What is the Difference Between Masjid Aqsa & Dome of the Rock?

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Some Muslims consider there to be significant differences between Masjid al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock. However, Masjid al-Aqsa refers to the entire area or complex (see images below). There are numerous sites within this complex or compound. One of the sites is the Dome of the Rock Masjid. Another is Masjid al-Qibly.

Explanation

In the images below, you will see the two main Masjids that are within the Masjid al-Aqsa complex. They are Masjid al-Qibly and the Dome of the Rock Masjid.

Masjid al-Qibly:

Dome of the Rock Masjid:

The above two Masjids are part of Masjid al-Aqsa since they are situated within the complex of Masjid al-Aqsa. This is clarified in the images below.

Masjid al-Aqsa:

As seen above, Masjid al-Aqsa refers to the entire area or complex. The dome of the rock and al-Qibly Masjid are part of that complex. Therefore, they are part of Masjid al-Aqsa. This is similar to a person’s living room and kitchen being part of one’s home but not the entirety of it.

Hadith Narration

عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ يَقُولُ لِكَعْبٍ: أَيْنَ تُرَى أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ؟ فَقَالَ: إِنْ أَخَذْتَ عَنِّي صَلَّيْتَ خَلْفَ الصَّخْرَةِ، فَكَانَتِ الْقُدْسُ كُلُّهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: ضَاهَيْتَ الْيَهُودِيَّةَ، لَا، وَلَكِنْ أُصَلِّي حَيْثُ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ فَصَلَّى، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَبَسَطَ رِدَاءَهُ فَكَنَسَ الْكُنَاسَةَ فِي رِدَائِهِ، وَكَنَسَ النَّاسُ

(Sayidina) Umar bin al-Khattab said to Ka`b: Where do you think I should pray? He said: If you take my view, you will pray behind the rock. Thus, all of al-Quds will be in front of you. (Sayidina) Umar said: You have resembled Judaism. Rather I shall pray where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed. He went forward towards the Qiblah and prayed. Then he returned and spread his upper garment and swept the garbage into it. The people swept it too. (Musnad Ahmad, 261)

In the narration above, we find Sayidina Umar (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) considering where to perform Salah (prayer) within the al-Aqsa complex. He was at the rock and it was suggested that he pray there. This is where the Dome of the Rock Masjid is now situated. However, he walked past it and prayed ahead of it. He prayed at the place where al-Qibly Masjid is now situated.

The fact that Sayidina Umar had the option to pray anywhere within this area when praying within Masjid al-Aqsa demonstrates that al-Aqsa is not limited to any of the two main Masjids. Rather, the entire area is Masjid al-Aqsa. The narration above is sound (Hasan).

وهذا حديث حسن الإسناد، اختاره الحافظ الضياء في كتابه. (مسند الفاروق أمير المؤمنين أبي حفص عمر بن الخطاب)

This Hadith has a Hasan (sound) chain of transmission. It was selected by al-Hafiz al-Diya for his book. (Imam Abu al-Fida bin Katheer, Musnad al-Faruq).

Major scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah clarified the fact that al-Aqsa encompasses the entire compound. It is not limited to one of the Masjids found within the complex. This is important for people to understand since there is broad miscomprehension and misrepresentation of exactly what Masjid al-Aqsa is. So many Muslims falsely believe Masjid al-Aqsa to be the Dome of the Rock Masjid. Others mistakenly believe Masjid al-Qibly to be Masjid al-Aqsa.

Such misconceptions are concerning due to them contradicting religious fact. However, they also raise concern because certain Zionist movements want to build a temple within the Masjid al-Aqsa complex. If Muslims do not recognise that the entire area is Masjid al-Aqsa, then they may not oppose such a violation of our holy sites.

Classical Scholars

والأقصى: اسم للمسجد الذي بناه سليمان عليه الصلاة والسلام كله في هذا المصلَّى الذي بناه عمر – رضي الله عنه – أفضل منها في سائر المسجد. (تحفة الراكع والساجد بأحكام المساجد)

Al-Aqsa is the name given to the entirety of the Masjid that was built by Sulaiman (peace and blessings be upon him). (Prayer) in this prayer-hall (Musalah) that Umar (may Allah Most High be pleased with him) built is better than in the rest of the Masjid. (Imam Abu Bakr bin Zayd, Tuhfatu al-Raaki’ wa al-Saajid).

فإن المسجد الاقصى اسم لجميع المسجد الذى بناه سليمان ـ عليه السلام ـ وقد صار بعض الناس يسمى الأقصى: المصلى الذى بناه عمر بن الخطاب ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فى مقدمه. والصلاة فى هذا المصلى الذى بناه عمر للمسلمين أفضل من الصلاة فى سائر المسجد. (إيثارة الترغيب والتشويق إلى المساجد الثلاثة و البيت العتيق)

For indeed al-Aqsa is the name for the entirety of the Masjid that was built by Sulaiman (peace and blessings be upon him). Some people have started to refer to the prayer-hall (Musalah) built by Umar bin al-Khattab (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) when he came as al-Aqsa. Prayer (Salah) in the prayer-hall that Umar (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) built for the Muslims is better than prayer in the rest of the Masjid. (Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq al-Khwarizmi (827H), Itharatu al-Targheeb wa al-Tashweeq).

Conclusion

Based on the above, it should be abundantly clear that Masjid al-Aqsa is not restricted to any of the Masjids found within the al-Aqsa compound. Rather, the entire area is al-Masjid al-Aqsa. Muslims should be well aware of this, especially since there are people looking to spread misinformation. Sadly, there are even so called ‘learned people’ who misunderstand what al-Masjid al-Aqsa is.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (12.01.24)