As reported by Jordan News, access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been closed by Israeli authorities during Ramadan for the first time since 1967.
For 11 consecutive days, Israeli forces have restricted entry to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, preventing Muslims from participating in prayers, citing security concerns in the context of the conflict with Iran.
This closure marks the first instance since Israel took control of East Jerusalem in 1967 when both night Taraweeh prayers and the spiritual practice of I'tikaf during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan have been prohibited at the mosque.
Al-Aqsa, located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, is considered the third holiest site in Islam and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers. It is part of the Al-Haram al-Sharif complex and holds special significance as the site of the Prophet Muhammad's night journey, often becoming the subject of religious and political disputes.
Al-Aqsa is mentioned several times in the Quran. For example, 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.
In Islam, the Al-Aqsa Mosque ranks third in importance after the Sacred Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. It is located in the southern part of the complex and has a history spanning over a millennium, remaining an important place of worship for Muslims since the 7th century. The Al-Aqsa Mosque was the first Qibla for Muslims; before they began to pray towards the Sacred Kaaba in Mecca, their prayers were directed towards Al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is now located. Later, as stated 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 confirmed by its role in worship. In one of the hadiths, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ noted: "Performing prayer in the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) is equivalent to one hundred thousand prayers in an ordinary mosque, in my mosque (in Medina) it is equivalent to one thousand prayers, and in the Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) it is equivalent to five hundred prayers in an ordinary mosque" (Ibn Majah).
Meanwhile…
In the United Kingdom, authorities have banned the march in honor of Al-Quds Day, which has been held in London for 40 years in support of Palestine. The government cited the threat of public disorder due to the "unstable situation in the Middle East" and possible clashes between opposing groups of protesters.
This is the first instance of such a march being banned since 2012, when authorities restricted the activities of the far-right organization "English Defence League."
The Metropolitan Police insisted on banning the Al-Quds Day event, and this decision was supported by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which organizes the demonstration, expressed protest against this decision and intends to challenge it in court.
Details can be found here.
The article "Israel Closes Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan for the First Time" was first published on K-News.
