Al-Aqsa (المسجد الأقصى, 'the Farthest Mosque') refers to TWO things that are often confused: (1) the entire walled compound on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem — also called the Noble Sanctuary or Haram al-Sharif — covering 144,000 square meters; AND (2) the silver-domed congregational mosque building in the south of that compound. The Dome of the Rock — the famous golden-domed octagonal building — is a separate structure on the same compound, but is NOT itself the mosque. When Muslims say 'Al-Aqsa,' they usually mean the entire compound.

Is the Dome of the Rock the same as Al-Aqsa?

No, but they're on the same compound and often confused in photos. The Dome of the Rock (قبة الصخرة, Qubbat al-Sakhrah) is a shrine — not a congregational mosque — built in 691 CE by Caliph Abd al-Malik over the rock from which the Prophet ﷺ ascended during the Night Journey (Mi'raj). The Al-Aqsa Mosque proper is the silver-domed building south of the Dome of the Rock, where Friday prayers are held. The whole Temple Mount enclosure is the 'Al-Aqsa Sanctuary' (Haram al-Aqsa).

Why is Al-Aqsa important in Islam?

Three reasons: (1) It was the FIRST Qibla — Muslims faced Al-Aqsa in prayer for about 16 months until the Qibla was changed to the Kaaba in 2 AH; (2) It was the destination of the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra) from Mecca, and the launching point for his ascent to the heavens (Mi'raj) — both referenced in Surah Al-Isra (17:1); (3) It is the THIRD holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram (Mecca) and Masjid an-Nabawi (Madinah). The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Do not undertake a journey (for worship) except to three mosques: this mosque of mine, Masjid al-Haram, and Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari 1189).

What is the Isra and Mi'raj?

The Isra and Mi'raj is the miraculous Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In one night (27th of Rajab, ~621 CE), he was carried on a winged steed called Buraq from Mecca to Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (the Isra), then ascended through the seven heavens with the angel Jibril (the Mi'raj), where he met previous prophets, received the gift of 5 daily prayers from Allah, and returned to Mecca all before morning. The rock from which he ascended is the one enclosed today by the Dome of the Rock. Surah Al-Isra (17:1) begins by stating this journey explicitly.

Is Al-Aqsa the same as the Wailing Wall?

No — but the Wailing Wall (Western Wall) is actually the WESTERN exterior wall of the Al-Aqsa compound. The wall was originally built by Herod the Great around 19 BCE as the western retaining wall of the Second Jewish Temple's expanded mount. For Jews, it is the holiest accessible site for prayer — the only remaining part of the Temple's outer structure. For Muslims, it is the Al-Buraq Wall — the place where the Prophet ﷺ tethered Buraq during the Night Journey. The same physical wall, two distinct religious meanings.

Can Muslims pray at Al-Aqsa today?

Yes, though access has become increasingly restricted due to the political situation. Muslim worshippers from Israel and the Palestinian territories pray there regularly, though entry rules vary by age, ID, and current security restrictions. The Jordanian Waqf administers the religious affairs of the compound under a long-standing custodianship arrangement. International Muslim visitors can enter as tourists outside prayer times. Friday Jumu'ah prayers can attract hundreds of thousands of worshippers during Ramadan.

Al-Aqsa Mosque & Dome of the Rock: History, First Qibla, Isra & Mi'raj

Al-Aqsa(المسجد الأقصى, "the Farthest Mosque") in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam, after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah. It was the FIRST direction Muslims faced in prayer (Qibla) for about 16 months before it was changed to the Kaaba. It was the destination of the Prophet's miraculous Night Journey and the launching point for his ascent through the seven heavens. And it is the location of the iconic gold-domed shrine known as the Dome of the Rock— one of the most photographed buildings in the world. This page covers what Al-Aqsa actually is (and isn't), its history, the Quranic references, and what Muslims face when they visit today.

Two different things, both called "Al-Aqsa"

The most common point of confusion: when Muslims say "Al-Aqsa," they usually mean the entire walled compound on the Temple Mount — also called the Noble Sanctuary (Haram al-Sharif) or Masjid al-Aqsa al-Mubarak. This compound covers 144,000 square meters and contains multiple structures:

The Al-Aqsa Mosque proper — the silver-domed congregational prayer hall in the SOUTH of the compound, where Friday prayers are held.
The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhrah) — the iconic gold-domed octagonal shrine in the CENTER of the compound, built over the rock from which the Prophet ﷺ ascended.
The Marwani Mosque— the underground prayer hall (called "Solomon's Stables" by Crusaders).
The Qibli Mosque, the Buraq Wall, multiple minarets, fountains, and gates.

So when you see a photo of "Al-Aqsa" that shows the famous gold dome, that's actually the Dome of the Rock, not the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself. Both are on the Al-Aqsa Sanctuary. Both are part of what Muslims mean by "Al-Aqsa."

The first Qibla of Islam

For about 16 months after the Hijrah, Muslims prayed facing Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem — not the Kaaba in Mecca. Then in 2 AH, while the Prophet ﷺ was leading prayer in Madinah, Allah revealed Quran 2:144:

"Indeed, We see the turning of your face toward the heaven. So We will surely turn you to a qibla with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram..."
(Quran 2:144)

The congregation physically turned mid-prayer to face Mecca. The mosque where this happened — about 6 km from Masjid an-Nabawi — is now called Masjid al-Qiblatayn("the Mosque of the Two Qiblas"). It still stands today and you can visit. Inside, you can see the original northern mihrab (pointing to Jerusalem) preserved alongside the current southern mihrab (pointing to Mecca).

The Isra and Mi'raj — the Night Journey

In approximately the 11th year of his prophethood (~621 CE), the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ experienced a miraculous journey in one night. The Quran opens Surah Al-Isra with it:

"Glory be to the One who took His servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing."
(Quran 17:1)

The Night Journey had two parts:

The Isra (الإسراء): The Prophet ﷺ was carried on a winged steed called Buraq, accompanied by the angel Jibril, from Mecca to Jerusalem. At Al-Aqsa he led all the previous prophets in prayer — Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), and others.
The Mi'raj (المعراج):From Al-Aqsa, the Prophet ﷺ ascended through the seven heavens. In each heaven he met a previous prophet. He reached the Sidrat al-Muntaha — the "Lote Tree of the Boundary" — beyond which only Allah's presence is. Here he received the gift of the five daily prayers (originally 50, reduced after Musa advised him to ask for relief).

He returned to Mecca before morning. The rock from which he ascended is the same rock now enclosed inside the Dome of the Rock — visible to visitors today. The 27th of Rajab is commonly observed as the anniversary of this event, though scholars debate the exact date.

The Dome of the Rock — history

The Dome of the Rock was built between 685–691 CE by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. It is the oldest extant Islamic building in the world. Its architecture is remarkable:

Plan: octagonal base with a central dome
Dome diameter: 20.44 meters
Dome height: 35.3 meters
Outer covering: originally lead, now gold-plated aluminum (1993, paid for by King Hussein of Jordan, ~80 kg of gold)
Exterior walls: blue-and-gold mosaic tiles installed by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1545–1566
Interior: Quranic calligraphy (the earliest preserved Quranic inscriptions anywhere in the world) and the exposed rock surface

Inside, the central feature is the exposed bedrock — approximately 18 × 13 meters — believed to be the rock from which the Prophet ﷺ ascended. A small cave underneath the rock, called the Well of Souls, is accessible by staircase.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque proper

The actual congregational Al-Aqsa Mosque — the silver-domed building south of the Dome of the Rock — was first built by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab after the peaceful Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 637 CE. It has been rebuilt and expanded many times:

637 CE — Umar's simple wooden mosque
705 CE — Caliph al-Walid I built the first proper stone mosque
1033 CE — major rebuild after earthquake
1099–1187 CE — Crusader period: converted to Templar headquarters
1187 CE — Saladin reconquered Jerusalem and restored the mosque
1928, 1938, 1980s — restorations

Today the mosque can hold approximately 5,000 worshippers indoors.

The virtue of praying at Al-Aqsa

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Do not set out on a journey (for worship) except to three mosques: this mosque of mine, Masjid al-Haram, and Masjid al-Aqsa."
(Bukhari 1189, Muslim 1397)

And the prayer multiplier: 500× regular prayer reward — below Masjid an-Nabawi (1,000×) and Masjid al-Haram (100,000×), but still extraordinary. For centuries, Muslim travelers have prioritized the journey to all three.

Get prayer times for Jerusalem

View today's prayer times for Jerusalem (Al-Quds) with live countdown, or check your Qibla direction from any city.

Frequently asked questions

What is Al-Aqsa?: Al-Aqsa (المسجد الأقصى, 'the Farthest Mosque') refers to TWO things that are often confused: (1) the entire walled compound on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem — also called the Noble Sanctuary or Haram al-Sharif — covering 144,000 square meters; AND (2) the silver-domed congregational mosque building in the south of that compound. The Dome of the Rock — the famous golden-domed octagonal building — is a separate structure on the same compound, but is NOT itself the mosque. When Muslims say 'Al-Aqsa,' they usually mean the entire compound.
Is the Dome of the Rock the same as Al-Aqsa?: No, but they're on the same compound and often confused in photos. The Dome of the Rock (قبة الصخرة, Qubbat al-Sakhrah) is a shrine — not a congregational mosque — built in 691 CE by Caliph Abd al-Malik over the rock from which the Prophet ﷺ ascended during the Night Journey (Mi'raj). The Al-Aqsa Mosque proper is the silver-domed building south of the Dome of the Rock, where Friday prayers are held. The whole Temple Mount enclosure is the 'Al-Aqsa Sanctuary' (Haram al-Aqsa).
Why is Al-Aqsa important in Islam?: Three reasons: (1) It was the FIRST Qibla — Muslims faced Al-Aqsa in prayer for about 16 months until the Qibla was changed to the Kaaba in 2 AH; (2) It was the destination of the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra) from Mecca, and the launching point for his ascent to the heavens (Mi'raj) — both referenced in Surah Al-Isra (17:1); (3) It is the THIRD holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram (Mecca) and Masjid an-Nabawi (Madinah). The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Do not undertake a journey (for worship) except to three mosques: this mosque of mine, Masjid al-Haram, and Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari 1189).
What is the Isra and Mi'raj?: The Isra and Mi'raj is the miraculous Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In one night (27th of Rajab, ~621 CE), he was carried on a winged steed called Buraq from Mecca to Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (the Isra), then ascended through the seven heavens with the angel Jibril (the Mi'raj), where he met previous prophets, received the gift of 5 daily prayers from Allah, and returned to Mecca all before morning. The rock from which he ascended is the one enclosed today by the Dome of the Rock. Surah Al-Isra (17:1) begins by stating this journey explicitly.
Is Al-Aqsa the same as the Wailing Wall?: No — but the Wailing Wall (Western Wall) is actually the WESTERN exterior wall of the Al-Aqsa compound. The wall was originally built by Herod the Great around 19 BCE as the western retaining wall of the Second Jewish Temple's expanded mount. For Jews, it is the holiest accessible site for prayer — the only remaining part of the Temple's outer structure. For Muslims, it is the Al-Buraq Wall — the place where the Prophet ﷺ tethered Buraq during the Night Journey. The same physical wall, two distinct religious meanings.
Can Muslims pray at Al-Aqsa today?: Yes, though access has become increasingly restricted due to the political situation. Muslim worshippers from Israel and the Palestinian territories pray there regularly, though entry rules vary by age, ID, and current security restrictions. The Jordanian Waqf administers the religious affairs of the compound under a long-standing custodianship arrangement. International Muslim visitors can enter as tourists outside prayer times. Friday Jumu'ah prayers can attract hundreds of thousands of worshippers during Ramadan.