Muslim Zionism
Reader comment on item: Muslim Zionism

Submitted by Maurice Picow (Israel), Jun 10, 2006 at 16:02

Muslims have several reasons to be interested in Jerusalem. First of all, since they have control of the Temple Mount, known to them as Kareem al Shariff, they know that their possession of this place, considered sacred to Jews, will prevent the Jewish People from rebuilding the Temple. Their mosques, Al Aqsa and the Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock) are considered by Muslims to be the third holiest shrines in Islam (for Sunni Muslims anyway). The Dome oof the Rock contains the large boulder that the Patriarch Abraham was supposed to have almost sacraficed his son Issac, until God interveined, and gave Abraham a ram to sacrifice instead.

Whether this is the real location is anybody's guess The Mosque, Masjidal Haram, containing the Qaaba, the square building that devout Muslims circle during the annual Hajj, is located in the Arabian city of Mecca, a good 800 km to the south of Jerusalem. For Abraham to be in both locations at approximately the same time, is a bit far fetched, to say the least. Other esteemed sites, include the miraculous spring that God revealed to Hagar, Ishmail's mother, after they were expelled by Abraham into the dessert.

The city is also the desired location for the capital of a Palestinian state, at least the eastern or Arab part, that is. There's no denying that the city has religious significance for Muslims, but, since Muhammad later directed his followers to pray towards Mecca, and not Jerusalem, means that Mecca became the more important place insofar as Islam goes. Muslims are also buried with their heads toward Mecca and feet towards Jerusalem, the direct opposite of Jews.

If the city were not so important to Jews, Muslims would probably not be so keen to possess it as well. As noted in Mr. Pipe's article, Jerusalem , or Al Quds as the Muslims refer to it, became a holy 'city of convenience' for them. After all, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the city was an impoverished dirty 'backwater' of a place, and definietly not a glorious place to visit. Muslims throughout the centuries, including famous ones like Ibn Batutta, made numerous pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina . Ibn Battuta went on the Hajj no less than seven times, the same number of times the faithfull must circle the Qaaba.

Muslims have thier own version of 'Zionism', which changes when they feel the need. The Palestinians call for a 'law of return' to places they once lived, in both Israel and Palestinian held areas, is designed for one main purpose: and that is the ultimate destruction of Israel. Let them all to Arabia and to Mecca, if they really want their own version of 'Zionism'.

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