(Jerusalem) Every year, today, August 21, coincides with the anniversary of the burning of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque. On August 21, 1969, an Autralian extremist named Michael Denn
(Jerusalem) Every year, today, August 21, coincides with the anniversary of the burning of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque. On August 21, 1969, an Autralian extremist named Michael Dennis stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and purposely set fire to the east side of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. In the fire Salahaddin’s pulpit, mihrab and most of the eastern part of the mosque were destroyed.
According to historical sources, it was King Nureddin Zenki who ordered the construction of the “Salahaddin” pulpit in 1168 AD to be placed in the al-Aqsa Mosque after liberating the city of Jerusalem from the Crusaders. Salahaddin, on the other hand, ordered the pulpit to be moved to the al-Aqsa Mosque after liberating Jerusalem in 1187.
The remains of the Salahaddin Minbar, a rare piece made by skilled craftsmen from Damascus and Aleppo, are now housed in a private museum inside the al-Aqsa Mosque.
After the pulpit was burned, the preachers stood on the ground during the sermon, then the iron pulpit was placed and this pulpit was used until 2007 until a similar one was delivered.
All costs incurred to make a burnt copy of Salahaddin’s pulpit were paid for by the King of Jordan, King II. Abdullah, and the Department of Islamic Endowments in Jerusalem, which is affiliated with the Jordanian Department of Endowments, carried out the restoration of the east side of the roofed Qibla Mosque which took years.
Every year, Palestinians commemorate the burning of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by holding an event that reminds of the sacredness of the Mosque, the city of Jerusalem and all the surrounding places for Islam and Christianity.