Is the Al Aqsa Mosque Actually in Jerusalem?

It has been “widely known” that the Al Aqsa Mosque is located on the southern edge of the Temple Mount in the heart of Jerusalem. However, this “widely known fact” has never been so clear. It has been a source of significant debate. In any event, it must be noted that no one believes that the area of the iconic golden Dome of the Rock is the Al Aqsa Mosque. In fact, the Dome of the Rock is not a mosque at all — never has been. Rather, that golden topped building is a memorial structure that was built to signify the location of the First and Second Holy Temples during the ancient Israelites First and Second Commonwealths. The two Holy Temples were built by the Jews of ancient Israel nearly a thousand years before the Muslim religion was even created. The past years have brought much confusion due to lies and political motivations of the “palestinian” leadership. The mosque in question that is currently referred to as the Al Aqsa mosque is a more simple building with a black dome. It is located several hundred meters to the south of the golden Dome of the Rock building. This article explains more about why that mosque is not the actual Al Aqsa described in Muslim literature…

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: G Travels [License]

‘Al-Aqsa Mosque is not in Jerusalem’

Article Courtesy: Israel Hayom

Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, is not located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Saudi lawyer and journalist Osama Yamani is claiming.

In an article in the Saudi news outlet Okaz, Yamani claims that the mosque is actually located in Al Ju’ranah, near Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Yamani writes that the confusion between the two sites stems from the fact that many history books state that Al-Aqsa is located in Jerusalem.

“Jerusalem is not Al-Aqsa, which is not cited in the missions that Allah gave Muhammad and the caliphs. Similarly, Jerusalem is a city, and Al-Aqsa is a mosque,” he states.

Yamani adds that originally, Muslims did not face in the direction of Al-Aqsa while praying.

Yamani backs up his argument with historic facts, such as the fifth caliph from the Umayyad dynasty, Abd al-Malik, building the Dome of the Rock in the year 691 CE. Al-Malak built the dome nine years after Abd Allah Ibn al-Zubayr rebelled and prevented local residents from fulfilling the obligation to make the haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

“At that stage, he changed the direction of prayer toward Jerusalem,” Yamani says, referring to al-Malik.

Yamani explains that “There are stories influenced by political considerations that served purposes of that time, and sometimes claims are made that they have nothing to do with faith or following religious dictates.”

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