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importance of Jerusalem to Muslims

Reader comment on item: Jerusalem Means More to Jews Than to Muslims

Submitted by muhammad ibn ja'fari (United Kingdom), Apr 15, 2006 at 07:56

To Muslims, Jerusalem is third only to Mecca and Medina as a sacred shrine. Through the ages the Dome of the Rock, which looms above Jerusalem, has been revered and cared for by all Muslims.

This magnificent structure stands in the heart of the Noble Sanctuary, bound to the east by Al Haram's East Wall and surrounded by eight arcades called "Mawazeen".

AL Aqsa is the largest mosque in Al-Quds and where a huge group of people normally prays. The Dome of the Rock Mosque is an octagonal structure built in 691 by the fifth Umayyad Khalifah Abd-il- Malek ibn Marwān. In the middle of the mosque is the honored rock on which the Prophet Muhammad stood on, before he was raised to heaven.

The Golden Dome is the symbol of the Holy City Al-Quds, is topped by the Crescent of Islam, which points in the direction of prayers Al Qiblah.

A woman said to the Prophet Muhammad, "O Apostle of God! Give us rule as to Jerusalem." And he said: "It is the land of the Resurrection and the Judgment assembly; go there and pray. For indeed a prayer there is worth a thousand elsewhere."

A single prayer in Al Aqsa is equivalent to 500 prayers in any other mosque except for the Haram Mosque in Macca and the Prophet's (An-Nabawi) Mosque in Medina.

It is a showcase for Islamic architecture and design from Umayyad to Ottoman times that continues as an important religious and educational center for Muslims to the present day.

It is the second house of worship on earth, and was the first direction of prayers for Muslims. ...
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Daniel Pipes replies:

For a discussion of these issues, see my longer piece on the subject at "The Muslim Claim to Jerusalem," http://www.danielpipes.org/article/84.

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Reader comments (22) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
It always has and always will [152 words]StasJun 5, 2012 00:42196037
1You're wrong! [46 words]SaraMar 30, 2011 15:03183753
So what if prophet ascended to heaven from Jerusalem [132 words]PrashantApr 3, 2011 05:23183753
1Jerusalen first qibla of muslims [200 words]sharkbixJul 25, 2010 23:18176032
1This is a specious (and rehashed) argument [576 words]saraJul 26, 2010 17:48176032
Sara and Jerusalem [111 words]UgriJul 27, 2010 14:13176032
1Our dear Qirsh bix and Islamic delusions [1088 words]dhimmi no moreJul 27, 2010 18:39176032
Who cares if Muhammad visited Jerusalem [106 words]TedJul 28, 2010 04:07176032
??? [39 words]MahaMay 8, 2010 14:43172408
is the peace not inportant [71 words]farydSep 16, 2009 13:32161636
false accusations!!! [110 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
The defender.Apr 22, 2009 18:37154305
Every piece of this earth belongs to muslims [65 words]HowCanYouBeApr 18, 2009 02:42154037
Jerusalem [73 words]DaliaDec 17, 2008 14:22145298
Jerusalem [106 words]MichaelAug 22, 2008 20:26137165
Drive the Muslims out of Israel! [95 words]Donald EG BeggsJul 27, 2008 01:53135713
Jerusalem in the Qur'an [36 words]ChottuApr 23, 2008 14:53126587
peace [18 words]Tina LawndryOct 18, 2007 19:58111870
thx [5 words]meApr 22, 2009 18:53111870
1importance of Jerusalem to Muslims [269 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
muhammad ibn ja'fariApr 15, 2006 07:5643237
First Stop for Jews [65 words]Ayesha ZahydNov 24, 2007 03:0643237
If prophet had lived long enough to visit Benares or Rome [74 words]OhSureApr 18, 2009 02:5143237
Who let the Jews into Jerusalem? [268 words]Allison KnightSep 7, 2005 23:3525575

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