Friday prayer, with him personally participating in cleaning the structure. Workers removed Crusader additions including toilets and grain stores, laid precious carpets, and scented the interior with rosewater and incense. The bricked-up mihrab was uncovered, along with the Islamic calligraphy the Crusaders had hidden.

In November 1187, Saladin installed a magnificent minbar (pulpit) commissioned nearly two decades earlier by the Zengid sultan Nur al-Din. This extraordinary structure, crafted in Aleppo between 1168-1174 CE by a master named Akhtarini, featured intricate ivory inlays, geometric and floral designs, and Arabic calligraphy carved into carefully selected woods. Nur al-Din had commissioned it in anticipation of Jerusalem's liberation, though he died before witnessing that day. The minbar symbolized the fulfillment of that vision. Tragically, an arsonist destroyed this masterwork in 1969; a replica was installed in 2007.

Saladin's nephew, al-Mu'azzam Isa, built the mosque's northern porch with three gates in 1218 CE. The Mamluk sultan al-Kamil Sha'ban added two naves and two gates on the eastern side in 1345 CE. These Ayyubid and Mamluk contributions restored and enhanced the mosque's Islamic architectural identity.

How Did the Ottomans Maintain al-Aqsa?

After the Ottoman Empire assumed control in 1517 CE, sultans focused primarily on the broader Haram complex rather than the congregational mosque itself. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, however, conducted comprehensive renovations of the mosque building in the 16th century. Later Ottoman sultans including Mahmud II, Abdul Aziz, and Abdul Hamid II provided carpets and lanterns.

How Has al-Aqsa Been Preserved in Modern Times?

The 20th century brought both threats and preservation efforts. In 1922, the Supreme Muslim Council under Amin al-Husseini commissioned Turkish architect Ahmet Kemalettin Bey to restore the mosque and surrounding monuments. Work conducted in 1924-1925 included reinforcing Umayyad foundations, rectifying columns, replacing timber beams with concrete in the central nave, rebuilding the southern wall, and conserving the dome's interior. These renovations revealed Fatimid-era mosaics and inscriptions hidden under plasterwork.

On August 21, 1969, an Australian extremist set fire to the mosque, destroying Saladin's priceless minbar and causing extensive damage to the dome's interior. The 14th-century paintings inside the dome were painstakingly reconstructed using the trateggio technique, which employs fine vertical lines to distinguish restored areas from original elements.

The mosque remains under the administration of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, though access for Palestinian worshippers faces severe restrictions under Israeli occupation.

What Role Does al-Aqsa Play in Islamic Spirituality?

The mosque's religious significance stems from multiple sources. The Quran references "the farthest mosque" in Surah 17, describing Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) miraculous Night Journey (Isra) from Mecca to Jerusalem, followed by his ascension to heaven (Mi'raj) from this site. Many prophets including Ibrahim (AS), Dawud (AS), Suleiman (AS), and Isa (AS) are believed to have prayed at or near this location, creating a prophetic continuum spanning millennia.

Al-Aqsa served as the first qibla, the direction Muslims face during prayer, until the command came to turn toward Mecca approximately 16-17 months after the migration to Medina. This historical connection deepens its significance. Islamic tradition holds that prayers offered at al-Aqsa carry multiplied spiritual reward, though different hadith sources cite varying numbers.

The mosque continues as a vibrant center of worship and learning, serving as a hub for Islamic scholarship. During Ramadan, tens of thousands gather for nightly tarawih prayers and the final nights of worship, despite access restrictions that affect Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank.

What Is al-Aqsa's Significance for Palestinian Identity?

For Palestinians (both Muslim and Christian) al-Aqsa represents far more than architectural heritage. The mosque stands as a symbol of Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, of resistance against occupation, and of the ongoing struggle for self-determination. Since Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, the site has become a flashpoint for conflict. Israeli authorities impose age-based entry restrictions (at times barring all men under 50 and women under 45) particularly during Friday prayers and Islamic holy periods. Gazans face the most severe restrictions, followed by West Bank Palestinians.

These access limitations, along with periodic incursions by Israeli security forces and visits by extremist groups seeking to change the status quo, have sparked numerous confrontations. The mosque remains a central symbol in Palestinian consciousness, representing not only Islamic sacred space but the Palestinian right to Jerusalem.

Al-Aqsa's architecture embodies fourteen centuries of Islamic devotion and Palestinian connection to this land. From Umar's simple wooden structure through the Umayyad grandeur, Abbasid expansions, Fatimid reconstruction, Saladin's restoration, and ongoing preservation efforts under occupation, the mosque has endured, demonstrating unwavering faith and steadfastness. Its seven aisles and silver dome shelter not merely worshippers but generations of memory, prayer, and hope for justice and freedom.

Glossary:

• Hypostyle - A roofed hall with many columns supporting the ceiling.

• Mihrab - A semicircular niche in the qibla wall indicating the direction of Mecca.

• Minbar - An elevated pulpit from which the imam delivers the Friday sermon.

• Qibla - The direction Muslims face during prayer, toward the Kaaba in Mecca