Jerusalem, Palestine
Huldah Gates
Golden Gate
Gate of the Funerals
Coordinates: 31.778025, 35.235406
Gate of the Funerals (Bab al Janaiz)
The Funeral Gate is one of al-Aqsa’s hidden gates, located on its eastern wall. It’s name comes from the fact that it was used by Muslims restrictedly to carry out funerals to al-Rahma Cemetery. Today, the gate is permanently closed.
Golden Gate (Bab al-Dhahabi)
This is an ancient door carved into the Eastern Wall of Masjid al Aqsa. The Gate’s two vaulted halls lead to Bab ar Rahmah (the Gate of Mercy) and Bab at Tawbah (The Gate of Repentance).
Bab ar Rahmah was named after the Rahmah cemetery, located in front of it, that contains the graves of the Sahabah Sayyidina Ubadah ibn Samit RA and Sayyidina Shaddad ibn Aws RA. Historians trace it back to the Umayyad era.
It is said that Imam al Ghazali wrote part of his famous book Ihya Uloom ad Din (Revival of the Islamic Sciences) sitting in a room above its gates.
This door was shut by Salahuddin after liberating al Quds, reportedly to protect the city from future raids.
Similar to Christians, Muslims generally believe this was the gate through which Hz. Isa عليه اسلام, entered Jerusalem.
In Muslim tradition the name of this gate is associated with the Day of Judgement.
The other name, the Golden Gate, is based on the Christian tradition that Jesus made his last entry to the holy region Bayt al-Maqdis through this gate.
In Jewish tradition, however, the coming Messiah will enter the city through this gate.
Huldah Gates
It is ocated in the middle of the southern wall of Masjid al Aqsa. Consists of three entrances that overlook the Umayyad palaces outside the southern wall of Masjid al Aqsa and lead to the western wall of Musallah al Marwani.
On his liberation of al Quds, Salahuddin al Ayyubi closed these doors to protect the city from invaders.
