What is the Qibli Mosque/Jami’ Al-Qibli الجامع القبلي? What is the significance of Al-Qibli Mosque?

Al-Qibli Mosque is one of the mosques within Al-Aqsa.   It is often mistakenly referred to as Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa, as mentioned in the Holy Quran, refers to the entire plaza in Jerusalem with its mosques, arenas, gates, fountains, minarets and many other religious and historic landmarks. The plaza is a total of 144 acre, and makes up the Holy Haram “Al-Haram Al-Sharief.”.^[1]

Al-Qibli mosque is considered the main mosque in the Aqsa plaza due to its role in the Friday prayers, as it is where the Imam stands to lead Muslim worshipers in prayer. ^[2]

This article is designed to address the mosque’s history, among other subjects.

Where is the Qibli Mosque?

Al-Qibli Mosque, is located to the south of the Dome of the Rock or Al Aqsa Mosque.

Why is it called Al-Qibli Mosque?

Al-Qibli mosque in relation to Al-Aqsa is located towards the Qiblah, the direction pointing towards the Ka’abah which is the direction of prayer.

History

Who built Al-Qibli Mosque? When was the Qibli mosque built?

The construction of the original mosque dates back to Omar Bin Al-Khattab caliphate, who was the second caliph of Muslims, visit to Jerusalem during the early Islamic Era.

Though the Umayyad ruler Muawiya Bin Abi Sufyan expanded the original building, the mosque as it is known today is largely attributed to Abd Al-Malik Bin Marwan who initially planned its establishment, along with that of the Dome of the Rock. His son Al-Waleed, then finished its construction around 714.
^[3]

Though the sum of the area of the mosque was once 15 arcana, the mosque as it stands today is nearly half of that size. Many major earthquakes had destroyed much of the original mosque, and, to make mosque more durable for possible future earthquakes, it was rebuilt to be half the size of the original structure.^[4]

The mosque was also changed during the time of the Crusaders as it was divided it into three parts; a church, a dwelling for the Templars and a palace for the Crusader kings. This continued until 1187 when Saladin captured Jerusalem and renovated the mosque, restoring most of its original shape.,^[5]

Renovations

The mosque was renovated many times throughout almost every era of Jerusalemite history. The Umayyad, who originally built the mosque, renovated it after an earthquake in 747, while the Abbasid rulers also renovated the mosque and added to it. Similarly did the Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman rulers, British Mandate, Jordanian government and the Supreme Islamic Council.^[6]

Description

How big is Jami’ Al-Qibli?

The current mosque is comprised of seven arcana with a length of 80 meters and a width of 55 meters. It lies on an area that is four acres in area, and, on any given day, it can hold up to 5500 worshipers. The mosque is accessible through eleven gates.,^[7]

Architecture and Construction of Al-Qibli Mosque

The mosque has a dome that is wooden from the inside and a lead from the outside and it stands on four columns and decorated from the inside with glass mosaic in the form of plants, Quranic texts, and geometric forms.^[8]

Nour Al-Din Zengi’s Minbar/Tribune

The mosque had one special feature, which was Nour Al-Din Zengi’s minbar/tribune built during 1168 in Damascus in preparation for liberating Jerusalem from the Crusaders.  Nour Al-Din died before witnessing it inside the mosque and his successor Saladin brought the tribune to the mosque in 1187 after recapturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders. The tribune remained in the mosque until 1969 when an Israeli terrorist called Michael Rohan set the mosque in the fire which led to destroying most of the mosque including the historic tribune. Later on, the government of Jordan ordered the making of an identical tribune and fixed it in 2007, the new tribune still stands in the mosque until this day, while the remains of the original one are kept in the Islamic museum in Jerusalem ^[9]

Attacks

The Qibli Mosque, similar to other parts of Al-Aqsa Plaza, has been the target of many Israeli attacks. The mosque’s structure is compromised as gunfire leaves much of the walls and the dome damaged. Israeli soldiers and settlers alike also enter the mosque and destroy the chairs, books and more, in an attempt to destroy the mosque further. Other attacks are even more dangerous, though they are less direct and more discreet as they weaken the foundation of the mosque and can cause it to collapse, such as the excavations that run under the mosque base along the southern wall of the plaza and the refusal to renovate the building by the Israeli authorities.^[10]

Facts on the Lions Gate in Jerusalem

Lions Gate Jerusalem Image, Photo of Front Walkway

What is the Lion’s Gate in Jerusalem?

The Lion’s Gate is one of the seven gates in the Old City in Jerusalem.  

Where is the Lion’s Gate in Jerusalem?

Bab Al-Asbat, the Lion’s Gate, is located in the northeast corner of Al-Aqsa Plaza, where it meets with the Old City’s walls.^[1] The gate is unique because of the fact that it is the only gate to the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem that has been open since its establishment.^{[2]The gate can be reached from Qadron Valley, through a road that separates two Muslim cemeteries in the Old City, the southern Mercy Cemetery and the Northern Yousefie Cemetery}.^[3]

History of the Lion’s Gate

Historians often argue about the year in which the gate was built. Some claim that it is as old as the walls of the city themselves, but renewed later under the Ayyubid rule along with the renewing of the northern corridor of Al-Aqsa in 1213 AD.^[4]Some claim that the Mamluk ruler, Zaher Baybars, built it ^[5] before a minaret was added to the gate later in the Mamluk era in 1367.^[6] Although there is a stony monument on the southern face of the gate mentioning Sultan Suleiman as the establisher of the gate in 945 AD,.^[7] it is believed that the gate had been established long before the Ottoman Empire. The gate, by evidence of its stony blocks, went through different historical restorations, the most recent of which dates back to 1817-1818 under the Ottoman Empire. ^[8]This was the second time the Ottoman Empire renewed the gate, as Suleiman the Magnificent previously renewed it in 1538. .^[9]

The Many Names of the Lion’s Gate

The gate has different names used by different religious groups. In addition to its most famous name as the “Lions’ Gate” or “Bab Al-Asbat”,^[10]the gate is also referred to as Sittna Mariam, or Miss Mary, due to its proximity to the Hannah Church, where Christians believe Mary was born..^[11] Coptic groups in the city call it the Saint Stephen Gate, as they believe that it was where the first Christian martyr, Saint Stephen, was stoned to death.^[12] While Jerusalemites call it Sheep Gate or Jericho Gate,.^[13] The Jews call it the Gate of Jehoshaphat, as it leads to Jehoshaphat valley where Rabbi Benjamin Tudela worshipped God in the 12th century.^[14]

Why is it called the Lions Gate of Jerusalem?

The Lion’s Gate gets its original name from the seven lions that were fixed next to it. Many legends refer to these lions.

Some claim that an Ottoman sultan saw lions eating him in his dream and, thus, affixed them to the gate, which have since been moved.^[15]

Architecture of the Lion’s Gate

The gate has two wooden shutters and a small entrance which allows only one person to enter at a time. The gate is a rectangular aperture with a hypotenuse node and rises up to almost four meters. ^[16]

What is the Significance of the Lion’s Gate in Jerusalem?

Its location near the Old City of Jerusalem and two Muslim cemeteries in the area make it an important point of travel. This proximity made the gate popular for Muslims who came to pray before visiting the graves of family members buried in the cemeteries.^[17]The gate has been the main entrance in which Muslims walk through to pray in Al-Aqsa due to the repetitive closure of Al-Mughrabi Gate by Israeli forces .^[18] It also has been used for Muslim Janazahs, also known as funerals, where people can pray on the deceased before burying him/her in one of the two close cemeteries..^[19]In emergency situations, the gate is also the main entrance of ambulances to the Al-Aqsa Plaza, where many are wounded or martyred in clashes between the Israeli forces and the Muslims praying in Al-Aqsa .^[20]

In addition to its logistic importance, the gate played a critical role in the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation, especially in defending Al-Aqsa Plaza. In July 2017, the Lions’ Gate was a significant point of Palestinian resistance against the Israeli attempt to surveil the Muslim and Palestinian visitors of Al-Aqsa by installing electronic gates around the walls and entrances of Al-Aqsa. ^[21]

This was not the first time the gate played as a line of defense around Al-Aqsa and the Old City of Jerusalem. In 1967 the gate played a similar role when it shielded a force of Palestinian resistors from the Israeli forces. Israeli forces could not defeat them until it swept through the gate with weaponry.^[22] Today, much like the other opened gates around the Old City, the Lions’ Gate is packed with Israeli forces who search worshippers and, sometimes, bar them from entering Al-Aqsa area.^[23]

There are a number of terraces In the Al-Aqsa plaza– open spaces built above the surface of the main square accessible by means of different staircases. ^[1] 

These terraces were added to expand the available space available to people in the vicinity of the mosque in an aesthetically pleasing way.. They are often used for prayer, and have a mihrab^[2] to indicate the direction of the qibla, as well as spaces for different religious study circles and classes.^[3]

Number of Terraces in Al-Aqsa

Some sources indicate that throughout Islamic history, there have been a maximum of thirty-eight terraces in Al-Aqsa, while others indicate much less.  Regardless–the known terraces are all located near water facilities and the mosque gates. Most were built in the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, whereas  some were constructed more recently.^[4]Below is a list of the contemporary terraces of  the Al-Aqsa mosque:^[5]                                                                           

Nature of Al-Aqsa Gates

Al-Aqsa has many gates in its surrounding walls, all of which are made of wood and have of one or two shutters and an opening for praying latecomers who reach the gates after they are officially closed at sunset.^[1]

Not all of Al-Aqsa gates open, in fact, only the ones in the northern and western parts of the Al-Aqsa plaza are open, while the ones in the eastern and southern parts of the area are closed..^[2]

List of Al-Aqsa Gates

The Al-Aqsa Plaza is connected to the city of Jerusalem through ten open gates that are located on the northern and western sides of the plaza.^[3]

Gates on the northern side include The Lions Gate, The Hetta Gate, The King Faisal Gate, and The Ghawanimah Gate. ^[4]

Gates on the western side include Al-Nazer Gate, The Iron Gate, The Qattanin Gate, The Purified Gate, The Chain Gate, and The Moroccan Gate.^[5]

Of the closed gates, seven lead to the Al-Aqsa mosque–five of which lie on the eastern and southern sides (the Golden Gate and the Funerals gate,^[6]the Single Gate, the Double Gate, and the Triple Gate.^[7]) and the Barclay Gate and the C. Wamen Gate^[8] in the west.^[9]

Irrigating cities and providing their inhabitants with water was a priority for Muslim dynasties throughout Islamic history-particularly if those cities were central to the caliphate or heavily populated.^[1] One of the ways in which this goal was accomplished was by commissioning the building of drinking fountains throughout different cities like Jerusalem that could be used for drinking or ablution. ^[2]

Al-Aqsa Fountains

Al-Aqsa has many fountains distributed in the plaza of the mosque.^[3] Most of the fountains date back at least to the Mamluk period and many were rebuilt during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.^[4]

Construction

Because the fountains built near Al-Aqsa were built or renovated in different eras, their architectural styles differ. Some of them are shaped like pools like the cup fountain and the Narinj fountain, some look like tanks like the King Issa fountain, some like a square room with windows,and still others are basins or are shaped like ordinary kitchen taps .^[5]

List of Al-Aqsa Fountains

The Al-Aqsa Mosque is often confused with the Dome of the Rock. For the purposes of this section, “Al-Aqsa” will not only refer to the mosque itself, but the entire plaza, or what is known as Alharam Alshareef.

Both the southern building now referred to as Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, as well as the other buildings, grounds, domes, minarets, mihrabs, walls, tress, wells, terraces, within the 144,000 square meter area within the walls make up the noble sanctuary..According to Mustafa Khater, this entire area is what make up the Al-Aqsa according to Prophet Muhammad, his companions, their followers and most historians until the past century..^[1]

According to the Islamic tradition, the entire area within the walls of Al-Aqsa, and not just the mosque or the Dome of the Rock is blessed, and ought to be protected.^[2]

This section will examine every notable structure within the walls of Alharam Alshareef including the gates, the terraces, the mosques, the porticos, the fountains, and the arcatures.

A portico is a roofed passage that consists primarily of a series of giant and sharp arches that lead to the yard of a building.^[1] Porticos are usually used in the construction of religious houses of worship like mosques and churches.

Al-Aqsa mosque has two main porticos: the western portico and the northern portico.^[2] These porticos date back to the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. The main reasons these porticos were built was to connect the landmarks of Al-Aqsa plaza and to protect people in the mosque in the event of severe weather.^[3]

What is the Dome of the Rock? What is the Dome of the Rock’s significance?

The Dome of the Rock is one of the most important architectural landmarks in the history of Islamic culture.  The Dome of the Rock contains the Rock, which carries great significance for all three monotheistic religions, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.  Muslims mark it as the site of the miraj, the miraculous journey where the Prophet Muhammad  ascended from Earth to Heaven from this very spot.  Christian and Jews regard it to be the location where Abraham came to sacrifice Isaac .

Even in the holy city of Jerusalem itself filled with important landmarks, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) itself states it quite simply on their World Heritage List “the Dome of the Rock stands out”.  It also reflects the far-reaching extent of intercultural and interfaith dialogues and influences the native people of Jerusalem, both Christians and Muslims alike.

What is under the Dome of the Rock?

The Rock or the Foundation Stone, mentioned earlier is at the base of the Dome of the Rock.

Where is the Dome of the Rock located?

The Dome of the Rock is located in the center of the Noble Sanctuary in the Old City of Jerusalem.^[1]

Who built the Dome of the Rock? When was the Dome of the Rock built?

The Dome was built in the seventh century^[2] by the Umayyad Caliph Abd Al-Malik bin Marwan in 685 AD.^[3]

The project was undertaken by two distinguished engineers: Yazid bin Al-Salam from Jerusalem, and Raja Bin Hayawi from Besan who used to be the assistant of the Caliph Omar bin Abd Al-Aziz^[9][10]

Since its completion in 691 AD,^[4] the Dome has been restored many times.^[5]

As stated earlier, the Dome’s foundation was built on top of the rock that Muslims believe to be the exact position from where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to the heavens in the journey recorded in the Quranic chapter al-Isra’.^[6]

How long did the Dome of the Rock take to build?

The project took seven years in its initial construction and became the most famous landmark in Ummayad and Islamic history.^[7]

Since 691 AD, none of the original structure of the Dome has been changed–only= its outer shell.^[8]

How was the Dome of the Rock constructed? The Dome of the Rock Architecture

The Dome of the Rock was built out of wood propped up in the shape of an octagon with a diameter of 66 feet (20 meters) and a height of 20 meters.^[11] It is built on top of an elevated drum of 16 piers and columns in a shape of circle surrounded by an arcade of 24 piers and columns in a shape of octagon.^[12]

Both the dome and the exterior walls of the dome are made of colored glass while the interior is decorated with mosaic and marble that was added many centuries after its original construction.^[13] The dome is decorated with scrolls,^[14] religious motifs,^[15] vessels^[16], and winged crowns but no human figures or pictures of animals.^[17] In addition to Arabic inscriptions from Quran that emphasize the oneness of God and the prophet-hood of Muhammad and Jesus, the son of Mary.

Renovations, Repairs, and Earthquakes

When Was the Dome of the Rock Destroyed?

The Dome of the Rock was partially destroyed at different points in its history mainly due to earthquakes. In 746 AD, an earthquake in the area resulted in the destruction of the eastern and western parts of the Dome.  In 774 AD, a part of the Dome was destroyed by another earthquake. In 1033 AD, a strong earthquake threatened to destroy the entire mosque. Finally most of the previous repairs implemented were rendered useless after the damage done to the Dome during the 1927 earthquake that hit Palestine.^[25]

Was the Dome of the Rock rebuilt?

Yes, because of the Dome’s  special place in the Islamic tradition, many caliphs ordered its renovation and restoration during their reigns. ^[18]

It was rebuilt under the orders of the Abbasid Caliph Ja‘ far Al-Mansour in 757 AD.^[19]  It was rebuilt in 779 AD by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mahdi.^[20] In 832 AD, a third Abbasid Caliph, Al-Ma’amun, oversaw additional repairs to the dome.^[21]

A major renovation project was undertaken in the time of the Fatimid Caliph Al-Zaher that not only saw to the repairs of the mosque itself but to the expansion of the area itself and the addition of seven of the northern gates and several of the buildings in the courtyard.^[22]

The Ottomon Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (ruled 1520-1566) ordered a seven-year long project to redecorate and restore the exterior of the Dome and cover it with ornate Iznik tile ^[23] Another wide-scale renovation was undertaken during the rule of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmoud II in 1817.^[24]

More recently, the Dome underwent two major renovation projects in 1965 when the Dome was covered with Italian durable aluminum and bronze alloy.

Is the Dome of the Rock made of real gold?

Yes. In 1993 King Hussein of Jordan donated $8.2 million to provide the 80 kilograms (176 pound) of gold to refurbish the covering of the golden dome.^[26] 

During restoration of the Dome from 1959 to 1962, the lead originally on the outside was replaced by aluminum-bronze plates covered with gold leaf.

Who controls the Dome of the Rock today?

The Jordanian Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs currently maintain the Dome of the Rock.^[29] Although the Dome of the Rock has been under Israeli control since the Six day war in 1967,

When the Crusaders ruled Jerusalem, The Dome of the Rock was put under the control of the Augustinians who turned it into a church southern Al-Aqsa mosque was turned into a royal stable.^[27] In 1187, the Dome of the Rock was again under Muslim rule after after Salah Al-Din recaptured the city from the crusaders and replaced the cross on top of the dome with a golden crescent.^[28]

Definition

An arcature is a term given originally to a market with a series of stores that have many doors with arches above them.^[1] It refers to an architectural form where a number of columns are organized in a straight row under arches lifting the ceiling of the building. This kind of structure is often used in religious structures namely in the construction of mosques .^[2]

From a distance, the structure often looks like a chain of scales–and , perhaps this is why Jerusalemites often refer to them as such. .^[3]

Purpose

Arcatures usually surround the plaza of a mosque, and together with the mosque’s walls forms a long hallway or corridor. The main purpose behind using these columns is to elevate the ceiling to the highest point possible in order to maximize the amount of natural light in the space^[4]

Arcatures of Al-Aqsa

Al-Aqsa has eight arcatures that surround it on either side of the mosque one in the east, two in the north, two in the south, and three in the west. One can reach the Dome of the Rock by ascending the wide stairs that pass through them.^[5]

The arcatures were constructed and renovated at different points in Islamic history. The western, eastern and southern arcatures are considered the oldest and date back to the Umayyad dynasty, while the northern ones go back to the Fatimid and Mamluk eras.^[6] Al-Aqsa arcatures were restored many times during different Islamic eras.^[7]

A minaret is the tower from which the adhan is called to invite people to come pray in the mosque–this happens five times a day. Minarets were not an original part of the earliest Muslim mosques in Madina, but were added to the architecture of mosques. Minarets were added to mosques during the reign of the fifth caliph, Mu‘awiyah bin Abi Sufyan beginning with the mosques in Al-Basra, Iraq in 665 AD.^[1]

Construction

A minaret is composed of three sections: the base, which is either square, cylindered or conical, the body of the minaret, and the balcony from where the adhan is called. The top also consists of the neck, the dome, the pippins, and the crescent. The balcony can be reached through a flight of stairs that at the base of the minaret. ^[2]

Minarets of Al-Aqsa

Al-Aqsa has four minarets, none of which are attached to the actual mosques, but distributed in the western and northern sides of the courtyard, where most people are concentrated. The minarets that were built during the Mamluk period were actually built on top of originals believed to be built in the time of Abd Al-Malik, the Umayyad Caliph, when minarets were popular. .^[3]

Below are a list of the Al-Aqsa Minarets:^[4]

The Moroccan Gate Minaret known Al-Fakharya

The Chain Gate Minaret

Al-Ghawanimah Gate Minaret

The Lions’ Gate Minaret