Masjid al-Aqsa (The Farthest Mosque)
The third holiest mosque in Islam, in Jerusalem, connected to the Prophet's nocturnal journey.
Masjid al-Aqsa (Arabic: المسجد الأقصى), "The Farthest Mosque," is the third holiest mosque in Islam, located in Jerusalem (Al-Quds). It is connected with the Prophet Muhammad's nocturnal journey (Isra') and ascension (Mi'raj), where he traveled from Masjid al-Haram in Mecca to Masjid al-Aqsa before ascending to the heavens.
The Quran mentions Masjid al-Aqsa directly: "Glorified is He who carried His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs" (Surah Al-Isra 17:1). Masjid al-Aqsa was the first qibla in Islam — Muslims prayed toward Jerusalem for the first 16-17 months after the hijra, before the qibla was changed to the Kaaba.
In Shia narrations, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: "Do not pray toward Jerusalem alone — pray toward Allah's sacred house [the Kaaba], but do not forget to love Al-Quds and its mosque" (narrated in Shia sources). Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "A prayer in Masjid al-Aqsa equals a thousand prayers elsewhere" (Wasail al-Shia, vol. 5).
Masjid al-Aqsa has deep spiritual and political significance for all Muslims. In Shia theology, the liberation of Al-Quds is connected with Imam al-Mahdi's return. Prayer for Al-Quds and its people is part of many Shia du'as, and the last Friday of Ramadan is marked as "Al-Quds Day" in many Shia communities. For Muslims worldwide, Masjid al-Aqsa is a constant reminder of the connection between prayer, rights, and justice.
Related terms
Tawhid (God's Oneness)
Islamic monotheism — belief in Allah's absolute oneness, the core of prayer.
Sunnah (Voluntary Prayer)
Voluntary prayers based on the Prophet's practice.
Ihsan (Excellence)
The highest level of worship: to worship Allah as if one can see Him.
Nafilah (Voluntary Prayer)
Voluntary extra prayers beyond the five obligatory daily prayers.
Irsal (Arm Position in Prayer)
The Shia practice of letting the arms hang at the sides during prayer.
Ijma' (Consensus)
Agreement among Islamic scholars on a legal question, considered the third source of Islamic law.