Walking to Al Aqsa at Fajr

[*charisma*]

Assalamu Alaikum

Subhanallah, beautiful isn't it :love:

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you *charisma*;

It looks very different at night. I have been there twice, once in 1966, when it was still in Jordan, and also in 2009. This site has a profound meaning for Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Blessings,
Eric

[Zeal]

Wa alaylum salam

Walking to the masjid is one of those experiences I really can't compare anything else to where you reflect and make dua and feel so close to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. That I love so much and imagine this having this opportunity in Masjid Al Aqsa May Allah grant us this blessing

[Serinity]

:salam:

I miss this feeling of listening to adhan.

Allahu alam

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[*charisma*]

Greetings and peace be with you *charisma*;

It looks very different at night. I have been there twice, once in 1966, when it was still in Jordan, and also in 2009. This site has a profound meaning for Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Blessings,
Eric

I've also been there a couple of times before. It's a lot calmer at night, but during the day it has a charming energy. I really love how historically preserved with the the brick paths and small doors. I would have loved to experience it during earlier times. Did you see any changes between the two times you've been?

Wa alaylum salam

Walking to the masjid is one of those experiences I really can't compare anything else to where you reflect and make dua and feel so close to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. That I love so much and imagine this having this opportunity in Masjid Al Aqsa May Allah grant us this blessing

Ameen. If you get the chance to travel, I highly recommend visiting inshallah.

[sister herb]

Is it easy to go there? One my Finnish Muslim friend tried to visit there few years ago but zionist soldiers arrested him and deported him. He got lifelong entry ban. He told that soldiers made to him some questions and he might answered by "the wrong way" (like they asked who owns this country and he said Palestinians).

[*charisma*]

Is it easy to go there? One my Finnish Muslim friend tried to visit there few years ago but zionist soldiers arrested him and deported him. He got lifelong entry ban. He told that soldiers made to him some questions and he might answered by "the wrong way" (like they asked who owns this country and he said Palestinians).

Well you need a visa just like any other country, but it's given at their discretion. They interrogate a lot, but you have to be smart with the answers. They don't want people going there to participate in protests or to be political. If you go there you should answer as if you're simply a tourist without any political agendas. They're of course more lenient if you show indifference, or if you're more partial to Israelis, or if your a Christian wanting to visit religious sites. If you're a muslim, arab, or a palestinian sympathizer they really push your buttons to get a reaction out of you. So the best thing to do is to remain calm and answer the questions in a way you think they should be answered for you to get in lol.

[Scimitar]

Some ironies become polarized so it's nice to read this rational advice :)

So the best thing to do is to remain calm and answer the questions in a way you think they should be answered for you to get in lol.

...Just like anywhere - really ;)

Scimi

[*charisma*]

They can become quite vile. For example, if someone is handicapped, they wont accommodate him. They purposely make him feel even more miserable and exploit him. Another thing they do is they will ask you to log into your email or social media accounts and will look through them and jest about you, reading private things and looking through photos etc. They interrogate kids without their parents as well. And after that, you will wait hours and hours before they let you know whether you can go through or not. (So another suggestion is to have a return ticket with you.) They really do try to get under your skin. But once you get through, you forget the troubles lool so just be strong, composed, and use common sense. Also better to travel during low travel seasons (ie. Not summertime). Its not always like that though, but its something to be prepared for. Ive also recently heard that anyone who has evidence of supporting BDS will also be banned from visiting.

[Serinity]

:salam:

Just by reading, they get on my nerves. I will not let them search my private stuff.

Allahu alam.

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you *charisma*;

I would have loved to experience it during earlier times. Did you see any changes between the two times you've been?

When I went the first time in 1966, the people were far more friendly, and overall, I would say there was less tension, even though we heard shooting fairly often. We were allowed in the Dome of the rock, but at the time I did not really understand it's significance. The Dome and most of the Christian sites were inside Jordan at the time, this was about a year before the six day war, when Israel moved the borders.

When we went in 2009, there was security everywhere, there were groups of young men and women strolling around with guns, dressed casually, and apart from the guns they seemed like tourists themselves. We were searched and had to go through detectors, then we had to queue for over an hour, before we were allowed up on the Temple Mount. Just by the entrance to the Mount, there is a sign on the wall that said, 'You are entering a sacred place where God is always present'. Next to the sign was a stack of riot shields and Israeli police with guns, maybe they thought people might steal God.

Sadly, we were not allowed into Al-Aqsa or the Dome, and we were allowed maybe five minutes on the Mount. Overall not a pleasant experience, but I am pleased I went. At the airport we were pretty much interrogated by youngsters with guns, so it did not seem much easier for Christians to visit. Having said that, the Jews enjoyed taking our money while we were there, I shall say no more.

In the spirit of praying to 'One God'

Eric

[Serinity]

At the airport we were pretty much interrogated by youngsters with guns, so it did not seem much easier for Christians to visit. Having said that, the Jews enjoyed taking our money while we were there, I shall say no more.

Greetings Eric H,

What do you mean by the Jews enjoying taking your money? Did they steal?

I ask Allah to free that place from oppression so that everyone with good intentions can enter without much difficulty or interrogation.

And Allah :swt: knows best.