Masjid al-Aqsa: Key facts you need to know about Jerusalem holy site

Jerusalem: Hundreds of people were injured after clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli security forces at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem ahead of the Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan (also known as Ramzan in Indian sub-continent).

At least 152 people were injured, many of them were hit by rubber-coated bullets or beaten with batons, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service. Meanwhile, the Israeli police claimed at least three officers were wounded when Palestinians resorted to "massive" stone-pelting at the holy site, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. However, the holy site has often been the epicentre of Israeli-Palestinian unrest.

Masjid Al-Aqsa means "the farthest mosque". It's called the "farthest mosque" because of the journey of the night of the Prophet Muhammed. Muslims believe that a winged creature "Buraq", brought by the angel Gabriel, carried Muhammed from Mecca to Jerusalem. It is believed that Muhammed led prayers towards this site until Allah told him to instead turn towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Muslims, during prayers, face the direction of the Kaaba.

In Islam, al-Aqsa mosque is the third-holiest site after the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, both in Saudi Arabia. Located in the old city of Jerusalem, Masjid al-Aqsa is built on a hilltop that is the most sacred site for Jews. The compound in its current form, was built in the seventh century on the site of the Second Jewish Temple that was destroyed by the Romans in the first century.

Al-Aqsa mosque is built on the compound, known to Muslims as Al-Haram al-Sharif, which houses the famous golden Dome of the Rock shrine and also the al-Aqsa mosque. In Hebrew, the compound is referred to as 'Har HaBayit' or the Temple Mount. Traditionally, it is said to be the site where Abraham demonstrated his devotion to God. The 14-hectare (35-acre) rectangular esplanade was seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, along with the rest of east Jerusalem which was later annexed in a move, which has not yet been recognised internationally.

4. Politics over prayers

In 1967, when Israel seized control of the compound, Levi Eshkol, the then Prime Minister of Israel, signed a law protecting all holy places of different faiths. For decades, only Muslims were allowed to pray at the main compound, while Jewish people were directed to pray at the Western Wall, which is among the last remnants of the Second Temple. Non-Muslims could enter the Temple Mount at designated times, but were forbidden to pray there. In 2021, an Israeli court ruled that Jews have a legal right to pray on the Temple Mount. Jews are now allowed to pray discreetly. However, most Jews refrain from praying there amid fear of sparking tensions with Muslim worshippers.

The place has been a major flashpoint for the Israeli-Palestinian unrest for decades. It was the epicentre of the 2000-2005 Palestinian intifada, or uprising. Last year, during Ramadan, the mosque compound witnessed violent clashes between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers. The violence built up to an 11-day war between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip. On Friday, videos circulating online showed Palestinians hurling rocks at Israeli police and security forces using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the angry mob. Israel said that dozens of masked men carrying Palestinian and Hamas flags had marched to the compound in the wee hours of Friday and gathered stones and other objects. The recent clashes took place at a particularly sensitive time. This year, Ramadan coincides with Passover, a week-long Jewish holiday starting Friday, and also Christian holy week, which culminates on Easter Sunday. The mosque is administered by Jordan-run Islamic Waqf in coordination with the Palestinians. Muslim worshippers fear Israel will seek to change rules governing the compound.