Jerusalem activists have documented the journey of manufacturing ornate windows at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which are usually broken as a result of the Israeli occupation forces’ storming and assaulting those stationed in the mosque.
Journalist Aya Amin published a video clip showing the early stages of manufacturing windows, which usually take decorative shapes of a historical nature.
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Amin commented on the video she took last February and recently published in conjunction with the storming events, "The windows of the Al-Qibli Mosque, some of which the occupation forces recently destroyed, are not normal windows at all."
She added, "These wonderful windows, which are called qamariyat in Islamic architecture, are worked with great care and skill, as they are carved with decorative shapes and delicately colored glass is added to them."
Regarding the time it takes to make the industry, Aya said, "The work on the single window takes about 6 months, and the occupation comes and destroys this art in minutes, in addition to hampering the restoration operations inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, so that some of the windows that were destroyed in the events of last year have not been replaced yet. ".
On the other hand, activist Majd Hudmi published a picture of one of the old supervisors and technicians in carving those windows, whose name is "Uncle Abu Ashraf Al-Mousous".
Hudmi says that "Uncle Abu Ashraf" learned the profession from his father, and explained to him that "the profession requires a visionary eye, audacity, precise control over the strength of sculpture, a lot of patience and a long mind."
One of the stained-glass windows of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is broken as a result of the storming of the occupation forces (Reuters)
When asked about the secret of choosing the colors, Abu Ashraf said, "Have a taste of Barakat Al-Aqsa, my uncle. When you see all this beauty, you know nothing but beautiful aspiration."