Masjid Al Aqsa is the name of the whole area enclosed by the 4 walls surrounding the two Masajid of Masjid-e-Qibly and Qubbat-As-Sakhrah (Dome of the Rock). Both Masajid are in the compound of Masjid Al Aqsa which is the size of 13 football pitches (35 acres). Masjid-e-Qibly is the Masjid where the 5 daily Salaah is led. In the compound there are 200 #monuments including Masjid-e-Qibly and #Qubbat-As-Sakhrah (#Dome of the #Rock), other prayer halls, schools, fountains and libraries. The reward of praying anywhere in the compound of Masjid Al Aqsa is increased 500 times more than any (Masjid) elsewhere. Abu Darda (ra) relates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "A prayer in Makkah (Ka'bah) is worth 100,000 times (reward), a prayer in my Masjid (Madinah) is worth 1,000 times and a prayer in Al-Aqsa Sanctuary is worth 500 times more reward than anywhere else". For Muslims, it holds a very important place in our heart. It is the 3rd most holy site in Islam. It is the location that the Prophetṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was transported to during the journey of Israa and Miraaj. It was the scene for the most extraordinary gathering in the history of mankind – when every Prophet that ever lived were gathered together for a congregational prayer behind Prophet Muhammadṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). There are multiple mosques on the site that we know as masjid Al Aqsa. We think of masjid Al-Aqsa as the building at the southernmost corner of the Mosque. In actual fact, that is the Qibly mosque – so called because it is the closest to the Qibla. The whole mount is masjid Al Aqsa and is sometimes referred to the Haram Al-Sharif to prevent confusion. But there are other mosques present on the site which are usually connected to historical incidents e.g. the Buraq masjid, the Marwani masjid and more. In 1967, Jerusalem left Muslim hands for the 3rd time and came under the control of Israel. The conquering Israeli soldiers flew their flag from the dome. The Israeli leadership realised that overt control of masjid Al-Aqsa would serve as a constant provocation to the Muslim world. They used the fig leaf of a Waqf in order to placate the Muslims into complacency. In 1969, an Australian Zionist set fire to the mimbar of Nuruddin and the Qibly mosque itself. The resulting inferno enveloped the entire Qibly mosque. The Muslim world awoke to scenes from the worst of nightmares. Desperate palestinians tried to put out the flames in anyway they could. An entire Ummah hung their head in shame. Since then, the mosque has been rebuilt and refurbished, but the assaults against the 3rd holiest site in Islam continue to this day. Excavations undermining the foundations of the entire Mosque, unauthorised visits, and daily threats to rebuild the old temple are all currently under way. Masjid Al-Aqsa still waits.

• published: 02 Apr 2015
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