Masjid al-Aqsa Experience Feb 2027

The most common tree inside Masjid Al-Aqsa is the olive tree. Scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir suggest that when the Qur’an says “By the fig and the olive”, the olive symbolises Masjid Al-Aqsa.



As you explore Masjid Al-Aqsa, you’ll see more than just olives. Daisies, rose trees, chrysanthemums, ivy, and lemon trees add to its charm. Majestic cedars, cypress, and ancient trees like mahlab and poplar also stand tall, some dating back to the Ottoman era.



Landmarks such as the Dome of Musa, also called the Dome of the Tree and educational platforms named after the pine and hawthorn trees reflect this rich natural heritage.

The brilliant blue tiles adorning the Dome of the Rock are not the originals. The Umayyads initially decorated the building with magnificent mosaics when it was completed in 691 CE, but centuries of exposure eventually took their toll.



In the 16th century, Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent commissioned more than 45,000 hand-crafted İznik tiles to restore its beauty. Together with the golden dome above, they transformed the Dome of the Rock into the iconic landmark recognised throughout the world today.



Every tile is a reminder that, throughout history, Muslim rulers regarded serving and preserving Masjid al-Aqsa as an honour and a sacred responsibility.

With over 200 remarkable landmarks, Masjid al-Aqsa is more than sacred history. It is a living testimony to hope. Every dome, arch, minbar and marble panel tells a story. Even the most overlooked features hold powerful lessons.



Allah honours all who serve Masjid al-Aqsa with sincerity. From Maryam عليها السلام in her mihrab to Nur al-Din’s vision, Salah al-Din’s fulfilment, Sultan Suleiman’s restorations and Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar’s burial, each shines as a beacon of devotion.



But not every hero is known by name.

Beneath the grand chandelier of the Musalla al-Qibli lies a hidden story, one not found in books but one that stirs hearts when heard. The man behind its light was neither a ruler nor a scholar, but what he did for Masjid al-Aqsa will leave you speechless.



We will share his story on our next journey, in the very place where his hands once worked and where his sincerity still shines.

Many visitors assume that the building seen here is the musalla established by Sayyiduna ʿUmar رضي الله عنه after the conquest of Jerusalem. 



It is also frequently mistaken for Masjid al-Aqsa whilst  Musalla al-Qibli is only one of the prayer halls within Masjid al-Aqsa. 



Muslim archaeological research places the musalla of Sayyiduna ʿUmar رضي الله عنه on the underground level, more than six metres beneath the present structure.



This upper prayer hall did not exist in his time. It was built later by the Umayyads, who first constructed the vaults beneath it to serve as its foundation and support.

Legend has it that when Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi liberated Bayt al-Maqdis, the people of Palestine prepared a feast in celebration. He asked the locals to bring a dish then known as الباذنجانية, “the aubergine dish”, but referred to it as مقلوبة, maqlubah, and the name has remained ever since.



Maqlubah مقلوبة, meaning “upside down”, is one of Palestine’s best-known dishes. Chicken, rice and fried vegetables are cooked together with aromatic spices before the pot is turned over onto a serving dish, revealing the impressive tower you see here.



It is one of the first tastes we love to share with our travellers upon arriving in Jerusalem. Imagine sitting within Masjid al-Aqsa, gazing towards the Dome of the Rock as the evening breeze passes over you and the aroma of herbs and spices fills the air. Then comes that first taste of a traditional Palestinian recipe passed down through generations and prepared to perfection.