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.

---