Guide to the Masjid al-Aqsa : an architectural and historical guide to the Islamic monuments in the Masjid al-Aqsa

Abstract

The Masjid al-Aqsa is located in the southeast part of Jerusalem's walled Old City. The blessed Masj id al-Aqsa that is mentioned in the Noble Qur'an is the entire compound including the open spaces and the various historic buildings and memorial structures, such as the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque Building, the Qubbat al-Silsilah, the Musalla Marwani, the Old al-Aqsa, and the numerous domes, miurabs, fountains, prayer platforms, cisterns, reservoirs, porticos, arcades, and various other constructions. Since Mamluk and Ottoman times the term al-Haram al-Sharif ( The Noble Sanctuary ) has often been used as an alternative designation for the Masjid al-Aqsa compound. One needs to clearly distinguish between the term the "Masj id al-Aqsa" when used to refer generally to the entire compound and when used to refer narrowly to the roofed congregational mosque building in the south part of the compound. In this guide the "Masjid al-Aqsa" always refers to the entire compound and the "al-Aqsa Mosque building" refers to the south roofed congregational mosque.