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IMAGERY: LANDMARKS IN ISLAMIC HISTORY
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EPISODE 2️⃣4️⃣ – MASJID AL-MARWAN
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Location: South-eastern corner of the basement of Masjid al-Aqsa, Jerusalem, Palestine.
🕌 Also known as Musallah Marwani.
🕌 The Masjid al-Marwan is the largest prayer hall in Masjid al-Aqsa. It can hold between 6,000 to 8,000 congregation.
🕌 Although known traditionally as ‘Solomon’s stables’, the original creation of the space is unlikely to date as far back as Prophet Sulaiman (عليه السلام). It can more plausibly be attributed to Herod the Great who substantially extended the platform during his reign.
🕌 Islamic tradition credits a Umayyad caliph named Marwan I with transforming this area of vaults into a series of usable rooms. Note that this ground floor is the original floor level of Masjid al-Aqsa. Masjid al-Qibly was built on top of this level.
🕌 It featured as a basement for Masjid al-Aqsa up until the time of the Crusades. The Crusaders converted the space into stables for their horses. Holes can be seen on the base of many of the columns which were made by the Crusaders to thread rope to tie their horses. It is estimated that 400 horses were kept here at one time.
🕌 After Salahuddin Ayyubi won back Masjid al-Aqsa, he had this area cleaned and it became a basement again.
🕌 In 1996, the Palestinian Waqf converted the area (which had largely remained empty) into a modern Masjid.
🕌 It can be accessed using a stone staircase that is connected to two huge gates, which is situated to the northeast of the Qibli Masjid.
🕌 It was officially inaugurated as el-Marwani Masjid in December 1996.
🕌 A small room in the south-eastern corner of the Musalla al-Marwani contains a domed cavity in the floor, according to the tradition this is the site of cradle of Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), where Mariam (عليها السلام) placed him at the age of 40 days.
🕌 During Ramadan, many Muslims will gather here to perform i’tikaf.
To be continued… إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللّٰهُ
ISLAM IS GOOD, ITS HISTORY IS RICH
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