The importance of Masjid Al-Aqsa ;

1. Al Masjid Al Aqsa was the first qibla in Islam and it has been a significant and important place of worship for the Prophets of Islam (Peace & blessings be upon them).

2. It was a well known place of worship at the time of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and for his son Prophet Ishaq (as) and grandson Prophet Yaqub (as).

3. In his lifetime though, the most memorable reason why Al Masjid Al Aqsa has such significance is because it was the place to which He ﷺ travelled on the night of Israa, and it was the location from which He ﷺ made his Miraaj to the Heavens.....

... In the books of Hadith, we learn that the Prophet ﷺ went to visit the Ka’bah at night, and fell asleep. The Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) then awoke him and led him to a winged white beast named Buraq....

... It was on Buraq that the Prophet ﷺ then made the journey to Jerusalem (a journey that would typically take 40 days) in just one momentous night....

.... On reaching Jerusalem, the Prophet ﷺ met and led all the previous Prophets in prayer at the site of Al Masjid Al Aqsa, and then embarked on the Miraaj to the Heavens...

4. The journey of Israa was such a momentous occasion that الله revealed verses relating to this journey in the Holy Quran –

“Glorified be He (الله) Who did take His servant for a journey by night from Al Masjid Al Haram to Al Masjid Al Aqsa, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs. Verily He is the All Hearing, All Seeing” [17:1].

5. In 691/692AD, Abd’ al Malik bin Marwan began constructing what is nowadays known as the Dome of the Rock on top of the rock which some believe was the place where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ embarked on his Miraaj to the Heavens...

... However, it must be noted that regardless of whether the rock has importance for this reason, its main significance derives from it being within the boundaries of Al Masjid Al Aqsa and therefore part of Al Masjid Al Aqsa.

Masjid Al Aqsa is the 3rd most holiest Masjid in Islam and a very significant landmark/masjid for Muslims. To attack Muslims in their place of worship especially within the blessed month of ramadān just goes to show how cowardly the oppressors are.

May الله safeguard our Palestinian brothers and sister, and protect masjid Al Aqsa from the oppressors, أمين.