The Educational Pictorial Atlas an Illustrated documentation of Jerusalem
Overview
Al-Quds: The Educational Pictorial Atlas by Dr. Hassan Ali Mustafa Khater is the first volume of a whole project that addresses Jerusalem landmarks in an illustrated and documented method.
The 362 page book was first published in 2013 by International Jerusalem Center for Media, International Studies and Documentation. Two other editions were published later in 2014 and 2015.
Author
Dr. Hassan Ali Mustafa Khater is the head of the Jerusalem International Center, and Islamic-Christian Organization to Defend Jerusalem and the Holy Places.
Khater is a holder of PhD in Social Science, and works as a professor in a number of Palestinian Universities. He has several researches, studies, and books that deal with Jerusalem and Arab and Palestinian causes. He has participated in many conferences, lectures, events, and television programs on Jerusalem.
Subject
The book deals with the features of Al-Aqsa Plaza. Everything within the walls is addressed historically, geographically, religiously, and architecturally.
A detailed description of mosques, arcatures, terraces, gates, minarets, porticos, and fountains within the plaza, their history, dimensions, and importance are presented with pictures and illustrations.
Related subjects such as the meaning of Al-Aqsa and its landmarks, its status, virtues, and significance were also included in the book.
Language
The book was written in two languages, Arabic and English. Each subject was addressed in opposite pages, one in Arabic and the other in English.
Method
The author adopted the scientific field method where he provided pictures, illustrations, and accurate measurements to document Al-Aqsa landmarks. He also followed the literary method by providing Quranic verses, as well as Prophetic and historical narrations on Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.
Aim
The author clarifies at the beginning of his book that this is the start of a comprehensive research project that aims at documenting Jerusalem’s landmarks and its architectural details, which will contribute to protecting the cultural components and identity of Jerusalem from distortion, obliteration, and vandalism by the Israeli occupation.
