Masjid Al Aqsa & Ramadhan

[muminah]

Masjid Al Aqsa Taraweeh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUvWOqGtZLk

A few questions:

1. Has anyone been to Masjid Al Aqsa in Ramadhan? Please share your experiences.

2. Does Masjid Al Aqsa have airconditioning?

3. How large is the sister's section and is it easy to find a place to pray taraweeh there in Ramadhan?

4. Besides Hashimi Hotel in the old quarter, are there any other higher rated hotels in the old quarter (Muslim/Christian)?

5. Outside the old quarter in East Jerusalem, can you recommend any hotels?

6. Is there any way of taking a taxi from East Jerusalem to outside of Masjid Al Aqsa, or can it only reach the walls of the old quarter?

[UmHasan]

Masjid Al Aqsa Taraweeh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUvWOqGtZLk

A few questions:

1. Has anyone been to Masjid Al Aqsa in Ramadhan? Please share your experiences.

2. Does Masjid Al Aqsa have airconditioning?

3. How large is the sister's section and is it easy to find a place to pray taraweeh there in Ramadhan?

4. Besides Hashimi Hotel in the old quarter, are there any other higher rated hotels in the old quarter (Muslim/Christian)?

5. Outside the old quarter in East Jerusalem, can you recommend any hotels?

6. Is there any way of taking a taxi from East Jerusalem to outside of Masjid Al Aqsa, or can it only reach the walls of the old quarter?

1. Yes, I've been a couple of times, as you know. I was supposed to fill you in a whole year ago, but didn't get round to it.

2. I'm sure the masjid does have AC. I can't remember noticing though. I don't remember it ever being hot and uncomfortable anyway, so it must have.

3. There is no separate sisters section like there is in Makkah and Madina. The men and women enter from the same entrance and the women pray at the back of the masjid. The women usually keep to the door on the right and the men keep to the door on the left, but now and then people wander. The women keep to the back and whenever I've been there they only made up approx 3-4 saffs. The masjid itself is not very populated and you'll never have to worry about space- there's too much of it. Its busy on Fridays so the women are not allowed into Aqsa for the Friday prayers. They pray in the Dome of the Rock and outside but besides that, it's never busy at all, unfortunately. I'm told its busier in Ramadhan, but I left a day before Ramadhan and again after Hajj. It was pretty empty both times. The locals are there but those from outside Quds are not really allowed to visit except on Fridays. Having said that, the ground of Aqsa compound are bustling with life in the times between Asar and Magrib. Old women sitting in groups, families walking around the compound, kids playing ball/tag, everyone running around - it was quite lovely. But come Magrib time, not many of them are in the Masjid. I think they have to leave before dark or something. I'm sure its full to the brim in Ramadhan.

4. Not really any other good ones. Hashmi Hotel offers simple and basic accommodation. The prices are often outrageous according to my standards anyway, but we got a good deal both times. I wanted to stay in the Muslim quarter both times and so Hashmi was one of very few options available. A family we made friends with stayed outside the Old City in a 4 star just outside Damascus Gate but it was quite a walk away even though it was just outside the walls of the Old City. I do have a few names and cards of other okayish hotels that we picked up just in case we couldn't always get a booking in Hashmi. A few we rejected because they were too far into the Jewish/Armenian/Christian quarter, some we rejected as they were predominantly occupied by Jews and a few gave us death stares (which we returned whole heartedly) but there were a couple of others. I'll dig them out for you, if you need them.

6. You can't drive within the walls of the Old City. The streets are narrow and stoned- very beautiful with a very historical feel to them. The streets are not on one level and there are stairs at every corner. An aged person would have much difficulty travelling from outside the Old City to the Masjid compound due to the ups and downs. We even gave up on the pushchair after a day. Going to the Masjid is not so bad as its all downhill. Coming back to the hotel was another matter. I was relieved to see the hotel and always thanked Allah I didn't have to walk all the way to outside the Old City.

Even within the Old City, some areas are very strange. Music blaring at high pitches throughout the night right next door to the Masjid, lots of women walking around in skimpy clothing due to the heat and always more Jews and Christians than Muslim visitors. Lots of groups walking about chanting deadbeat verses, singing strange hymns, lots of people carrying crosses and other weird artefacts stopping at selected spots to pay respects. Lots of Jewish police walking around flashing their weapons and asking useless questions. We were stopped a few times at the doors of the masjid compound and questioned whether all the kids were our own and then asked to produce passports and evidence to verify. ( I think they often suspected us of trying smuggle some Palestinian kids.) Many people carry their passports around but we never did for some reason. We just used a different door the next time. I know a few others had slight trouble at the doors, but nothing too inconvenient. My husband is very laid back and not easily perturbed by much so that rubbed off onto the rest of us.

What else..., the Masjid itself it very beautiful and historic. We were given tours by the locals and the people are very hospitable and kind. I was invited to dinner at least 3 times a day, although we didn't go to anyone's. Next time, . The locals in the Masjid are very passionate about the Palestinian situation and have some heart breaking stories to tell. Take lots of tissues and lots of sadqah.

Theres another sister on SF who'se been a couple of times and has spent an Eid there too. Hopefully, if she posts, you'll get more info.

[Abu Haitham]

for your post. I have never been to Al Quds in Ramadan.

When I went I traveled on my own.
you took your children, could I ask how old are they and how was it with them? Were they ever interrogated separately from you? Did you fly into Tel Aviv or did you take a different route.
Sorry for all the questions, I never really contemplated taking my family until reading your post.

And yes Hashimi hotel is basic, but it is clean and they are good Muslims I remember when I got there it was just after maghrib and because of certain events at the time most business were not allowed to trade (or it was too dangerous), so Mohammad who was 16 yrs of age and worked at the hotel realised I had not eaten. He compromised his own safety by running home, he came back to the hotel, put food which his own mother had cooked on the table in front of me, and said, 'come eat with me my brother'. May Allah have mercy on him and assist him with armies which he cannot see, and all of the brothers and sisters of Palestine, ameen.

[nhussa22]

Salaam all,

I hope you are all in the best of health.

Alhamdulillah, with the will of Allah, I was fortunate enough to have visited Al Aqsa last month spending the 1st week in ramadhan.

On the normal days, the masjid isn't that populated and the sisters pray at the back rows of the masjid however... In ramadhan, it is another level!

There are videos on YouTube of each tarawee and as you'll be able to see, the numbers go up drastically! The dome of the rock becomes blocked off strictly for sisters therefore it is secluded and not a problem.

Many people choose to pray outside as (mark my words), it does get hot inside! The masjid itself has many fans but no air conditioning as it has been denied by the Israelis (that's what the locals have told me)

I stayed in the golden gate hotel which is 2 mins from Al-hashimi and I have to admit, al-hashimi is probably the best for Muslims, especially families and sisters. For me, it wasn't that important as I'm 22 and travelled with 2 brothers so we just wanted a bed.

In terms of getting taxis, the brother was right, you can only get it to the walls of the old city.

I very much recommend everyone to try and visit al Aqsa especially in ramadhan where I am sure you will feel the vibe, subhanAllah, memories which will last a lifetime inshAllah.

I have plenty more that I could write about so feel free to ask me anything!

Wasalaam.

[UmHasan]

for your post. I have never been to Al Quds in Ramadan.

When I went I traveled on my own.
you took your children, could I ask how old are they and how was it with them? Were they ever interrogated separately from you? Did you fly into Tel Aviv or did you take a different route.
Sorry for all the questions, I never really contemplated taking my family until reading your post.

I have many children and we took them all. The youngest was a year old the last time we went. They were never interrogated separately, no. My daughter was singled out on the way out of Quds for a non-issue and was taken into a side room to check the validity of her passport but I was with her the whole time. We have always entered and exited by crossing the Jordanian border by bus/car. It takes time and the process is a long one, approx 3-4 hours on the way in. I met a sister in Masjid Aqsa who had flown in to Tel Aviv with her husband. She had faced many problems and was separated from her husband for hours and interrogated. Her passport and luggage was taken off her, she was not allowed to leave the room for the toilet, make a call and all sorts of nonsense. A couple of experienced travellers had suggested that to fly in to Tel Aviv was a bad idea in the first place.

I know quite a few families who have been and most of the time there has been nothing more than little inconveniences. But every experience is different, I guess.

[mmb786]

i'm really dying to go to masjid-al-aqsa... but everytime we decide to do the trip my dad gets last munite jitters about the same issues of the way they hassle people etc. so we dont end up going. lol! but insha-allah ooonee day i hope to go! make dua.

[nameuser]

Visit Masjid Al-Aqsa.... From the convenience of your computer!


الرابط التالي يجعلك تتجول داخل المسجد الأقصى
أنور
http://www.360tr.net/kudus/mescidiaksa_eng/index.html

[Maddy1]

I never go Masjid Aqsa, i wish to go their !!

[ummsara]

Sister Muminah, I believe most of your questions have been answered.
I have never had the good fortune of spending Ramadhaan there but do know of someone who spent a few days. She and her family even performed e'tikaf whilst there. As has been mentioned before, during Ramadhaan the women were in Qubbat as Sakhra.
For more specific information you could try phoning Friends of Al Aqsa Leicester or you could do what I did more than ten years ago, buy the Rough Guide to Israel and the Palestinian Territories or any other detailed travel guidebook.
I am not too sure but I recall catching a lift from just outside the Haram walls on the road that leads out to Lions gate on the northeastern side. Don't know if thats still possible.
As a point of interest, e'tikaf was not permitted in al Aqsa for many years until a young muslim from England encouraged a few people to remain in the masjid with him when they locked the doors at night. The story goes, the next morning when the authorities came to 'open up' they were surprised to find people within. Only after his persistence and insistence was permission for e'tikaf given.

[nhussa22]

Salaam,

Here is a link from when I was there, this year's tharawee, have a look at the clip and you will see how busy it is.

If anyone has any more questions on the area/my trip, feel free to ask me, I will answer what I can.

http://www.youtube.com/user/a7babalq...40/uO_DIra_GXg

Wasalaam.