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What is the wisdom behind mentioning the phrases "Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa" and "Al-Masjid Al-Haram" in the Isra' (Night Journey) verse, knowing that Jerusalem was not a mosque during that era?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Linguistically, a mosque is a place where one prostrates. The Sacred House (Kaaba) and Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) were named "masjid" because they were never devoid of those who worshipped and prostrated to Allah therein, as stated in His Almighty قول: "And purify My House for those who circumambulate it and those who are staying [therein] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]," and His Almighty قول: "O Mary, remain devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer]."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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