ARAB NEWS Wednesday, May 29, 2019
A Palestinian state will
not be created, not
like the one people are
talking about.
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli prime minister
Why Al-Aqsa Mosque matters
The emotional epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at once sacred and unique to Muslims
Daoud Kuttab Amman
“There is a spot just in the
center of Al-Qibli Mosque
where you feel so light when
you stand in it.”
This is the way Wasfi Kailani, of the
Hashemite Fund for the Restora-
tion of Al-Aqsa Mosque, describes
his favorite spot within Jerusalem’s
Al-Aqsa Mosque, the UNESCO
World Heritage site also known
to Muslims and Palestinians as
Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
The spot that Kailani refers to
is not far from Saladin’s pulpit,
rebuilt by King Abdullah II of
Jordan after it was destroyed in a
1969 arson attack.
“I feel that the holiest spot in
the entire compound is in the
center of the mosque,” he told Arab
News. “It is the place from where
Prophet Muhammad ascended to
the heavens to meet God Almighty
with all the prophets with him.”
For Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad, a
spokesman for Fatah, the Pales-
tinian political party, the most
special spot is a small room under
the Dome of the Rock mosque.
“It is called the Souls Cave,” Abu
3
Spotlight I have to reach
understandings with
Israelis, our neighbors,
but not at any cost.
Mahmoud Abbas
Palestinian president
ISLAM
Zayyad told Arab News. “I like it shrine from Makkah and Madinah across from the mosque and gaze
for the high level of energy and LIVINGHISTORY in Saudi Arabia. at the water fountain,” he said.
spirituality that can be felt while For Khalil Attiyeh, a Jorda- For Arafat Amro, the Islamic
praying inside it.” 638 AD Al-Aqsa government after tician Ariel Sharon nian parliamentarian, the feeling Museum located within the
His views are echoed by Ahmad Mosque built by Israeli occupation visits complex with while going down the stairs from compound is special because of its
Budeiri, a former BBC staffer, who Caliph Umar of East Jerusalem. security entourage the Dome of the Rock to Al-Aqsa priceless contents. “It is a window
First Israeli
was born in Jerusalem and has 690-691 Mosque excavations under 2004 Jewish incur- Mosque is special. But for many to civilizations and history,” said
spent all his life there. “I enter rebuilt, expanded Al-Haram Ash-Sharif sions into Al-Aqsa worshipers and visitors, the entire Amro, who is also the musuem’s
the mosque to experience the and Dome of the compound escalate 144 dunum (144,000sq meters) of director.
beauty of its architecture,” he said. Rock added by the Al-Aqsa compound is sacred. “Everything here, from parch-
Caliph Abd Al-Malik 2007 Saladin’s
“Then I go down to the cave and Political activist Hazem H. ments, wooden works and metal
pulpit rebuilt by Jor-
I get the feeling that all the spiri- 706-714 Al-Aqsa dan’s King Abdullah Kawasmi said that his favorite items to stone carvings, reflects
tual meaning in the mosque is as we know it today spot is across from the water different times. Visitors who came
condensed in that small space.” constructed 2013 Palestinian fountain, where worshipers come to this mosque down the ages
Abla Rweis, a mother of three President Mahmoud for the ritual washing. “I have from different locations went back
1099 Captured by Abbas confirms
from Nablus, told Arab News that Crusaders during Hashemite custo- been coming to Al-Aqsa since I was with the history of their Arab and
her favorite spot is the mosque First Crusade dianship over holy a child. I love to sit on the stairs Muslim forefathers etched in their
itself. “It has a special holiness to it sites in Jerusalem, memories.”
as it is where Prophet Muhammad 1187 Repair after 1968 Excavation especially Al-Aqsa The Islamic Museum is located
recapture of Jerusa- of a tunnel along Mosque
spent the night on his ascent to close to both Al-Buraq Wall and
lem by Saladin Al-Buraq Wall by Is-
heaven.” rael. UNESCO issues 2014 King Abdullah a gate through which groups of
Rweis is talking about Al-Isra wa 1922 Renovations strong condemna- (right), US Secretary Jewish extremists often make
Al-Miraj, the two parts of a Night by Supreme Muslim tion of excavations. of State John Kerry, uninvited incursions with an
Journey that Prophet Muhammad Council and Israel’s Prime armed Israeli security escort.
1969 Arson attack Minister Benjamin
took. In Islam, Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj 1948 UN General destroys Saladin’s Netanyahu reach The area was cleared of Palestin-
signifies both a physical and spiri- Assembly Resolution pulpit understanding ians soon after the capture in 1967
tual journey. 194 bans interfer- that Al-Aqsa is for of East Jerusalem by Israel, marking
A little more than a decade on, ence with Palestin- 1970 Third stage of Muslims to pray in the beginning of the occupation.
ian holy sites Israeli excavations and all others to visit
Caliph Omar was in Jerusalem For Hazem Shunnar, a respected
under Al-Haram
and he began building the first 1967 Administration Ash-Sharif launched Source: Palestinian Palestinian economist, Al-Buraq
Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa means handed to Islamic Academic Society for wall is what he often thinks about
“the farthest,” a reference to the Waqf trust run 2000 Second intifa- the Study of “because the Israelis took it
distance of Islam’s third holiest by Jordanian da after Israeli poli- International Affairs by force.”