Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque is regarded as the first Qibla for Muslims and the location from which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ascended to heaven. It is the second mosque constructed on Earth, and performing a prayer there is rewarded with the equivalent of five hundred prayers compared to other mosques, with the exceptions being the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) and the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid An-Nabawi). Al-Aqsa Mosque is situated in the southeastern part of the Old City of Jerusalem, approximately at the center of Palestine. Covering an area of about 144 dunams, it occupies roughly one-sixth of the enclosed area of Jerusalem. Most scholars believe that either the angels or Adam (peace be upon him) constructed Al-Aqsa Mosque, though the prevailing view is that Adam himself built it, approximately forty years after the establishment of Al-Masjid Al-Haram.
The Buraq Wall
The Buraq Wall is intrinsically linked to the miraculous night journey of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet spoke of Al-Buraq as the steed upon which he traveled to the heavens. The wall is named Buraq Wall because the Prophet tied his steed there. This wall is located on the western side of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, stretching 47 meters in length and standing 18 meters tall.
The Dome of the Rock
The Dome of the Rock is one of the most significant religious and historical landmarks in Jerusalem. Characterized by its iconic octagonal golden dome, it sits within the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Muslims believe that the rock beneath its dome served as the site of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) miraculous night journey. The construction of the Dome was initiated by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, aiming to create a shelter for Muslims during winter and summer and to serve as a pilgrimage site for visitors to the Holy Mosque each year.
The Damascus Gate
The Damascus Gate is among the most renowned archaeological landmarks in Jerusalem, located at the center of the northern wall of the city. It was built during the reign of the Ottoman Caliph Suleiman the Magnificent and stands on the remnants of a door from the Crusader era. A rounded archway rests above the gate, positioned between two towers, and it is also commonly referred to as the Damascus Gate.