The Temple stood where The Dome of The Rock is. The Al-Aqsa Mosque stands to The South. Arabs call the whole think Al-Aqsa because they are morons. The ruins from The Temple may have been pushed Southwards to near The Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Sarah, why do Muslims say The Al-Aqsa Mosque is where "Mohammad went to Heaven" if the rock they say it happened at is in The Dome of The Rock? They need to make up their mind which one it is. The Koran mentions "Al-Aqsa" as the "furthest mosque" in "The Night Ride" but it was only later Muslim tradition that said it was in Jerusalem. The reason is because the Syrian Arab Muslim Nazi rulers of The Land of Israel wanted to have their own "holy site" to compete with Mecca and Medina so they made up that The Koran meant Jerusalem even thought Jerusalem isn't even mentioned once in the entire Koran.
I find it extremely confusing myself but thats where the names come in, the whole walled area is called al aqsa, however the precise mosque-not the Dome of the Rock- Al Aqsa was the first qibla for Muslims; they used to turn towards it when they prayed. It is the second house of God after Kaabah in Mecca, and the third holiest site in Islam, well what they say.
Because the whole area used to be called al-aqsa as well before the Dome of the Rock was built again......they say they found the rock in the area and built the Dome of the rock mosque there, It was the place at which Prophet Mohammad, PBUH, made his Miraj- ascending to skies- during Al Isra and Miraj (Night Journey). There he led prophets in congregation prayers. Prophet Mohammed, PBUH, took the journey in a single night from the Mosque to Al Masjid Al Aqsa. From the Rock there, Prophet Mohammad, PBUH, ascended to heaven where he received the commandment of the five daily prayers.
So he was always in Al-aqsa which is the complete walled area.
O.k i've confused myself completely.