Ghawanimah Minaret
The Ayoubi era judge sharaf ad din bin Abdur Rahman Bin As Sahib built this minaret in 677H/1278CE during the reign of Sultan Hussam Ad Din Lajeen. It is a square shaped tower located near the Ghawanimah(Bani Ghanim) gate and is considered one of Al Aqsa’s most decorated minarets. It rises 38.5m, also rendering it the tallest of the Masjid’s minarets boasting a staircase of some 120 steps. It is named after Shaykh Ghanim ibn Ali ibn Husayn, who was appointed the Shaykh of the Salahiyyah Madrasah by Salahuddin Ayyubi. Israeli excavations beneath Masjid al Aqsa weakened this minaret’s foundations, necessitating its renovation in 1422H/2001CE.
Asbat/Salahya Minaret
The Asbat(Tribe’s Gate) minaret was first built by Said Ad Din Qatlo Pasha, the Mamluk Governor of al Quds, during the reign of Sultan Al Ashraf Sha’ban around 1367CE. It is situated next to the Asbat(Tribes’) Gate of Masjid al Aqsa. It was originally a square-shaped minaret. However, on Ottoman orders it was reconstructed in a cylindrical shape in 1007H/1599CE, making it the only non-square minaret of the Masjid. It was renovated in 1345H/1927CE when damages were incurred by an earthquake, and again in 1387H/1967CE when Israeli raids caused damage. In its last restoration, the Al Aqsa mosque authorities covered its dome with lead sheeting.
Fakhriyyah/Magharibah Minaret
The Mamluk Judge, sharf Ad Din bin Fakhr Ad Din al Khalili built the Magharibah (Moroccan) minaret in 677H/1278Ce next to what is known as the Magharibah gate. At 23m, it is the shortest minaret at Masjid al Aqsa and has no proper foundations. It sustained earthquake damage in 1340H/1922CE and was subsequently rebuilt by the Ottomans. Its dome was later restored with lead sheets by the Hashemite Fund for the Restoration of Masjid al Aqsa
Silsilah(Chain) Minaret
This minaret was built during the Mamluk era, around 730H/1329CE, by Prince Saif Ad DinTankz bin Abdullah an Nasiri. It is situated next to the Gate of the Chain(Silsilah) and can be accessed via the Ashrafiya school. Historically, this minaret was reserved for the best muezzin, and it was from here that the calling out of the athaan began, followed thereafter by the other minarets. In 1340H/1922CE, the minaret was restored after being damaged by an earthquake. Israeli authorities have banned Muslims from now entering and using this minaret on the pretext of security concerns for Jewish worshippers at the Buraq/Western Wall(known by Jews as the Wailing Wall), which this minaret overlooks.