Judaism predates Islam by 3500 years, so why do the Muslims think Israel is theirs? Is the dome of the rock ..

Question

built on top of a Jewish temple ??

Answer 1

All you have to do is re-write history a little. Since Islam is understood to mean "submission to G-d," and that's what Abraham was famous for, they can say "Abraham wasn't a Jew" (this is technically true - rather he was the forefather of the Jews and the first Hebrew, but in practical terms, Jew, Hebrew, and Israelite are all interchangeable; Jew refers specifically to the Hebrew subgroup, the Israelite tribe of Judah... Abraham, as the first Hebrew, pre-dates Israel and Judah, though he is the progenitor of both). They can say "Abraham wasn't a Jew, he was a Muslim," and then based on the assumption that both Jews and Christians have corrupted their respective revelations, ignoring that the Qur'an says that G-d's word cannot be changed, and that it also says that the Torah and Gospels are the word of G-d... this paradox can be squirmed out of by saying "well, that's not the REAL Torah, or the REAL Gospels." Sound like a cop-out? Yeah, I thought so too. I brought the issue to one of my professors over in Near Eastern Studies, herself a devout Muslim, and all she could say was that it was a very good question. That was her answer - that it's a good question.

So if you take the skeptical viewpoint that doesn't assume the Qur'an to be a divine revelation, it's quite reasonable to infer that Muhammad gathered a lot of knowledge of the Jewish and Christian traditions from Jews and Christians travelling through his part of the world. It would also explain why the Qur'an seems to confuse Miriam, Moses' sister, with Miriam (Mary), mother of Jesus. It would also explain why the Pharaoh appears to order Haman to build the Tower of Babel despite these figures being thousands of years and miles apart.

So, with those kinds of changes to the storyline, it's not such a stretch to say that Abraham's spiritual legacy passed not through Isaac (which had been the tradition from Isaac's time) but rather through Ishmael. What I always found curious was that, although the Qur'an inserts a few Arab prophets before Muhammad, the vast majority are still Jews. That is, although the claim is that Abraham's legacy supposedly goes through Ishmael, the line of prophets still descends from Isaac and through his son Jacob (who becomes Israel).

In any event, Islamic imperial forces have a proud history of building their sacred shrines over places sacred to other religions. The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount is but one example. The Ayasofya Mosque, one of the most impressive sights in Istanbul, was once the Haghia Sophia Church of Constantinople. You can literally see where crucifixes were removed from the walls, and Christian symbols were painted over. Interestingly enough, in the interests of historical preservation (and perhaps, giving a boost to Istanbul's tourist industry), they're restoring some of the original features of Ayasofya when it was a church, including, if I recall correctly, a fresco of Mary and Jesus.

What you have to understand is that in Islam, the world is divided into two realms - Dar al-Islam (The Abode of Islam) and Dar al-Harb (The Abode of War). The Ottomans added a third realm, the Abode of Treaty, when they were at a stalemate with the West, but I'm not sure that Islamic authorities hold by that concept today. The idea of course is that all the world should eventually be Dar al-Islam, with everyone converted to Islam, or, in the case of followers of the other Abrahamic religions, properly subjugated as "protected" communities, dhimma.

Now, there are two types of war in Islam, jihaad, and ghaza. Ghaza is offensive, expansionary conflict, like, when the Ottoman Empire was growing. Jihaad is defensive conflict, and the kind emphasized by Islamic scholars today. Liberals within the Muslim community suggest that jihaad refers to the internal struggle, the fight between good and evil that takes place within us all. But that's only partially correct, or at least, it's correct only according to some interpretations of Islam - and those aren't the interpretations the rest of us are worried about! Jihaad also refers to defensive conflict. And while Muslims are not obligated to engage in ghaza, they ARE obligated to engage in jihaad. When the land of Islam is threatened, they have to fight to defend it.

Palestine was never a sovereign Arab Muslim state. But it was under Islamic rule as a part of the Ottoman Empire. As such, the establishment of a Jewish state, even in some 10% of Palestine, is an affront to Islamic sensibilities. Of course, Spain was also under Arab Muslim rule for quite some time, making it a part of Dar al-Islam. So, blowing up an Israeli pizza parlor, or bombing some trains in Madrid, both of these can be described as jihaad. Of course not all Muslims feel this way. The problem is that voices for moderation and tolerance are silenced through social pressure and threats. See one example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbkrKH7SCio&eurl=

And this is in the US! Imagine a Palestinian living in Gaza, who maybe isn't so fond of Israel, but he's not about to shoot anybody. Unfortunately, some Hamas/Fatah/Al Aqsa "Martyrs"/Islamic Jihad terrorists have opened up shop in his neighborhood and are setting up a mortar launcher in his front yard. For this guy, being banished from his mosque is the least of his worries!

So to sum up, Israel (which the Ancient Romans re-named Palestine, after an ancient enemy of the Israelites not at all related to the Palestinians of today, in order to erase any Jewish connection to what they had previously referred to as Judea) is considered Islamic land by Muslims on the grounds that

1) They conquered it centuries ago (the land was taken by Arab Muslims, then by Christian Crusaders, and then by Ottoman Ghazis, and ultimately resettled by Jews, who had maintained a presence in the land consistently for thousands of years, though for the last few centuries obviously as a minority), making it Dar al-Islam.

2) Jewish holy sites are really Muslim holy sites, because the Torah has been altered, and in fact, the Qur'an shows that all the most important figures in Jewish and early Christian history, were in fact Muslims. Also, the Western Wall of the Temple is really the Al Buraq Wall, named for the creature Muhammad rode on his magical flight to Al-Aqsa.

Al-Aqsa is indeed built on the site of the First and Second Temples. That's why it's called the Temple Mount.

I hope this helps explain things somewhat.

Answer 2

The Dome of the Rock is built upon the Second Temple, so, it's probably built over two Jewish Temples.

The First Temple of the Jews was built during the reign of David's son, Solomon. The Ark of the Covenant was placed there where the tablets of Moses' Ten Commandments were originally kept near the rock which was considered to be the site of Abraham's sacrifice. It was completed in 957 BC. Soon after the Temple 's construction, Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon forced the Jews into exile, removed their temple treasures in 604 BC and 597 BC, and finally completely destroyed the temple in 586 BC.

In 539 BC, [please remember that the dates go backwards for the BC calculations] Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Reconstruction began and the Second Temple was completed by 515 BC. This temple however, did not enshrine the Ark of the Covenant as that sacred object had disappeared sometime before the plundering by Nebuchadrezzar.

Much later, when Jews twice revolted against their Roman oppressors, the city of Jerusalem suffered greatly and the Second Temple was demolished in 70 AD. In the year 135 AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian began construction of a new city, called Aelia Capitolina, upon the ruins of old Jerusalem. Upon the site of the destroyed Jewish temple, Hadrian built a temple to the god Jove (the Greek Jupiter), but this temple was itself demolished by the Byzantines after the empire became Christian.

Following a brief period of Persian rule, Jerusalem was captured in 638 AD, six years after the death of Muhammad, by the Muslim Caliph Umar. Soon after his occupation of the city, Umar cleansed the Temple Mount, built a small mosque and dedicated the site to Muslim worship.

Nearby the Arab conquerors undertook to build a more spectacular edifice, the Dome of the Rock, not only to proclaim the supremacy of Islam, but also to ensure that the new followers of Islam would not be tempted by Christianity. The site chosen was the very same rock where previously had stood the Jupiter temple of the Romans and before that, the two temples of the Jews.

To strengthen their claim, the story of Mohammad ascending to Heaven upon the "burak" a winged animal that's described as smaller than a mule but slightly larger than a donkey; was made to have been from that rock which was venerated as the rock of the sacrifice.

Incidentally, while non-muslims are permitted to enter there at regulated times, they are not allowed to pray there.

Merry Crimbo!!!!

Answer 3

I don't think Muslims think that Israel is theirs. There is nothing about that in the Holy Qur'an.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine at the moment is because, after the Jews left following the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, Arabs and other peoples moved in, who have lived there for thousands of years and are now resentful of the existence of Israel. (I'm taking no sides here, just giving my understanding of what happened).

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem was built to protect the site of the former Temple and the place where Abraham sacrificed His eldest son. Because Muslims believe in the Torah and the Gospels and revere Abraham, it is also a holy site for them.

Try to remember, there was no temple there when the Dome of the Rock was built. There weren't many Jews in Jerusalem then either. They were scattered around the world. The Muslims built an edifice to shelter the holy site and allow people to worship therein.

Answer 4

If you speak to real Jews not Israelis they will tell you that Jews are still in exile,so tell me the Zionist state of Israel does it really do the Jews any favors?
Doesn't Israel go against the laws of the Holy Torah?
The Dome of the Rock (The masjid Al AxA) is not built on top of a Jewish temple,yes the Jewish temple was in the same vicinity but different location.

Answer 5

Muslims believe that because their religion is the newest, it voids both Judaism and Christianity.
They do not believe Israel was promised to the Jews, because their holy book does not mention that. Muslims want Israel for themselves because they want the entire Mid-East to be Muslim; they would only accept Jews on what they believe is Muslim land if they agreed to live as second class citizens under Muslim rule.
The Dome of the Rock IS where the Temple stood: Erecting religious monument atop other religions' holy places is a common Muslim practice, as they view Islam superior to all other religions.

Answer 6

some clarifications - Judaism predates Islam by only 2200 years, and Christianity by 1500 years.
The holy land is coveted by all religions.
the Sons of Ishmael were given the land of Arabia -that is Saudi Arabia of today, they conquered many parts of the world, as Muslims but not as the sons of Ishmael.
Muslims think many parts of the world are theirs, that is any place that was once under a Muslim rule, like Spain for instance, or Greece.

Answer 7

it may take pages and pages to checklist in chronological order all people who occupied the land that's in the present day fraudulently called Israel, inclusive of the Jews themselves. the very fact of the priority is that that land substitute into inhabited by using the Palestinian human beings until they have been made destitute to make room for the jews and function been stored prisoners for over 60 years.there is not any sign of peace. The Palestinians are slaughtered and stored in digital concentration camps, their human beings murdered, their residences decreased to rubble. i do no longer understand on what foundation the CIA these days mentioned that Israel would not final for yet another two decades, yet mentioned it they did and that i'm hoping with all my heart that they are suitable.

Answer 8

dont confuce muslims with palestinians.

The current inhabitants of so-called israel have are converted Jews (not the ones referred to in the bible). As such, they have no claim to any "promised land" and there is no indication that the "promised land" is located in what used to be Palestine now called Israel.

The whole situation is one big mess brought about by racism and colonialism.

Answer 9

Isreal is a land where three religions merge - Christian, Muslim and Jew. Many of the sacred sites in Isreal, including the Dome of the Rock, are considered holy places of pilgrimage to all three faiths.

Answer 10

Islam cannot tolerate the idea of Jewish independence.