Al-Aqsa Mosque
AbrahamicIslamicmosqueLevant705 CE - present
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Location
Modern Name
Jerusalem (Al-Quds)
Country
Israel / Palestinian Territories
Region
Levant
Coordinates
31.7761, 35.2358
Era
705 CE - present
Site Type
Mosque
About
The silver-domed mosque at the southern end of the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif), the third holiest site in Islam, serving as the primary congregational mosque of the complex.
Significance
Identified in the Quran as 'the farthest mosque' (al-masjid al-aqsa) — the destination of Muhammad's Night Journey (Isra') from Mecca — and the original qibla direction of early Muslim prayer.
History & Historical Arc
An early structure was built by Caliph Umar in 637 CE; the current mosque was completed by the Umayyad Caliph al-Walid I…
Archaeological Notes
Excavations south and southwest of the Temple Mount have uncovered Umayyad palace complexes; the mosque itself sits atop…
Key Features & Structures
- Silver dome (lead-covered)
- Byzantine-column interior
Visitor Information
Open to Muslims for prayer at all times; non-Muslim visits to the Haram al-Sharif plaza are permitted during limited hou…
Related Figures
MuhammadUmar ibn al-KhattabSaladin
In the Bible
Bible Places
This location appears in the Bible as Jerusalem
View verse references, maps, and biblical history →
Source References
- Quran 17:1
- Sahih Bukhari 5:58:227