Why Jerusalem is Not Holy to Muslims

Arutz Sheva ^ | 5-18-04 | Leah Bat-Chaim

[SJackson]

We often hear the Muslim claim that Jerusalem is their "third holiest city", after Mecca and Medina; and specifically, that this is because our Temple Mount is mentioned in the Koran.

As a result, Muslims are allowed sole control over our Temple Mount - to visit it whenever they choose, to destroy priceless archaeological relics while building additional mosques, etc. - while Jews are only occasionally allowed to visit, and never allowed to utter a prayer there. (Like in the old joke that ends "...but don't let me catch you praying." Except this isn't a joke.)

This situation has always amazed me. Even if Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were truly the "third holiest place" for Muslims, why should that give them more rights than Jews, for whom the Temple Mount is our first holiest place?

But in fact, even the claim of being the "third holiest place" is not true. It cannot possibly be true, for several very logical reasons.

First, the claim of being "the third holiest place" is based on a dream described in the Koran. That's right, not an actual event, just a dream. In the dream, Mohammed "visited" a place referred to as masjid el-aksa, which means "the farthest mosque".

The Arabs claim that this refers to their mosque of that name, located on the Temple Mount.

But the El Aksa Mosque was built about a hundred years after Mohammed. In Mohammed's time, Jerusalem was ruled by the Byzantine Christians, and there were no mosques at all in Jerusalem, not on the Temple Mount or anywhere else. So obviously, Mohammed couldn't have dreamed about a mosque that didn't exist.

Moreover, the very name "El-Aksa" for the imaginary place mentioned in Mohammed's dream proves that the reference could not possibly be to Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem would never be referred to as "the farthest place".

Jerusalem is centrally located. Within the Land of Israel, it is located on the mountain ridge between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. On a larger scale, it is located at the junction point of three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa. We see this shown in ancient maps, such as the Medeba map.

In Mohammed's time (or earlier), "the farthest place" would never refer to Jerusalem. It would refer either to a coastal city, such as Jaffa, Acre or Haifa, or it would refer to the end of the Mediterranean Sea – Spain, Gibraltar or Morocco. We see this in the book of Jonah, where the prophet attempts to flee to the end of the earth by going to Jaffa and catching a boat headed for "Tarshish" (usually considered to be Spain).

So, how did the tradition arise of Jerusalem's "holiness" to Muslims?

It's very simple. It has always been a Muslim policy, when conquering any area, to take over the holy places of the local people and to turn them into mosques. It is a way of putting down the conquered people – to show them that Islam will take away the most important thing to them, and there's nothing they can do about it.

They have done this not only in the Land of Israel, regarding both Jewish and Christian holy places, but also in India (regarding Hindu holy places), in Afghanistan (regarding Buddhist holy places), etc.

So, when the Muslims conquered the Land of Israel in the 7th century, they looked for the holiest place around, and found a Byzantine church that was built on the Jewish Temple Mount. So here we have a no-brainer – an opportunity to take away a holy place from both Jews and Christians at the same time!

In addition, the Muslim ruler of the Land of Israel wasn't happy with the fact that he was stuck with a backwater province. So, to make it more attractive to tourists, he named the new mosque "El-Aksa", and told all the tourists that it was the very same one mentioned in the Koran. Voila! The birth of a "tradition".

It would be the equivalent of Christians believing that the founder of their religion was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, or that he grew up in Nazareth, Texas. Obviously, these places are simply named after the original Bethlehem and Nazareth; just as El-Aksa Mosque was named after the imaginary place described in Mohammed's dream.

It's time that more people were aware of the simple facts and logic involved. Jerusalem and the Temple Mount are not holy to Muslims, and never have been, except as an attempt to take them away from the Jews.

[Lightfinger]

The same thing occurred in Constantinople when it was renamed to Istanbul. Churches were raised in order to put up mosques in the same locations.

[razoroccam]

Islam does have a few redeeming qualities, though the negative far outweigh the positives. But, since you asked, the positives are
1. Emphasis on one God
2. Against idolatory
3. Emphasis on charity
4. Emphasis on equality of all humans.

I won't go into the negatives. I wrote a book on that.

[dennisw]

Islam does have a few redeeming qualities, though the negative far outweigh the positives. But, since you asked, the positives are
1. Emphasis on one God (Actually emphasis is on Mohamed. That's why it's properly called Mohammedanism)
2. Against idolatory (They are rank idolaters of the paganist pre-Islamic meteorite Kabba rock)
3. Emphasis on charity (Only towards their fellow Muslims)
4. Emphasis on equality of all humans. (See #3)

I won't go into the negatives. I wrote a book on that.

[quadrant]

I agree with the contention that Muslims appropriate the holy sites of others. The Haggia Sophia in Constantinople, or Istanbul if you prefer, was once a church.
I've always been amazed that people accept at face value Mohammed's claim to have traveled to from Arabia to Jerusalem by night, ascended into heaven, saw God, and then returned to earth. None of this was witnessed by a single soul.
Yet the same people question every miracle in the Old and New Testaments, including those miracles witnessed by thousands.

[Mr. Jazzy]

This just goes to prove the point that the Anti-Christ will be a leader of Islam.

1) Who else could lie and offer all kinds of peace and security to get Israel to sign a peace accord and allow them to rebuild the Temple?

2) Why else would he allow them to build the Temple and allow sacrifices to begin again, but to break the accord and TAKE OVER THE TEMPLE as a show of power and victory?

3) Why else are those who don't accept the mark of the beast BEHEADED? Isn't beheading the Islam-ists "sharia law" favorite form of execution?

Just a few questions to ponder.

[sharktrager]

In the Hadith the Muslims speak several times of Jerusalem being holy as being the place where Mohammed ascended to heaven. The Hadith is a holy book, so it's references are valid. And the references are specific about Jerusalem. But, these references were compiled, and may have been edited, as much as 100 years after the death of Mohammed.

"I was brought al-Burg who is an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place his hoof at a distance equal to the range of vision. I mounted it and came to the Temple (Bait-ul Maqdis in Jerusalem), then tethered it to the ring used by the prophets." (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 101).

That said, the references show that the belief that Mohammed ascended to heaven in Jerusalem is somewhat hard to swallow. Mohammed was asleep in Medina, and was supposedly awakened and taken to Jerusalem during the night on the back of a mythical beast.

It is also interesting to not that the ascent in to heaven is not mentioned in the Koran at all. While it is possible that it could have happened and been omitted, it seems unlikely that it wouldn't be mentioned. This is especially true since the ascent includes meeting Adam, Abraham, Moses and Allah himself.

The Hadith also claims Mohammed visited the Temple itself, which is impossible as it was not standing at the time, and hadn't been for over 500 years.

In other places it is said the one of Mohammed's wives repeatedly said he was not physically taken from his bed, but only spiritually.

The fact is, the holiness of Jerusalem to Muslims does coincide more with it's subsequent seizure by post-Mohammed Muslims than it does to any events during Mohammed's actual life.

[bondjamesbond]

So Jerusalem is not holy to the Muslims because Mr. Bat-Chaim says it isn't? Well that solves that!

No, it is not because it is not. Mr. Bat-Chaim is simply pointing out the facts. If this is the first time you have seen this, you really have not been paying attention.

The mechanism that Mr. Bat-Chaim talks about, were Islam moves in and supplants the local holy shrines is absolutely true, and continues to this day. In the past three years Muslims have sacked the following holy sites of other relgions...

Joseph's Tomb

Joseph's bones were carried back from Egypt through the midst of the Red Sea during the Exodus. His tomb was destroyed in order to build a mosque.

The Buddah of Bamiyan

Taller than the Statue of Liberty and 1,500 years old, the Buddhas were destoyed by the Taliban and replaced with a small Muslim shrine.

The Church of the Nativity - Bethlehem

The Church of the Nativity was occupied by terrorists who attempted to burn the building to the ground. Construction of a large mosque is now underway adjacent to the Church, since the attempted destruction was unsuccessful.

[bondjamesbond]

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, explodes like a duck, it's a Muslim

If I did not have this tagline-for-life, I would steal this one!

[razoroccam]

Good points Dennis.

[NC28203]

>>>I agree with the contention that Muslims appropriate the holy sites of others.

It appears that the Christians did as well. "So, when the Muslims conquered the Land of Israel in the 7th century, they looked for the holiest place around, and found a Byzantine church that was built on the Jewish Temple Mount."

[Maceman]

4. Emphasis on equality of all humans.

(?) (!)

[jamfull]

Let's see the liberals confront these facts. But, no, wait...they'll never do it though it's going to eventually lead to all out war in the M.E. (and maybe the spark for the next world war).

Can Islam stand up to any real scrutiny?

[Publius6961]

The sandmaggots can and will claim any place they can think of as a "special holy place".

The real question is: How many morons are there in the world who will accept it as serious and meaningful? As anything other than a tool to subjugate without armed conflict? To use other cultures' sensitivities and sense of moral rightness against them?

[bondjamesbond]

4. Emphasis on equality of all humans.

I think we're all supposed to be equally Muslim or equally dead. It's more of a two-tier system...

[SJackson]

Construction of a large mosque is now underway adjacent to the Church, since the attempted destruction was unsuccessful.

Israel revoked the building permit for the mosque so it's not currently in the works. Under full PA administration I'd assume you'll see the issue revisited.

[Maceman]

I think we're all supposed to be equally Muslim or equally dead. It's more of a two-tier system.

Of course, live men Muslims are more equal than live women Muslims.

[CharlieOK1]

whoa! I typed in "kabba rock" to google to find out more about it. Here is one of the entries

http://www.jews-for-allah.org/jewish-mythson-islam/muslims-worship-stone.htm

Jews for Allah! Wow, talk about self-hatred!

[Lijahsbubbe]

3. Emphasis on charity (Only towards their fellow Muslims)

Hey knock it off, I just got back from our local Muslim soup kitchen. It had a sign over the door that said "Christians and Jews Welcome".

And obviously you've never heard of:
Mohammed's Toys for Tots
Muslim Center for Abuse Against Women
Mohammed's Center against Child Molestation
Muslims Crisis Center for Unwed Mothers

[hope]

Muslim Holy Sites: Coming to your city next?

[John O]

In the dream, Mohammed "visited" a place referred to as masjid el-aksa, which means "the farthest mosque".

The author failed to use the correct format in referring to islams prophet. Mohammed (piss be upon him)