Visit of Enver Pasha and Cemal Pasha to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa

A significant moment in Jerusalem during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, 1916.

The visit of Enver Pasha and Cemal Pasha to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem in 1916 holds significant historical importance, particularly from the Muslim perspective, as it occurred during a tumultuous period in the late Ottoman Empire, a time when the empire was grappling with the challenges of World War I and internal strife.

Enver Pasha, one of the "Three Pashas" who effectively controlled the Ottoman Empire during World War I, was a key figure in the Ottoman military efforts during the war. His visit to Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, alongside Cemal Pasha, who was responsible for the administration of the Ottoman territories in the Levant, was emblematic of the Ottoman attempt to assert their control and legitimacy over one of Islam’s most sacred sites during a time of great uncertainty.

Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, located in Jerusalem, is the third holiest site in Islam after the Kaaba in Mecca and the Prophet's ﷺ Mosque in Medina. The mosque has been a site of great religious significance since the early days of Islam, associated with the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi'raj). The Ottoman Empire, which had ruled over Jerusalem since the 16th century, had long seen itself as the protector of Islamic holy sites, and the visit by these prominent Ottoman leaders was likely intended to reinforce this image amidst the declining power of the Empire.

Ahmed Izzet Pasha and Cemal Pasha are traveling around Jerusalem, 1916

From a broader perspective, the visit can be seen as an effort by the Ottoman leadership to consolidate Muslim support and reinforce the religious legitimacy of their rule at a time when the Empire was on the verge of collapse. This period was marked by increasing Arab nationalism and growing dissatisfaction with Ottoman rule, which would eventually lead to the disintegration of the Empire and the subsequent division of its territories under the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

Moreover, the visit took place in a region that had already seen centuries of religious and political conflict, with the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself having been a focal point for such tensions. The significance of the mosque in Islamic tradition, combined with the political symbolism of the Ottoman leaders' presence there, underscores the broader historical narrative of Islamic stewardship over Jerusalem, a narrative that has continued to influence the region’s geopolitics to this day.

This incident also highlighted the spiritual and political importance of Jerusalem in the Muslim world, serving as a reminder of the deep historical and religious ties that have defined Muslim stewardship over the city for centuries. It underscores how, during times of crisis, leaders have often turned to religious symbols to bolster political authority, a theme recurrent in Islamic history.

Sources:

- Masjid al-Aqsa's history and significance (IslamicLandmarks.com)

- The role of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Islamic tradition (Middle East Eye)

- The Ottoman Empire's political and religious strategy during World War I (Wikipedia).