For the first time since 1967, Israel has closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, reports Jordan News.
Access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has been closed for 11 consecutive days due to security measures amid the conflict with Iran, preventing worshippers from participating in prayers.
Since the beginning of Israeli control over East Jerusalem in 1967, both the night Taraweeh prayers and the spiritual retreat of I'tikaf during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan have been canceled at the mosque.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, is the third holiest site in Islam, accommodating up to 5,000 worshippers. It forms the Haram al-Sharif complex along with the Dome of the Rock and is the site of the Prophet Muhammad's night journey, often becoming a center of religious and political conflicts.
Al-Aqsa is mentioned several times in the Quran. In particular, in verse 17:1 of Surah "Al-Isra," it states: "Glory be to Him Who carried His servant [the Prophet Muhammad] by night from Al-Masjid al-Haram to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, the surroundings of which We have blessed.
Since its establishment in the 7th century, the Al-Aqsa Mosque has ranked third in significance in Islam after the Sacred Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. The mosque is located in the southern part of the complex and has a history of over a thousand years.
Previously, the Al-Aqsa Mosque was the first Qibla for Muslims. Although Muslims now face the Sacred Kaaba in Mecca, they previously prayed towards the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) in Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located today. Later, in Surah "Al-Baqarah," the Almighty commanded the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to use the Kaaba as the Qibla.
The significance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is also emphasized in Hadiths. In one of them, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Offering prayer in the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) is equivalent to one hundred thousand prayers in an ordinary mosque. Prayer in my mosque (in Medina) is equivalent to one thousand prayers in an ordinary mosque. And prayer in the Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) is comparable to five hundred prayers in an ordinary mosque" (Ibn Majah).
Meanwhile…
A march in honor of Al-Quds Day, which has been organized for 40 years in support of Palestine, has been banned in London. The government cited a threat to public order posed by the "unstable situation in the Middle East," as well as potential clashes between opponents and supporters of the event.
This is the first case of such a march being banned since 2012, when authorities did not allow rallies by the far-right group "English Defence League."
The Metropolitan Police sought to cancel the Al-Quds Day event, and this decision was approved by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which organizes the event, condemned this decision and plans to appeal it in court.
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The article "Israel Closes Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan" was first published on K-News.
