Masjid al aqsa

Brief history of Masjid al Aqsa

Brief history of Masjid al-Aqsa
Masjid al-Aqsa is also known as Baitul Moqaddas. The first qibla of Muslims is located in Jerusalem. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was first taken to Masjid al-Aqsa on the night of Miraj by Allah Ta’ala. Then travel to the upper sky. Masjid al-Aqsa and its surrounding area is a place full of memories of many prophets and messengers. There are many tombs of prophets and messengers here. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is no place in Jerusalem where a Prophet did not pray or where an angel did not stand.” (Tirmidhi)

Al-Aqsa Mosque has a total of seven names. Masjid al-Aqsa, Baitul Moqaddas, Al-Quds, Masjid Ilya, Salam, Urushlem and Yabus. Various information is available about the construction of Masjid al-Aqsa. A group of historians believe that Masjid al-Aqsa was originally built by Hazrat Adam (A.S.), which was rebuilt and renovated by later prophets. Many people think that Hazrat Sulaiman (AS) built this mosque. However, the correct information is that 40 years after the construction of the Kaaba by Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.), his son-in-law Hazrat Yaqub (A.S.) built Masjidul Aqsa.

It is known from the hadith, narrated by Hazrat Abu Zar Giffari (RA), he said, I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), ‘O Messenger of Allah, which mosque was built first?’ He said, ‘Masjidul Haram. I asked again, ‘Then which one?’ He said, ‘Then how many years is there between the two?

Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) rebuilt Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1004 BC. It took 30,000 workers seven years to build this mosque. He built the mosque in a very beautiful design. Additional parts were added to the mosque during various subsequent rulers. These include domes, courtyards, mimbars, mihrabs, internal structures, etc.

During the caliphate of the second Caliph of Islam Hazrat Umar (R.A.) in 638 AD, the entire Baitul Moqaddas area came under the control of Muslims under the leadership of Sahabi Hazrat Abu Obaidah Ibnul Jarrah (R.A.). After that, the Muslim rulers renovated this mosque several times. However, on July 15, 1099, the Christian crusaders led by the Christian general Godfrey de Boe Yun captured Palestine and made extensive changes to Al-Aqsa Mosque and turned it into a church. They put a cross on the dome of the mosque, made one part of the mosque a stable and made their accommodation in another part.

Read more: Laylatul qadr dua

Thus ended 462 years of Muslim rule in Jerusalem. After a long wait, the Muslim nation waited for a messenger to break the chains of subjugation and stand up. In 1187, the Muslim hero Sultan Salah al-Din Ayyubi captured the city of Jerusalem through the bloody Battle of Hittin. At this time Al-Aqsa Mosque was rebuilt according to the previous design.

After Christ power retreated, the Jewish circle kept its greedy eyes on Baitul Moqaddas. They conspired to establish a greater state of Israel with the entire Muslim area from Palestine to far away Medina. The state of Israel was born in Palestine through the Balfour Declaration on May 15, 1948. In June 1967, Israel captured East Al-Quds, West Bank, Gaza and Golan Heights by destroying the resistance of the four Arab countries of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq in just six days of war. Currently occupying Israel occupies the historic Al-Aqsa Mosque. In 1969, they once set Al-Aqsa Mosque on fire.

At present, access to this mosque is reserved. Muslim residents of Israel and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem can enter and pray at Masjid al-Aqsa. Sometimes it is also blocked. Restrictions are much stricter for residents of Gaza.