Muslims Go Travel

So much has happened over the last few months and the world has witnessed a massive shift in the way we perceive the atrocities in the blessed lands.

Whilst many of us have decided to put off visiting places like Jordan and Masjid Aqsa for the time being, some of us may still be wondering if it is safe to visit.

Over the last few months, I have been asked whether it is safe to visit Masjid Aqsa or not, so I thought I’d put together an article to clarify things.

Is it safe to visit Masjid Aqsa right now?

The answer is a resounding YES! It is absolutely safe to visit Masjid Aqsa right now! Visitors that travel to Masjid Aqsa usually stay in Jerusalem and visit places like Hebron, Bethlehem and Jericho for the day. For foreigners, there have not been any issues recently and it remains safe for travel. With Jerusalem being one of the most visited places in the world by people from around the world, safety is of paramount importance, which is why many people who have travelled before have commented on how safe they felt within Jerusalem.

There are a few things you should keep in mind though which I will come on to explain in a little while. And, if you’re thinking that its irresponsible for people to visit Masjid Aqsa right now, I will also clarify certain matters regarding this too.

If you do want to visit Masjid Aqsa soon, there are THREE things to keep in mind:

1. Do Not Fly Into Tel Aviv

It is safe to visit Masjid Aqsa, but do keep in mind that that many flights are being cancelled right now. I was supposed to fly back from Tel Aviv to the UK on the 5th of November and my flight was cancelled and I was offered a refund.

Some flights are still arriving at Tel Aviv airport, but most of the flights have been cancelled. Therefore, I would not even consider booking flights to Tel Aviv, even though they may appear on flight websites. Some airlines have started to resume their flight services into Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv is the main international airport in Israel and one of the main ways many people visit Masjid Aqsa. There is also the King Hussein Bridge (Allenby Crossing) option which I will talk about in a little while, but Tel Aviv is preferred by some as its usually a direct flight from many places around the world. To reach Masjid Aqsa from Tel Aviv airport, you can simply take the train, shared shuttle or a private taxi.

2. Fly In And Out of Amman, Jordan

I’m putting this as an entirely separate tip as it deserves some attention.

Whilst it is convenient to fly directly to Tel Aviv airport, there is so much more value added to your trip if you choose to fly in and out of Amman in Jordan.

I’ll explain how things work and why its better.

HOW: When booking flights to visit Masjid Aqsa, choose to fly into Jordan via Amman International Airport, also known as Queen Alia International Airport.

WHY: The experience is hassle-free and with direct flights from UK, it never has been easier to travel to Jordan.

Once in Amman, you can go to Masjid Aqsa immediately, or take some time to explore the beauty of Islamic heritage in Jordan. If you want to know more about the Islamic heritage in Jordan, click here. This is why I think flying into Amman first is better, as it allows you to explore Jordan and Masjid Aqsa.

If you’re interested in travelling with us, we will be taking a group in June 2024. Click here to find out more.

Whether you decide to visit Masjid Aqsa right away or after a few days, make your way to the King Hussein Bridge (Allenby Crossing) to cross into Jerusalem to visit Masjid Aqsa. As this article is not about how to cross the border at this point, I am not going to go into detail on how to do this. However, if you want to learn more about travelling from Amman to Masjid Aqsa in Jerusalem via the land border crossing, click here.

Just like in Tel Aviv airport, you may be asked questions or made to wait around for a long time at the border crossing. But we think it’s better to do that here instead of at Tel Aviv airport, because if anything does go wrong, you can always go back and explore more of Jordan. What’s more, people have found the process slightly easier when visiting Masjid Aqsa via Amman through the land border crossing.

3. Go There Now And Fill The Void

The last tip I’ll give you is to GO NOW! This is the time to GO! Masjid Aqsa is empty right now and that’s also the case on the day of Jumuah when many locals are forced to pray on the streets whilst foreigners are allowed in.

For foreigners, it’s effortless to access the Old City and Masjid Aqsa and there have not been any rules or regulations put in place for any of us with foreign passports.

The locals want us to go and visit right now and they have constantly requested for people to go and show their presence in a time when they need us the most. They want us to go and fill those empty spaces. They want us to stand side by side with them in prayers. They want to see us walking around the Old City. They want to see families having picnics within the Aqsa complex.

This is the explanation I give to people who may say that it is irresponsible to visit Aqsa right now. And this is the reason why we have a group tour planned for June 2024. Click here to find out more.

To give you more confidence, it’s worth remembering that groups have been going from Indonesia, the UK and South Africa over the last few months and will continue going over the next few months too.

If you’re thinking about visiting Masjid Aqsa, I hope that this post has given you some insights on whether you should go or not. If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I’ll try my best to reply inshaAllah!

More Tips on Visiting Aqsa

If you want generic advice and tips on visiting Masjid Aqsa any time of the year, this video will massively help!