Al Aqsa Mosque

Al Aqsa Mosque - Jerusalem

Al Aqsa Mosque, the other structure on the Temple Mount, is the largest mosque in Jerusalem with a prayer capacity of 5,000. Considered the world's third most important Islamic shrine, Al Aqsa Mosque (Al Aqsa means "the farthest") was first built in the 8th century, then repeatedly rebuilt after destruction by earthquakes. Al Aqsa Mosque above is the fifth or the sixth reconstruction of the original structure.

Surah 17:1 of the Koran says that Allah took Mohammed to Al Aqsa Mosque one night: "Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing."

The small wrinkle to this statement by the Koran is that Mohammed died in AD 632, which is 5 years before the Muslim army first reached Jerusalem in AD 637 and conquered it; the first Al Aqsa mosque was built thereafter.

After the bustling, narrow alleys of Old Jerusalem, the sprawling open expanse of the Temple Mount, which is totally flat and free of structures except the mosque and the Dome of the Rock, was a breath of fresh air. Of course, the Temple Mount wasn't so empty 2,000 years ago, when it was dominated by the second temple of Jerusalem. Today's open expanse is the work of Titus, the Roman general and eventual Emperor who in 70 AD destroyed that temple, razed the Temple Mount area and scattered the Jews after they rebelled against Rome.

Travel Tip
As in any foreign land, greeting the locals in their language shows respect for their culture and wins friends, or at least answers to your questions about directions. To greet a Jew say, "Shalom", which means "Peace". The greeting for an Arab is a bit longer: "Salaam Wa Ah-lay-koom", which means "Peace be with you". The Arab will reply, "Wa Ah-lay-koom salaam", which means, "Peace be with you too", while the Jew will simply reply, "Shalom".