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| Al-Aqsa Compound | |
|---|---|
| Name | Al-Aqsa Compound |
| Native name | المسجد الأقصى |
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Established | 7th century |
| Architecture | Islamic, Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman |
Al-Aqsa Compound is a historic religious precinct in Jerusalem encompassing a variety of sacred sites, monumental architecture, and open courtyards of central importance to multiple faith communities. The site has been a focal point in the histories of Muhammad, Caliphate of Umar (Rashidun), the Umayyad Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate, the Fatimid Caliphate, the Crusader States, the Ayyubid Sultanate, the Mamluk Sultanate, and the Ottoman Empire, and figures prominently in modern politics involving the State of Israel, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The precinct is venerated in Islamic tradition through narratives associated with Muhammad's Night Journey and Ascension and is linked in Jewish tradition to sites described in the Hebrew Bible such as the Temple in Jerusalem and the Mount Moriah complex. It is adjacent to and historically interconnected with neighboring sites like the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the City of David. The complex's role spans religious, cultural, political, and heritage domains involving institutions such as the Jordanian Waqf, the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli Police, and international bodies including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice in discussions of status and protection.
The precinct occupies much of the elevated plateau known historically as the Temple Mount plateau within the Old City of Jerusalem, bounded by the City of David area to the south, the Mount of Olives to the east, and the Western Wall retaining structure to the west. Key components include monumental buildings, open esplanades, colonnaded porticoes, gates such as the Gate of Mercy, the Cotton Merchant's Gate, and subterranean features overlooking the Hinnom Valley and the Kidron Valley. Surrounding neighborhoods include the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Armenian Quarter, and the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Construction and modification phases reflect successive rulers: early Umayyad patronage under Caliph Abd al-Malik and Caliph al-Walid I produced the earliest surviving monuments, while later Abbasid and Fatimid periods saw restorations associated with figures like Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. The site was contested during the First Crusade and administered as part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem under leaders such as Godfrey of Bouillon and Baldwin I of Jerusalem, before recapture by Saladin of the Ayyubid forces. Subsequent Mamluk campaigns under sultans like Baybars and Ottoman governors including Suleiman the Magnificent implemented major repairs and endowments. In the 19th and 20th centuries, actors such as the British Mandate for Palestine, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the State of Israel altered access, administration, and conservation policies, with international involvement by the League of Nations, the United Nations Security Council, and UNESCO.
For Muslims the precinct is associated with the prophetic narrative of Muhammad's Isra and Mi'raj and is considered the third holiest site after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina; devotional practices include congregational prayers, Friday sermons, and Ramadan rites attended by pilgrims from Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Muslim-majority countries. In Jewish tradition, the plateau's association with the First Temple and the Second Temple era subjects it to pilgrimage, prayer, and archaeological interest tied to figures like Herod the Great and periods such as the Second Temple period. Christian interest connects the precinct to nearby biblical landscapes venerated by communities including the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre custodians.
Prominent monuments include the Dome of the Rock, an Umayyad octagonal shrine traditionally associated with the Foundation Stone, and the silver-domed congregational mosque historically referenced in medieval sources; other structures and features include the Minbar of Saladin replacements, the al-Aqsa Mosque's prayer hall and minarets, the Marwani Mosque (Solomon's Stables) chamber, Mamluk-era madrasas such as the al-Ashrafiyya Madrasa, Ottoman-era restorations commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent including gateway inscriptions, and ancillary elements like ablution fountains, tilework, mosaics, and Kufic and cursive calligraphy panels. Archaeological layers reveal links to the Hellenistic period, the Hasmonean dynasty, and the Herodian architecture associated with the expansion projects of Herod the Great.
Administration has involved the Jordanian Waqf (a trust under the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan), coordination with the Israeli Police concerning security and access, and negotiations involving the Palestinian Authority, the UNESCO, and diplomatic actors like the United States Department of State and the European Union. Access regimes have included prayer allocations, visitor hours for pilgrims and tourists from countries such as France, United Kingdom, United States, and China, and restrictions tied to security incidents or political decisions by authorities including the Israeli Government and the Jordanian Government. Legal and administrative frameworks invoked in disputes have cited instruments and institutions such as the Oslo Accords, the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty (1994), and resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council.
The precinct has been at the center of tensions and incidents involving clashes between worshippers, security forces, and political activists, with episodes linked to events like the Second Intifada, the Six-Day War, and periodic escalations affecting the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. High-profile incidents have involved figures and groups such as Ariel Sharon, Yasser Arafat, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas, and international mediators including John Kerry and George Mitchell. Heritage preservation and access controversies have prompted involvement by organizations such as ICOMOS, UNESCO, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, while diplomatic disputes have engaged the United Nations Security Council and regional actors like Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Category:Religious sites in Jerusalem