What is Al-Aqsa Mosque?

What the name means

"Al-Masjid al-Aqsa" means "the farthest mosque". The name comes from the Quran itself, which describes the Prophet ﷺ being taken by night from Mecca to this "farthest" place of worship. In Arabic, Jerusalem is also called Bayt al-Maqdis, "the Holy House".

The mosque and the compound

People use the name in two ways. In a narrow sense it means the large prayer hall with the grey-silver dome at the southern end of the compound. In a wider sense, many scholars say the whole walled area, about 35 acres with its courtyards, gates and fountains, is al-Masjid al-Aqsa. The famous golden Dome of the Rock stands inside that same compound, but it is a separate building, not the main prayer hall.

Why it is holy to Muslims

• First qibla. The early Muslims prayed toward Jerusalem for about sixteen or seventeen months before the qibla changed to the Kaaba (Sahih al-Bukhari 40). See What is the qibla?
• The Night Journey. The Prophet ﷺ travelled here and then ascended to the heavens. See What is Isra and Mi'raj?
• One of three special mosques. It is one of only three mosques the Prophet ﷺ said are worth a special journey (Sahih al-Bukhari 1189).
• A land of prophets. Muslims honour the many prophets linked to Jerusalem, including David, Solomon and Jesus. See Do Muslims believe in David and Solomon?

A shared, sensitive place

The same hilltop is also sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount, and the area is at the centre of a long political conflict. Access for worshippers can change with the security situation. As a new Muslim, you can love and pray for Al-Aqsa while still being kind and respectful in conversations with Jewish and Christian friends who hold the city dear too.