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| Author | Topic:
THE MOSLEM CONNECTION TO JERUSALEM
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topic by
ben steinsilver
(482 posts)
St louis Il,
USA
5/11/2005 (23:38) |
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THE MOSLEM SPIRITUAL CONNECTION TO JERUSALEM
The Islamic connection to Jerusalem began much later in history, during the 7th century CE. The central personality of Islam, Mohammed, was born and raised in the area of present-day Saudi Arabia and founded Islam in the early 7th century. (The first year of the Moslem calendar, or the Hajira, corresponds to the year 622 CE of the Christian calendar.)
Scholars agree that Mohammed was influenced by Judaism (and Christianity). This influence was significant enough that Mohammed's original plan for the direction of prayer (Qibla) was also Jerusalem. Mohammed later changed the direction of prayer to Mecca in Saudi Arabia -- a place that was converted from a pagan pilgrimage site to the 'eternal city,' and the center of the Moslem religion. (Moslems also placed Mecca as the spot where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac's brother Ishmael.)
Mohammed never made it to Jerusalem, and the word 'Jerusalem' appears nowhere in the Koran.
After founding Islam and leading his Islamic armies to victory over his pagan rivals, Mohammed died. Although Mohammed never made it to Jerusalem with his conquering armies, his successor, the Caliph Omar, captured Jerusalem from the Byzantines in 638. When Omar first visited the ruined Temple mount, he deliberately prayed south of the ruins of the Temple, toward Mecca, so that no one should think he was praying in the same direction as the Jews.
The holiest book of Islam is the Koran, which according to Moslem tradition contains the teachings of Mohammed. Unlike the Jewish Bible which contains hundreds of references to Jerusalem, the word 'Jerusalem' appears nowhere in the Koran. So what is the Islamic spiritual connection to the site? To answer that question we must understand more of early Islamic history.
THE MOSLEM HISTORICAL CONNECTION TO JERUSALEM
By the time the Omar arrived in Jerusalem in 638, the Islamic direction of prayer was toward Mecca, and the two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina were already well-established. Islam, which like Christianity has many of its spiritual roots in Judaism recognized the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, and one early Islamic name for the Temple Mount was Bayt al-Maqewdis -- literally 'Holy Temple.' The name used today, al-Quds, is based on the Hebrew word for 'holy.' Moslems have also used the term Sahyun or Sihyun, the Arabic form of 'Zion.'
Historians suggest several reasons for the construction of Moslem holy sites on the Temple Mount. The establishment of the Umayyid Islamic Dynasty in 658 corresponds to a period of instability in the Islamic world, characterized by power struggles and assassinations. One of the Five Pillars (commandments) of Islam is Hajj -- pilgrimage to the holiest Islamic city, Mecca. In the late 7th century, the Damascus-based Umayyid Caliphate lost control of Mecca. This need to diminish the importance of Mecca and create an alternative Moslem holy site closer to Damascus may well have pushed the Umayyid Caliph Abd al-Malik, in 688, to begin construction of the Dome of the Rock on the former site of the Jewish Temple.
Another reason suggested by historians for a Moslem presence in Jerusalem is that the Caliph wished to compete with the impressive Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional burial place of Jesus in Jerusalem. It is interesting to note that the present dimensions of the Dome of Rock are identical to those of the rotunda of the Holy Sepulcher.
Yet given that Jerusalem isn't mentioned in the Koran, what is the uniquely Islamic connection to the site? The answer is found in the 17 Sura (chapter) of the Koran. This chapter recounts the story of a dream Mohammed has where he takes a midnight ride (al-Isra) on his flying horse al-Buraq, which had the face of a woman, the body of a horse and the tail of Peacock. The narrative of the Koran in Sura 17 describes it as follows:
'Glory be to Him, who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Mecca) to the further mosque (al-masjid al-Aqsa), the precincts of which we have blessed.'
The actual location of al-Aqsa (the 'further mosque') in Mohammed's dream ride is never mentioned. Some early Moslems understood al-Aqsa metaphorically, or as a place in heaven.
In the late 7th century, the Umayyids claimed that the actual site of al-Aqsa was in fact the Temple Mount. Later the site of al-Aqsa was restricted to the mosque area at the southern end of the Temple Mount (the site of the current Al Aqsa Mosque). The original mosque, probably located on the site where Omar first prayed when he arrived in Jerusalem in 638, was built by the Umayyid Caliph al-Walid in the early 8th century. It was destroyed by earthquakes several times and later rebuilt.
Islam claims that the site of Mohammed's ascension to heaven was a rock atop Mount Moriah.
The narrative of the Koran then describes how Mohammed, having arrived at al-Aqsa, then ascends to heaven (al-Mi'raj -- 'the ascension') accompanied by the angel Gibril (Gabriel), where he then traveled around the heavens and spoke with Allah and other prophets. The Umayyids in Jerusalem claimed that the actual site of Mohammed's ascension to heaven was the exposed piece of bedrock at the top of Mount Moriah. Thus Caliph Abd-al-Malik's beautiful Dome of the Rock was built to commemorate the location of this important event.
From 638 CE until 1917 (with the exception of the Crusader occupation from 1099 to 1187), Jerusalem was controlled by various Islamic dynasties based in Syria, Egypt and Turkey. While Jerusalem remained a city of pilgrimage, none of these Islamic dynasties made Jerusalem their capital. The only other people in the last 3,000 years to have Jerusalem as a capital are the Crusaders who founded the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1099-1187.
For most of this 1,300-year period, despite its status as the third holiest Islamic city, Jerusalem remained a backwater, run-down town under Islamic control. Exceptions were during both the Umayyid period (7th to mid-8th century) and the Mamluk period (mid-13th to early-16th century), when major Islamic building projects were carried out in the city.
MODERN REALITIES IN JERUSALEM
From 1918 through 1948, the Land of Israel was under the control of the British who conquered it from the Ottoman Turks in World War One. The State of Israel was established in 1948, when half of Jerusalem -- including the entire Old City and Temple Mount, was under the control of the Kingdom of Jordan.
During the Six Day War in 1967, Israel captured the Old City and for the first time in over 2,000 years, the Temple Mount was back under Jewish control.
It is worth noting that the inaugural PLO Covenant of 1964 does not mention Jerusalem. Only after the city fell back to Jewish control did the updated PLO Covenant of 1968 mention Jerusalem by name.
Israel handed over control of the site to the Wakf, the Moslem Religious Trust.
One might have expected that the Israelis would immediately expel the Moslems and re-establish control of the single holiest Jewish site. But in an act of what can only be described as unprecedented tolerance, Israel handed over control of the site to the Wakf, the Moslem Religious Trust.
Today, although Israel technically claims sovereignty over the site, the defacto reality since 1967 has been that the Moslems have control over the site, to the point where Jews are forbidden to pray on the Temple Mount (but permitted to visit).
CONCLUSION
Within the Hebrew word Jerusalem is contained the word for peace -- shalom. Jerusalem is often referred to as the City of Peace. It is ironic that this city sits at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
There are no simple solutions to complex problems, especially when religious beliefs and national identities are at stake. But only through an objective understanding of the intricacies that surround the history of Jerusalem, can we hope to arrive at a just and lasting solution.
Responses:
2
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reply by
alexi alexis
(1026 posts)
Nicosia,
Cyprus
5/12/2005 (02:04) |
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Islam is being unraveled by its arrogant stand versus Western culture. It would rather fight it, provide no substitute and revert to tribal fundamentalism than adapt. Its shelf life is short. Perhaps no more than 100 years.
There is a prediction that the Dome of the Rock will be tumbled by an earthquake and it will be obvious that Islam is archaic.
Then perhaps the Temple may be rebuilt. Any acceleration by man will only bring misery.
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reply by
g.j.crabb
(1082 posts)
Pacific Palms,
Australia
5/17/2005 (06:26) |
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Response to topic written by ben steinsilver
'Within the Hebrew word Jerusalem is contained the word for peace -- shalom. Jerusalem is often referred to as the City of Peace. It is ironic that this city sits at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.'
A small correction here..... Since the arrival of the Eastern Talmudic Ghetto Jews there has never been and will never be peace in Jerusalem. The Jews there have the most powerful nuclear weapons in the world and if you can call peace governed by fear then thats your choice.
As concerns the prophesies of the village idiot then I should consider he evaluate his own shelf life... GJ
Responses:
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reply by
alexi alexis
(1042 posts)
Nicosia,
Cyprus
5/17/2005 (21:30) |
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Response to message 2 written by g.j.crabb
A quote from GJ Crabbe; proving he needs a padded room! HIS OWN WORDS
FOLLOW!
' This Khazar Mongolian Aryan breed have a bloodline
unique to earth and their Satanic assisted control allows them a mindset
over man. Few people realize how close we, third dimensional beings, are
to the lower fourth dimensions where the forces of evil dominate. These
so called humans, such as Sharon and his mentor, Hitler, are in direct
communication with these evil forces and are controlled by them.'......GJ
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reply by
alexi alexis
(1043 posts)
Nicosia,
Cyprus
5/17/2005 (21:31) |
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Response to message 2 written by g.j.crabb
TRANSMISSION FROM LIZARD DIMENSION:
'Master Gorn, 7th Alien Reptile of 9 Groups of extraterrestrial reptiles.
Pacific Palms agent Crabb, you are ordered to lighten up and work on your sense of humour. Your comeback has revealed a seriously sour disposition.
Your idea of justice is what you call 'fairy tales'. Like most of your writings on this forum completely unreal. We realize that Zionist homosexuals have damaged your brain matter!
Your elevated ego in determining earth linear history shows serious mental abberation. You do not proclaim or judge. You are not Napolean.
To others feeding Agent Crabby's appetite, communication will only encourage him.
He needs to return his Jew hunting license.
Master Gorn Reptile Obeyance Unit!
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