Masjid al-Aqsa (The Farthest Mosque)

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.