History l Construction l Current State & main Causes of the Conflicts

1. CONTENTS:
 Importance of Masjid e Aqsa:
1.History of Masjid e Aqsa
2.Foundation of Masjid e Aqsa
 Reason of conflict
Masjid e Aqsa
A main target of Israelis

2. IMPORTANCE OF MASJID E AQSA:
"Al-Aqsa" refers to the silver-domed mosque on the southern side of the Temple Mount plaza.
HISTORY :
Masjid e Aqsa is of great importance due to its unique and influential history as a place of
worship that is closely related with the lives of many Prophets as well as for its special status
as a Masjid to which travel is recommended and in which reward is increased. It is the third
holiest site.
PARAMETERS:
 It comprises about 144,000 sq./m in size.
 1/6th of the total area of old Jerusalem.
 It has a capacity of accommodating about 500,000 worshippers.

3. FOUNDATON OF MASJID E AQSA:
The building was built as a small worship place but it was rebuilt by Umayyad Caliph Abd al- Malik and his
son al-Walid in 705 CE. Due to earthquake in 746 it was destroyed and rebuilt in 1033. Each time it was
reconstructed new structures were added in it like mimbar, minarets, etc.
During the crusades, Jerusalem was seized in 1099 and in 1187, Masjid Al-Aqsa was used as a palace unit it
was recaptured by Saladin, the first sultan of Egypt and Syria. Since, then it has undergone the renovation by
many dynasties like Ottoman empire, the Mamluk sultanate etc. It is now under the management of the
Jordanian and Palestinian Islamic Waqf.
IMPOTANCE ON BASE OF PROPHET (P.B.U.H):
It was the second place of worship constructed in Islam, 40 years after the Bait ul Allah, and is mentioned in
the Qur’an as being ‘holy’ and ‘blessed’ in various extracts.
Glorified be He [Allah] Who did take His servant for a journey by night from Al Masjid Al Haram to Al
Masjid Al Aqsa, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of our Signs. Verily
He is the All Hearing, All Seeing.” Surah Isra (17:1)

4. REASON OF CONFLICT:
It is one of the main site of conflict.