Marvelous beauty of the mosque of al-Aqsa

The value of the al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims can not be overestimated. It is considered the third sacred shrine of the Islamic world.

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Wherever it is, every follower of the Muslim faith knows. This is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There are many amazing examples of Islamic architecture. But most of all the Temple Mount is famous for the fact that here stands one of the most significant for the entire Muslim world structures - the mosque of Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem). It is built on the site where the Prophet Muhammad was miraculously transferred from Mecca. At the same time, here on the hill on the Temple Mount, prophets appeared before Muhammad, who together with him prayed, after which he was able to ascend. For a long time, the status of the al-Aqsa mosque was Qibla - a landmark, in the direction of which during the prayer the Muslims turned their faces.

general information

All the events that occurred with the Messenger of Allah are described only in the Qur'an. It is well known that during the ascension (mirage) of Muhammad, the al-Aqsa mosque was not yet. It was built much later, in the six hundred and thirty-sixth year, Caliph Umar ibn al Khattab. It was a modest house for prayers. A few decades later, the then construction of the al-Aqsa mosque was rebuilt and expanded. Like many buildings on the hill of the Temple Mount, it has also been repeatedly destroyed. But, unlike the Jewish shrines, the cause of the destruction of the al-Aqsa mosque is not the human factor, but the forces of nature. Twice strongest earthquakes washed it from the face of the earth. And each time it was restored, doing even more beautifully than before. In its present form, this famous temple has been in existence since 1035, although it was carried out more than once in reconstruction and repair work.

History of the Al-Aqsa Mosque

It did not always belong to the Muslim community. When the crusaders conquered Jerusalem in the eleventh century, the beautiful building of the al-Aqsa mosque did not begin to be destroyed. One part of the Templars began to be used as a church in which they lived. In the basement of the minaret they kept horses. Apparently, therefore from now on they are called Solomon stables. Again, the prayers in the walls of the al-Aqsa mosque began to sound only after the transfer of Jerusalem into the possession of Sultan Ad-Din, and the traces reminding of the presence of Christians were destroyed.

Description

The construction makes an impressive impression. It is a two-storey rectangular building with dimensions 60x85 m, oriented to the north and south. In the list of mosques in the world, it is in its twentieth place in size. The construction itself, like the playground around, is made of yellowish white sandstone - the traditional building material for Israel. The temple consists of seven fairly spacious galleries, one of which is central. From the west and east to it adjoin three more. The structure is crowned by only one dome. The walls of the al-Aqsa mosque are decorated with carvings, although they look rather modest. The dome with lead coating and the same coating plates from the outside create the impression of neglect. But this is temporary. After reconstruction, the sphere will receive, as expected, a gold outfit of copper, covered with gold leaf.

Interior decoration

It can not be said that the premises of the al-Aqsa mosque differ with a special luxury of decoration. Inside is still the same unprocessed sandstone, in which time and people left cracks and potholes, very sparse fragments of the panel on which the floral pattern is applied. Traditionally, the floor is completely covered with carpet. The ceilings in the mosque are made arched. They, as well as the ceiling in the central gallery, are decorated with a beautiful mosaic. A large number of rich chandeliers illuminate the room.

The interior is decorated with many columns of marble and stone, connected by arches. There are seven gates to the mosque from the north side. Each gallery opens with one door and a passage. The walls of the building in the lower part of them are covered with white marble, in the upper part - with beautiful mosaic. Temple utensils are mostly made of gold.

In general, the beauty of the interior of the al-Aqsa mosque is concentrated on the ceiling surface, which is a bit weird from the architectural point of view. After all, Muslims pray on their knees and face to the floor. Experts guess, for whom exactly was the whole charm of such a decoration? There is a version that this is a sacred meaning that is hidden from the understanding of "infidels".

"The Dedication Mosque"

One thing can be said for sure: inside the premises there is a lot of light and air. Around the columns in a large number of shelves and shelves, on which religious literature is placed. Many people here do not come to pray, but just for the soul. During the great Islamic holidays , up to five thousand people can simultaneously "talk to God" in the mosque. On certain days and hours in this chapel, access is allowed to tourists. And since the entire territory of the Temple Mount is very strictly guarded, it is only possible to ascend to the elevation through the Maghreb Gate. In this case, you need to present for inspection personal belongings, and outerwear should be non-evocative, modest and cover your legs and shoulders.

Do not be confused

Near the al-Aqsa Mosque there is one more - Kubbat al-Sahra. Non-professional guides, pointing tourists at the huge gilt dome of the latter, say that it is the third most important sacred object of Islam. The confusion is due to the fact that the two mosques located nearby are part of the same architectural complex. However, both the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the "Dome of the Rock" mosque - a beautiful structure with a golden sphere - although they are very close, are not the same. These are completely different constructions.

The third shrine of Muslims has rather modest dimensions. In addition, she has a very unpretentious dome and only one minaret, despite the sufficient capacity of the temple. The second name al-Aqsa - "The distant mosque" is also non-random.