Islamic Places
Masjid al-Aqsa
Al-Masjid al-Aqṣā
The "Farthest Mosque" in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam and the destination of the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra) and original qibla.
What is Masjid al-Aqsa?
Masjid al-Aqsa is the "Farthest Mosque" in Jerusalem (al-Quds), the third holiest site in Islam after the mosques of Mecca and Medina. It was the first Qibla of the Muslims before the direction of prayer was turned to the Kaaba, and it is the destination of the Prophet's miraculous Night Journey (Isra).
Masjid al-Aqsa and the Night Journey
The Quran opens Surah al-Isra by recounting the Night Journey: "Glory to the One who took His servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed" (17:1). From al-Aqsa the Prophet ﷺ ascended through the heavens (Mi'raj), where the five daily prayers were ordained. There he is also reported to have led the previous prophets in prayer.
The First Qibla
For roughly sixteen months after the migration to Medina, Muslims prayed facing Jerusalem. Allah then revealed the command to face the Kaaba: "We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the heaven... so turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram" (2:144). This honours al-Aqsa as the original direction of Muslim worship.
Its Virtue and Status
- One of only three mosques to which special travel for worship is encouraged (Bukhari 1189)
- A prayer there is multiplied in reward many times over
- Part of the blessed land mentioned repeatedly in the Quran
- Associated with many prophets, including Dawud, Sulayman, and Isa
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masjid al-Aqsa the same as the Dome of the Rock?
No. The Dome of the Rock (the golden-domed shrine) and Masjid al-Aqsa (the silver/grey-domed congregational mosque) are two separate buildings within the same sacred compound, the whole of which is referred to as al-Masjid al-Aqsa.
Why is it called the "Farthest Mosque"?
Because of its distance from Mecca, the starting point of the Prophet's Night Journey — it was the farthest sacred mosque from the Kaaba.
Etymology & origin
Al-Aqsa (الأقصى) is the superlative from the root Q-Ṣ-W (ق-ص-و), meaning "the farthest" or "the most distant". The mosque is called al-Masjid al-Aqsa — "the Farthest Mosque" — because of its great distance from Mecca, the point from which the Prophet's Night Journey set out. The name appears directly in the Quran (17:1).
References
- Quran:
- 2:142, 2:144, 17:1, 17:7
- Hadith:
- Bukhari 1189 (do not set out except to three mosques); Bukhari 3366 (al-Masjid al-Haram then al-Aqsa, forty years apart); Bukhari 350 (the Night Journey and ascension); Nasai 693 (al-Aqsa as the first qibla)
Related terms
Al-Quds (Jerusalem)
Jerusalem, a sacred city in Islam, home to Masjid al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock and the first qibla of the Muslims.
Dome of the Rock
The golden-domed shrine in Jerusalem built over the rock from which the Prophet ascended (Mi'raj); one of the oldest works of Islamic architecture.
Isra and Mi'raj
The Prophet's miraculous Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension through the heavens, during which the five daily prayers were ordained.
Masjid al-Haram
The Sacred Mosque in Mecca surrounding the Kaaba — the holiest site in Islam and the direction (qibla) toward which all Muslims pray.
Masjid al-Nabawi
The Prophet's Mosque in Medina, built by Muhammad himself and containing his tomb — the second holiest site in Islam.
Qibla
The direction toward the Kaaba in Mecca that Muslims face during Salah; established by Allah in Quran 2:144.