Islam in Palestine facts for kids
Islam is a major religion for most Palestinians living in the Palestinian territories. About 75% of people in the West Bank are Muslims, and almost all (99%) of the people in the Gaza Strip are Muslims.
Jerusalem is a very important city for Muslims. It is considered the third holiest city in Islam, after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe that the Haram al Sharif in Jerusalem is where the Prophet Muhammad went up to Jannah (paradise). Even though Jerusalem is not directly mentioned in the Quran, its spiritual importance is very high.
This belief makes the Dome of the Rock and the nearby al-Aqsa Mosque incredibly special to Muslims. These two mosques, along with the rest of East Jerusalem, are seen by Muslims as being claimed by the state of Israel.
Images for kids
-
The large empire of ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb in 644.
-
The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was built in 691, making it the oldest Islamic building still standing.
-
A picture from the 1490s showing the Battle of Hattin.
-
A 16th-century painting from Persia showing Muhammad's journey to the Heavens.
-
Fighters during the Arab revolt from 1936 to 1939.
-
Palestinian families who became refugees from Galilee in 1948.
