If one were to select some buildings to represent Islamic architecture masjid-e-aqsa in Jerusalem would certainly be among them… masjid-e-aqsa was built around 691-92 C.E. at the beginning of the rise of the Islamic empire… Although it symbolizes the excellence of Islamic architecture it’s actually more of an anomaly… Rather than an example of a typical mosque it is a reflection of its historical context… This includes the attempt to rival the Islamic empire’s predecessor in the area, the Byzantine-Christian empire, as well as establish a monument over a holy site.
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BACKGROUND
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Masjid-e-aqsa the third holiest city to Muslims. It was built over as-Sakhra (the rock), considered the spot where the prophet Muhammed :sal: ended his Night Journey (Shab-e-Miraj) to Jerusalem and ascended to heaven… It is an eight sided building topped with a dome covered with gold sheathings… The dome marks the spot below where the hollow rock is located. It is covered inside and out with coloured mosaics and Arabic calligraphy. The monument is itself part of a larger complex called Al Haram Al Sharif
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To most Muslims a mosque is considered such when it contains one or both of the forms they are most familiar with… the dome and the minaar… Other fundamental elements are the qiblah wall which tells worshipers the direction of prayer and the rectangular interior space which helps to define direction… These elements are a result of the function of the mosque hence the need for a rectangular plan with one wall marking direction. The mosque also has a defined frontal orientation and is often arranged around or in relation to a courtyard…
This description of the typical mosque can be found employed in the design of the Great Mosque at Damascus in Syria(8th century)…Great Mosque at Damascus By this same description as masjid-e-aqsa with its octagonal plan and central dome would prove to be atypical…masjid-e-aqsa standing alone on its platform and visible from all sides, remains a unique building in Islamic culture..
I don't like architecture of Dome of Rock, it's so in your face, I hope they knock every thing down and build a nice big stone mediveal temple/mosque over the entire sacred sactuary facing Mecca and then we Muslims kick em out and reconquer Bait Al-Muqadass, the rock can be covered by a glass cage sorta thing like maqam-e-abraham in mecca.
the third holiest mosque certainly isnt the mosque of ali as most people would believe…infact we cant even go to visit it on a pilgrimage…
I heard Abu Said saying four words. He said, “I heard the Prophet (saying the following narrative).” He had participated in twelve holy battles with the Prophet.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques i.e. Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Mosque of Allah’s Apostle , and the Mosque of Al-aqsa, (Mosque of Jerusalem).”
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*Originally posted by ravage: *
thanks thandy, whats the source for this?
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Bukhari, Book 21, Number 281
The current Dome of the Rock mosque is mainly the work of the ismaili Khalif Al-Zahir, who rebuilt it after extensive earthquake damage to the mosque's original structure. With the ismaili Fatimid Khalif controlling Al-Quds, whilst their rival sunni Abbasid Khalif controlled Mecca and Medina, the Fatimids set 2 goals for the mosque they would build at the Dome of the Rock.
a) It had to be a grander structure than any Christian building ever in Al-Quds, to show the dominance of Islam in the city. (just to be sure, the Fatimids earlier destroyed most existing churches and synagogues)
b) It needed to be a sufficiently splendorous building so that many of the Muslims currently choosing to make pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina would instead go to Al-Quds. Pilgrims were a powerful economic force in those days, and diverting pilgrims from the 2 Hijaz cities to Al-Quds would weaken the Abbasid Khalif and strengthen the Fatimid Khalif. (Nothing quite like old school sectarianism, eh? ;) )
Since the original muslim conquest of Al-Quds, the building has, in its life, served as a Sunni Mosque, an Ismaili Mosque, a Catholic Church, and, ever since Salahuddin's reconquest, as a Sunni mosque.
Before that, on the site had stood a Roman temple to their false god Jupiter, which the Romans had in turn built over the ruins of the temple of Solomon.
This is the direction towards which the Prophet :saw: used to pray towards, which was than later changed towards the Kaba (after revelation in the Quran).
It was also from where the Prophet :saw: went to and lead the other prophets in prayer before his ascent into heaven on the miraj.
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*Originally posted by ravage: *
what is the significance of al aqsa? as in.. what happened here?
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I won't go into its extensive history before the life of Rasoolullah (saws), but the rock is the location from which he ascended to heaven on that night which I'm sure we're all aware of.
as most people would believe…infact we cant even go to visit it on a pilgrimage…