Everybody should have known the three most sacred places in Islam.
Yes, if you're a Muslim. Those are Mecca, Medina, and the third is a place
which mentioned in one of Qur'an Ayah as the place where Rasulullah had done
"The Night Journey" or known as “Isra Mi’raj”, Al Aqsa Mosque in Old
City of Jerusalem.
المسجد الاقصى is translated into English as “The Farthest Mosque” also known
as Bayt Al Muqaddas. The mosque was
originally a small prayer house built by the Rashidun caliph Umar, but was
rebuilt and expanded by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik and finished by his son
al-Wadid. Some re-constructions had done caused by earthquakes and occupation. Today
the Old City is under Israeli control, but the mosque remains under the
administration of the Jordanian/Palestinian-led Islamic waqf.
It is known that
the current construction of the al-Aqsa Mosque is dated to early Umayyad period
of rule in Palestine and is believed there was a possibility that the second
caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, Umar ibn al-Khattab had begun the construction
as a small mosque only for 3,000 worshipers somewhere on the Haram ash-Sharif. Then
the mosque was being reconstructed and expanded by the caliph Abd al-Malik in
690 CE along with the Dome of the Rock.
The
rectangular al-Aqsa Mosque and it precincts are 144,000 square metres, although
the mosque itself is about 35,000 square metres and could hold up to 5,000 worshipers. It is 272 feet long and 184 feet wide.
Unlike
the Dome of the Rock which reflects classical Byzantine architecture, the
al-Aqsa Mosque is characteristic of early Islamic architecture. The dome is
totally changed from the original dome built by Abd al-Malik since it was being
reconstructed for several times. The dome that was built by az-Zahir consists
of wood plated with lead enamelwork. Then, in 1969 the dome was reconstructed
in concrete and covered with anodized aluminum instead of the original ribbed
lead enamel work sheeting. In 1983 th aluminum outer covering was replaced with
lead to match the original design by az-Zahir.
The
mosque has four minarets on the southern, northern and western sides. The first
one known as al-Fakhariyya Minaret was built in 1278 on the western corner of
the mosque. It named after the father of Sharif al-Din Abd al-Rahman, Fakhr
al-Di al-Khalili. It was built in traditional Syrian style, with a square
shaped base divede by molding into three floors which two lines of muqarnas
decorated the muezzin’s balcony. The niche
is surrounded by a square chamber that ends a lead-covered stone dome.
The
second, known as the Ghawanima minaret, was built at the northwestern corner
which has six stories high, it is the tallest minaret of the Noble Sanctuary. It
almost entirely made of stone. Its firm structure made it nearly untouched by
earthquakes. It divided into several stories. The stairway is externally
located in the first two floors but then become internal spiral structure from
the third floor until it reaches the muezzin’s
balcony.
The
third minaret called the Bab al-SIlsila Minaret located in the western border
of the al-Aqsa Mosque. It is built in the traditional Syrian square tower type
and made entirely out of stone that possibly replacing an earlier Umayyad
minaret. Since 16th-century, it has been tradition that the best muezzin is assigned to this minaret.
Then,
the last and the most notable minaret was built in 1367 is known as Minarat
al-Asbat. It is composed of a cylindrical stone shaft. The shaft narrows above the
muezzin’s balcony and is dotted with circular
windows and ended with bulbous dome.
The
facade of the mosque was crowned with a balustrade consisting of arcades and
small columns. The facade’s was covering with tiles. There are fourteen stone
arches along he facade, most of them are Romanesque style. The entrance to the
mosque is through the facade’s central arch.
The
al-Aqsa Mosque has seven aisles with several additional small halls to the west
and east of the southern section of the building. There are 121 stained glass
windows. The interior is supported by 45 columns, 33 of which are white marble
and 12 of stone. The ceiling of the mosque was painted with funding by King
Farouk of Egypt. The minbar was made
of ivory and carefully crafted wood with Arabic calligraphy, geometrical and
floral designs in its woodwork.
The
mosque’s main ablution fountain known as al-Kas that means the cup is located
north of the mosque between it and the Dome of the Rock. It is used by worshipers
to perform wudu before entry into the
mosque.
Al-Aqsa
Mosque is totally amazing structure of Islamic architecture. But unfortunately,
now it is being occupied by Israeli and the Palestinians are trying to keep it
with all of theirs. It is such an amazing Islamic structure that should be
free.
Free
Palestine. Free al-Aqsa!
source :
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masjid_Al-Aqsa
http://spacetimefactor.wordpress.com/
http://malai-ur.blogspot.com/2010/12/al-masjidul-aqsa-site-plan.html
