What is a Terrace?

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]