Al-Aqsa Mosque

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Introduction The Al-Aqsa Mosque is located right at the entrance leading up the stone steps from the Western Wall. It was built in 687 BC. This beautiful building with its golden dome is a landmark of Jerusalem—no matter from which angle you view the city, you can see the shimmering glow of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The mosque is octagonal, with each side measuring 21 meters. Its dome is covered with real gold leaf and topped with a column featuring a crescent symbol. The walls are built from marble and adorned with Arabic patterns made of mosaic tiles, while the upper sections of the walls are decorated with mosaic tiles forming verses from the Quran. The dome inside the mosque is magnificent, and beneath it, within the fenced area, lies a white rocky hill believed to be the spot where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac to God, as well as where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven guided by an angel. The cave below the rocky hill, known as the Well of Souls (Bir al-Arwah), is said to be the center of the world. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is regarded as another great Islamic holy site after Mecca and Medina. For many years, the cost of gilding the mosque has been solely borne by Jordan.

Jerusalem, State of Palestine