🕌 Historical Link of Al Aqsa Mosque with Solomon’s Temple

Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem is a vast sacred precinct covering 144,000 square meters and containing multiple important landmarks, including the Qibli Mosque, Dome of the Rock, and Buraq Mosque. For Muslims, it is the third holiest site in Islam, associated with the Isra’ and Mi’raj and the first Qibla of prayer. In Jewish tradition, the same area is known as the Temple Mount, revered as the historical site of Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple.

1️⃣ The Layout of the Al-Aqsa Compound

The area is a vast sacred precinct, not just one mosque. It contains multiple landmarks:

• Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhrah)

Built in 691 CE by the Umayyad Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik, it is the shrine over the Sacred Rock (al-Sakhrah).

• In Jewish tradition: This is believed to be the Foundation Stone, associated with the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple, and the site where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son (Isaac).

• In Islamic tradition: It is from this Rock that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ascended during the Mi‘rāj (Night Journey).

• Qibli Mosque (Masjid Qibli)

Located at the southern end of the compound, with the grey dome. This is the main congregational mosque of Al-Aqsa where Friday prayers are held.

• It faces the qibla (Mecca), hence the name “Qibli.”

• Built originally by Caliph ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (638 CE) and rebuilt by later rulers.

• Buraq Mosque (Masjid al-Buraq) Situated near the western wall.

• It is traditionally linked to the spot where the Prophet ﷺ tied al-Buraq, the heavenly steed that carried him on the Night Journey (Isrā’).

• The Western Wall (Ha-Kotel), sacred in Judaism, is directly adjacent—believed to be a surviving wall of the Second Temple platform.

⸻

2️⃣ Historical Link with Solomon’s Temple

The Al-Aqsa Compound stands on the same elevated plateau historically known as the Temple Mount in Jewish tradition:

• First Temple (Solomon’s Temple):

• Built in the 10th century BCE by King Solomon, according to the Bible (1 Kings 6–7).

• The Holy of Holies (Most Sacred Chamber) was believed to rest on the Foundation Stone (today under the Dome of the Rock).

• It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.

• Second Temple:

• Rebuilt in the late 6th century BCE and extensively renovated by Herod the Great in the 1st century BCE.

• Destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.

• Only remnants of the supporting platform remain today—such as the Western Wall, adjacent to the Al-Buraq Mosque.

⸻

3️⃣ Islamic Reinterpretation

When Islam rose in the 7th century, Muslims inherited and re-sanctified this ancient site:

• The Qur’an refers to it in Surah al-Isra’ (17:1) as al-Masjid al-Aqsa (The Farthest Mosque), the destination of the Prophet’s Night Journey from Mecca.

• For Muslims, the site symbolizes continuity with earlier prophets—Abraham, David, Solomon, Jesus—all of whom are believed to have prayed there.

• Thus, the Al-Aqsa Compound is seen not only as Islam’s third holiest sanctuary after Mecca and Medina but also as the fulfillment of the legacy of Solomon’s Temple in the Abrahamic tradition.

⸻

✅ In summary:

• The Al-Aqsa Compound = the whole sacred precinct (not just one mosque).

• The Dome of the Rock marks the ancient heart of Solomon’s Temple (the Foundation Stone).

• The Qibli Mosque serves as the main congregational prayer hall.

• The Buraq Mosque connects with Muhammad’s Night Journey and stands near the Western Wall, itself a remnant of the Second Temple complex.

• This makes the entire area both the Islamic continuation of the Abrahamic sacred tradition and the historical site of the First and Second Temples.

🕊️ Jewish Perspectives on the Dome of the Rock

According to Tovia Singer

Tovia Singer (born 1960) is an American Orthodox rabbi, author, and public speaker, as well as the founder of Outreach Judaism.

In addressing questions about Jewish perspectives on the Dome of the Rock—located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem—Rabbi Tovia Singer offers a nuanced theological viewpoint that shifts attention away from the Islamic structure itself and toward what lies beneath it.

Rather than focusing on the architectural or religious significance of the dome, Rabbi Singer emphasizes the profound importance of the rock beneath the structure, often identified in Jewish tradition as the Foundation Stone (Even haShetiyah).

According to classical Jewish belief, this rock holds deep sacred significance for several reasons:

• 🌍 Site of Creation: It is traditionally regarded as the point from which God began the creation of the world.

• 🔥 Binding of Isaac (Akedah): It is associated with the location where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac, a pivotal event in Jewish theology.

• 🏛️ Holy of Holies: It is believed to have been the location of the innermost sanctum of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.

From this perspective, Rabbi Singer’s view can be summarized as follows:

🕊️ The Dome of the Rock is not the primary focus in Jewish thought; rather, the true religious and historical significance lies in the sacred rock beneath it.

Thus, when discussing Jewish attitudes toward the site, Rabbi Singer reframes the conversation: the emphasis is not on the Islamic monument itself, but on the enduring sanctity of the location as understood within Jewish tradition.

🕌 Who Really Controls Al-Aqsa Mosque Today?

📍 Introduction

🕌 Masjid Al-Aqsa stands as Islam’s third holiest sanctuary in Jerusalem, encompassing the entire sacred precinct known as Al-Haram al-Sharif. Within this revered compound lies the iconic Dome of the Rock, a historic shrine built over the sacred rock long associated with prophetic tradition.

For centuries, Al-Aqsa has been administered under an enduring Islamic waqf (endowment) system, symbolizing continuous religious stewardship and spiritual custodianship by the Muslim community. However, developments in East Jerusalem in recent years reveal an increasingly evident and complex reality: effective control over access, security, and the regulation of daily activities within the Al-Aqsa compound is largely exercised by Israeli authorities.

This evolving dynamic highlights a critical distinction between religious custodianship and practical, on-the-ground control—a distinction that continues to shape the political, legal, and spiritual tensions surrounding one of the world’s most sensitive sacred sites.

⸻

🚫 Control of Access by Israeli Authorities

Restrictions on the performance of Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, as widely reported, clearly demonstrate that Israeli authorities possess broad and decisive power to determine who is permitted to enter the sacred compound and when acts of worship may take place.

The measures imposed include:

• Restricting the entry of Palestinian worshippers through tight physical barriers and rigorous security checks

• Enforcing bans on large public gatherings in and around the mosque compound

• Closing or severely limiting access to the Old City of Jerusalem during sensitive periods

This capacity to regulate entry reflects a tangible and effective form of physical, security, and administrative control over the holy site.

⸻

🧎‍♂️ Worship Under Restrictive Conditions

While Muslims around the world continue to regard Al-Aqsa Mosque as rightfully theirs in religious, historical, and spiritual terms, the reality on the ground is that acts of worship are frequently subject to strict limitations imposed by Israeli authorities.

As a result, worshippers are often compelled to:

• Perform prayers outside the mosque compound due to access restrictions

• Confront enforcement measures such as tear gas and stun grenades

• Face the risk of movement restrictions, detention, or arrest

This situation illustrates that the freedom to worship is not fully within the control of the local Muslim community, but is instead constrained by external authority.

⸻

⚖️ Between Symbolic Ownership and Practical Control

The current situation highlights a clear and significant distinction between symbolic ownership and practical control:

• From a religious and historical perspective: Al-Aqsa Mosque remains a sacred trust of the Muslim ummah

• From a de facto administrative and security perspective: Access and operational control are exercised by Israel

This stark divergence continues to serve as a major and persistent source of tension in the region.

⸻

🧭 Conclusion

Based on current developments, it can be concluded that although Al-Aqsa Mosque remains a profoundly significant and sacred symbol for Muslims worldwide, actual control over access, security, and on-the-ground activities lies with Israeli authorities.

This situation reflects a deeply complex and multi-layered geopolitical reality, where religion, political power, security concerns, and human rights intersect within an exceptionally sensitive and contested space.

Muslims should also be aware that within certain strands of Jewish religious thought—particularly among specific ideological groups—there exists a theological aspiration to rebuild the Third Temple. This aspiration is often associated with the very site on which the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound currently stands.

This issue is highly sensitive, as it involves overlapping and competing religious, historical, and political claims over the same sacred space—making it one of the most intricate and emotionally charged issues in contemporary geopolitics.

Therefore, Muslims are encouraged not only to remain aware of this narrative, but also to understand its broader context in a thoughtful, critical, and fact-based manner—so that the situation can be assessed with greater caution, balance, and awareness of its profound geopolitical and religious complexities.

— Azahari Hassim

Founder, The World of Abrahamic Theology