Jerusalem, Palestine
Coordinates: 31.776602, 35.234866
Located on the south-west corner of the Haram ash-sharif is believed to be the place where Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ tied the Buraq, the miraculous riding animal upon which he rode during the Isra and Mi’raj (Night of Ascension). The wall on the right is the other side of what the Jews call the Wailing Wall.
Brief history of the masjid
According to the architectural elements in Al-Buraq Mosque and its gate show its historical traces dated to Umayyad period. Besides, a sign outside Al-Buraq Musalla indicates that this monumunet dates back to Mamluk period in 707-737 Hijri\1307-1336 AD.
Mosque look from the outside
The mosque is located north of the Bab Al-Magharibah (Moroccan gate). The chain gate minaret is also visible to the right in the background. Al-Buraq Mosque was built next to al-Buraq Wall which is also called the western wall by the jews. The mosque is still open for prayers as worshipers use this entrance located in al-Aqsa’s western corridor.
When does it open
It is open on Friday and on some other Occassions.
Where was the main gate of the Al buraq mosque througn Prophet Muhammad ﷺ entered the mosque?
The main gate of the mosque Bab-un-nabi (not to be confused with gate no 14. ban-un-nabi of masjid al haram) today known as the Barclay’s Gate is located directly below the Moroccan Gate of al-Buraq Mosque and used to open in al-Aqsa’s western wall or buraq wall, but it is permanently sealed. Still the mosque is open for worshipers from another entrance located in Al-Aqsa’s western corridor.
When was the main gate sealed?
Overall, the gate passage was in use until some time after 985 AD when it was blocked and changed into a cistern adjacent to Al-Buraq Mosque.
Coming down
After entering the small structure, there is a rounding flight of 38 steps leading down to the main prayer hall.
Inside
It is called Al-Buraq Mosque because of a ring that is nailed to its wall (left) which Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad ﷺ used to tie al-Buraq. Looking towards the western or the al-Buraq wall, the qibla wall is to the left, with a small ring attached to it. This ring is a modern installation by the ottomans to mark the exact spot.
Cracks in al-buraq mosque
Al-Buraq Mosque suffers from cracks in some of its stones due to the extreme humidity and water leaking. the Zionist excavation spread in that area are way to close to Al-Buraq Mosque. This situation got worse due to the restrictions imposed by the jews after the six days war on the restoration work throughout their comprehensive blockade over Al-Aqsa Mosque especially that it’s completely adjacent to Al-Buraq wall which Zionists had turned into a wailing area.
Police Crackdown
There is also a police force which continuously remains near the gate of Al-Buraq Mosque insdie Al-Aqsa Mosque, which hinders Muslim worshipers from reaching it. A Israeli’s plan of controlling this mosque was unveiled when the destruction of the hill of Moroccan Gate started in 06/02/2007, especially after opening the other closed door that leads there from outside the wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which lies directly under Moroccan Gate, in the aim of turning it int a synagogue.
What are the Jewish claim of the mosque
The gate essentially holds dual identity, from outside it’s known as Barclay’s Gate or possiblly Herodian Coponius Gate, from within the Haram as sharif it’s known as Masjid al-Buraq.
Description of Al Buraq
In one narration it is said that Jibra’il عليه السلام brought the Buraq, handsome-faced and bridled, a tall, white beast, bigger than the donkey but smaller than the mule. His step (was so wide that it) could reach the farthest point within the reach of his sight. He had long ears. Whenever he faced a mountain his legs would extend, and whenever he went downhill his front legs would extend. He had two wings on his thighs.
Was Al Buraq Female?
Although in many earlier descriptions there is no agreement as to the fact that buraq was male, Ibn Sa’d has Jibra’il عليه السلام address the creature as a female, and it was often rendered by painters in the Persian and eastern art with a woman’s head.
What is the speed of al Buraq?
One of the posts on quora said that it is 10miles/sec, but it is simply not true. It is impossible to reach even to the nearest heaven at that speed in one night because the closest star, Proxima Centauri, is 9.44 trillion km, or 5.88 trillion miles away from us.
Have Buraq transported other Prophets as well?
According to Ibn Ishaq, the Buraq transported Ibrahim عليه السلام when he visited Hagar عليها اسلام and Ismael عليه السلام. The narration states that Ibrahim عليه السلام lived with Sarah عليها اسلام in Palestine but the Buraq would transport him in the morning to Mecca to see his family there and take him back in the evening.
Is Buraq human faced?
Although the Hadith does not explicitly refer to the Buraq as having a human face, Near East and Persian art almost always portrays it so – a portrayal that found its way into Indian and Persian Islamic art.
Did al Buraq Talked to the Prophet ﷺ
Al-Buraq was brought to the Prophet ﷺ on the Night of Isra and Mi’raj, saddled and reined, but he shied (bucked) from him. So Jibra’il عليه السلام put his hand on his mane and said: “Are you not ashamed, O Buraq? By Allah, no-one has ridden you in all creation dearer to Allah than he is.” Hearing this he was so ashamed that he sweated until he became soaked, and he stood still so that the Prophet ﷺ mounted him.
Where is the place where Al-buraq was tied?
In a narration from Jami Tirmidhi Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “When we reached Bait Al-Maqdis, Jibra’il عليه السلام pointed with his finger causing a crack in the rock, and he tied Al-Buraq to it.
This is a small underground mosque that is open during the day. This is the location the Prophet ﷺ tied the Buraq before embarking on the Night Journey. The location is in fact the internal side of the Wailing Wall (Western Wall), hence for Muslims, this is known as the “Buraq Wall”. There is a ring attached to the wall from Ottoman times to mark the approximate area that the Buraq was tied.
Why was Al buraq fettered
Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه after narrating the Miraj journey said that they (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Jibra’il عليه السلام) returned back to where they began. He (Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه) said: ‘They say that he was fettered, but for what? Because he might flee? The Knower of the unseen and the witness subdued him.
