AL AQSA TOUR

Travel Brochure

“

Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid

al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose

surroundings we have blessed, to show him

of our signs.

Indeed, He is the All Hearing, the All

Seeing. Surah Al Isra 17

Ayah 1

”

Al Aqsa spans 35 acres of land in Jerusalem

LAND OF THE PROPHETS Allah (SWT) preserved and sanctified the blessed land of Al Aqsa in the opening verses of

Surah Al Isra. It is this select location, where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and

blessings be upon him) journeyed at night

in a miraculous manner from the city of

Mecca, while the call to Islam was still in

its earliest stages. Here, he led all of the

prophets of Allah that came before him in

prayer and then ascended to heaven to

receive Allah's command to the Muslims

to pray five times a day.

AT THE AIRPORT There are security checks and processes when

arriving to Jerusalem which can take time and

sometimes concern travellers.

Passports may be taken by staff and you may

be interviewed. Questions will be related to

the purpose of your visit and your personal

details (family member names). This is quite

normal you should expect a 4-6 hour delay at

the airport while checks are undertaken.

Stay calm and keep some reading material and

snacks with you for this period.

AT THE HOTEL Our hotel is a short walk from Masjid Al Aqsa

and is situated in the Muslim quarter in

Jerusalem’s Old City.

There are a number of connected paths to

the Masjid and it is easy to stray into other

areas so it’s important to collect a map from

the hotel and stay with the group until you

are familiar with the route.

Breakfast and dinner are included as part of

your tour.

PRAYER TIMES

Fajr Dhohar Asr Maghrib Isha

04.00 13.00 17.30 19.45 21.30

Masjid Qibli The first point of direction (qibla) for the Muslims was Al Aqsa. When Umar(RA) was handed the keys of Jerusalem, he identified the site of this Masjid. Abu Darda (ra) relates that the Prophet (saw) said, "A prayer in Makkah (Ka'bah) is worth 100,000 times (reward), a prayer in my Masjid (Madinah) is worth 1,000 times and a prayer in Al-Aqsa Sanctuary is worth 500 times more reward than anywhere else". (Tabarani)

Qubbat Al-Sakhra Built by the Umayyad Khalif `Abd al-Malik, the Dome covers the rock assumed to be the point of ascension (Mi’raj) of the Prophet(SAW) to the heavens. This is at the peak of the mountain and is one of the only buildings to remain in its original form. The octagonal structure shows great design skill and has been maintained and developed through the generations.

Masjid al Buraq Believed to be the place where the Prophet(SAW) tied the Buraq (winged riding animal) prior to Mi’raj.

Sulaiman’s (AS) throne Believed to be where the Prophet Sulaiman (AS) passed away while leaning on his staff.

Mihrab of Maryam Reported to be the location where Maryam stayed in the Masjid worshipping and staying.

Musalla Marwani This is an underground praying area on the south-east side of al-Aqsa which has been restored.

Mount of Olives Scholars state that the olive mentioned in Surah At-Teen alludes to Masjid al-Aqsa, to which Isa (AS) will return.

Residence of Imam Ghazali A platform where the famous scholar Imam al-Ghazali(rh) wrote his major work Ihya’ Ulum al-Din.

Jericho One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world located near the Jordan River

Masjid Khalil - Hebron Resting place of Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub and Yusuf (AS)

Maqaam Nabi Musa Located 11km south of Jericho

Maqam Nabi Yunus Built by the Ayyubids on the West Banks highest peak

The Dead Sea Prophet Lut (AS) called his people to Islam, but their disobedience led to their city being destroyed and this site remains as a symbol of destruction.

Common FAQ Where should I give charity to support the Masjid or poor people? The Jordanian government maintains the Masjid and they have official offices on the Al Aqsa site where you can make donations for repair of the Masjid. No other agencies or outlets are recommended. What should I take along with me for the journey? Towels and an iron are provided by the hotel. We would recommend you travel lightly and remember to include your mobile phone charger, a 2 pin travel adaptor, medicine, snacks and clothes. You are permitted to take photos at many of the sites we will be visiting and may want to bring along a camera. Where can I exchange money? There is an exchange very close to the hotel where you can exchange money. Are there any museums or historical facilities near the Masjid? Yes, there is a large library below Masjid Al Aqsa and also a Museum on the site which has preserved some of the oldest parts of the Masjid following earthquake damage. Are there any recommended food and shopping retail stores? Yes, there are a number of shops and markets near the hotel which the tour guides and hotel staff can direct you to. Is there a wireless internet connection at the hotel? Yes, there is a good signal available from the hotel and adjoining internet cafes. Did any Sahaba live in Al Aqsa? Yes, there are graves of a number of Sahaba near the Masjid. These include the graves of Hadhrat Salman al Farsi (RA), Hadhrat Ubadah bin As-Samit (RA) and Shadaad bin Aus (RA). Who is our main point of contact throughout the tour? The Tour Supervisor will be available on +0044 7852 238463 and will be in the hotel foyer 8am - 9am daily.

TOP TIPS 1) Travel light 2) Read as much as you can about the history & significance of this area 3) Watch videos about the history of Masjid Aqsa before travelling

Contact

www.ayymangroup.co.uk

07852238463

info@ayymangroup.co.uk

Masjid Aqsa Tours