Why is masjid al aqsa important

But the one incident that led to a significant escalation involved Israeli security forces firing rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and stun grenades at worshipers gathered at Al-Aqsa mosque on May 7. As a scholar of global Islam , I teach introduction to Islam and include a discussion about Al-Aqsa as part of the syllabus. But, it is also important to highlight its remarkable political relevance for Palestinians.

These two facts make it a focal point for conflict. From there, it is believed that Muhammad ascended to heaven — called the Mir'aj. The Dome of the Rock — Qubbat as-Sakhra — is said to shelter the rock from where Muhammad physically ascended. It was first built in A. It has been destroyed, rebuilt and renovated multiple times. The current building largely dates to the 11th century and hosts daily prayers and Friday gatherings that draw large crowds.

It lies adjacent to important Jewish and Christian religious locales, particularly the site of the First and Second Jewish Temples. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

This is a term that has been unfortunately misinterpreted by the Jews and Christians in their own ways. Islam does not approve of the racist claim that this title allows the Jews a higher status as humans before God. That mission was to serve as a model community before the whole of humanity, with the objective of guiding all the people of the world, irrespective of their race, tribe, nationality, or language, to lead a life of submission to God alone as taught by all the prophets of God including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus peace be upon them all.

After the time of Moses, the Children of Israel had deviated much from Divine guidance contained in the Torah and the teachings of Prophet Moses. God continued to send His messengers or prophets to the Children of Israel to bring them back to the straight path. When Jesus came and claimed to be the promised Messiah, most of the Children of Israel — or the Jews — rejected him on the plea that he was falsely claiming to be the Messiah.

This rejection of the Messiah the King of the Jews was the first departure in the history of the Jews, as it were, from the Kingdom of God under the law of God. This means that henceforth, the Jews who rejected the Messiah lost their specially chosen status and became one with the Gentiles — the non-Jewish people — whom they habitually revile. Tension raged after peaceful demonstrations were violently suppressed by Israeli forces, resulting in hundreds of injuries.

Four Palestinians were shot dead in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank , one of whom was shot by an Israeli settler. Al-Aqsa is a small area within Palestine, but symbolically it is a large part of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

With more restrictions placed on Palestinian access to the compound and ongoing calls by Israeli religious groups to allow Jews to pray at the site, many Palestinians fear a possible division of the compound. Israel has been using the pretext of security to quietly continue the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land.

Clerics and worshipers barred from entering al-Aqsa Mosque compound for second day after gun attack leaves five dead. Israeli authorities step up security around flashpoint site, deploying thousands of troops and erecting roadblocks.

Published On 6 Dec Why al-Aqsa is so important Al-Aqsa is the name of the silver-domed mosque inside a acre compound referred to as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, by Muslims, and as the Temple Mount by Jews. More from Features. COP Could oysters help to save Bangladesh from rising seas? Most Read. In Pictures: Hindus bathe in frothy, polluted Indian river.