question regarding Jerusalem?

Question

I'm new in this section, but in general on this site I've read many posts that challenge the importance of Jerusalem to Jews.

I'd like to ask Muslims something, though; these are genuine questions and not designed to cause offence.

I realise that Jerusalem is important to Muslims, but how can you make such a claim on it when, in all fairness, it is not your most important city, but your third, coming after Mecca and Medinah?

Also, if it's so vital to your culture, why is Jerusalem not mentioned, even once, in the Quran?

And why do you pray facing Mecca, not Jerusalem, if the latter is so precious to you?

I am really curious about all this and would love to get your help. Many thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

edit, charles, The term 'palestinians' referred to all the people living in Palestine and this included numerous Jews also. We did not get Israel because of what happened in ww2. Jews have always lived there.

COULD PEOPLE PLEASE ANSWER THE ACTUAL QUESTION - THX

Who's 'shishak'? Why is someone calling me that? Please explain!

Answer 1

Jerusalem is important for religious reasons and for the historic value.

We all know you are shishak. Thank you for giving me a best answer, even if the question was deleted. You changed you name and avatar. But I still have old questions. where you used to be shishak and you are not new in this forum.

Answer 2

As you stated, Jerusalem is the third important city for muslims so why would we pray toward it when there are two more important cities? Actually muslims used to pray toward Jerusalem in past but then turned to Mecca.
Second, Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Quran and so as Mecca (no surprise!) which is the most important Muslim city is not mentioned in the Quran, why? does this mean that it shouldn't be important or we shouldn't pray toward it?
Why would G-d talk about a land in a holy book. He is not a real estate. The purpose of the Quran was to tell us some history and teach us about how the universe was created and about the benefits of the things that he provided us with such as honey. It is not to distribute countries to people.

Peace


Stevie, you gave a great answer.

Answer 3

Jerusalem is for the Jews as Mecca is to Muslims - I think that is the best way to put it. Jerusalem is the Holiest of cities to Jews and the temple I had my Bar-Mitzvah in, Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI, is built facing Jerusalem so that all prayers there can be directed towards Jerusalem like Muslims direct their pray towards Mecca (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touro_Synagogue ). Touro Synagogue - America's Oldest Jewish Temple - is not alone in being built facing Jerusalem - but it is more the rule when such type of contruction is possible throughout the world where Jews pray.

I hope this helps you understand a little more.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

Why should a city that is important to Jews, Christians and Muslims belong to any of them? Lets forget about religion for a moment and lets talk about nationality. What country was Jerusalem in before Israel was set up? Israel is a very new country that is established mainly on stolen land. That land is stolen from the Palestinians.
As for your second question. why should it matter if a place is mentioned in the Holy Quran. What difference does that make?
as for your third question. Why would Muslims pray towards a city that is 3rd most important? Surely it would make sense to pray towards the most important place? You already know Muslims used to pray towards Jerusalem and that it was changed, but that does not mean that Muslims agreed to have the city taken from them by others.
I do think it is sad that a city that is so important to so many faiths is so divided.

Answer 5

Jerusalem is holy to Jews , Christians and Muslims. To deny this religious fact by anyone like denying the existence of other religions.
East Jerusalem for the last 2000 years is inhabited by the people of Palestine weather they are Christians or Muslims both call themselves Palestinians.
To day Jerusalem is occupied by the Israeli military and there is not one single country in the world is willing to recognize that East Jerusalem is part of Israel which was created by the UN in 1948.
Religiously the city is holy to all , politically and legally it is a Palestinian city.

Answer 6

A more important question is why is the Capital City of my country, the only Capital City that is not recognised by any other country in the world.
Jerusalem, is, was, and always will be the Capital City of Israel.
The history is, quite literally, in the stones and in the Bible.

40% of those claiming Palestinian nationality in fact arrived in this part of the Middle East from The Sudan, Egypt & Saudi Arabia - the same countries of origin as the terrorists who are currently threatening the lives and liberty of people in the UK, Spain, Thailand, the USA, Australia - to name but a few countries
When the Arabs occupied Jerusalem (Capital City of Israel), they turned it into a cess pit of filth and squalor.
Visit Jerusalem today; climb up onto the City walls, and look out across the 4 quarters - Jewish, Christian, Armenian & Arab. Which quarter is the filthiest, the dirtiest & the most squalid? The Arab quarter.
Who destroyed the glasshouse in Gaza, gifted to the Gazan people by Jewish philanthropists after the withdrawal last year? Arabs.
Who are responsible for extremism, fundamentalism, 'honour' killings and terrorism across the world? Arabs.
In 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by a Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver
trying to rescue passengers, was murdered by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles
to take out the World Trade Centres and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 & 40

However, to ensure we never offend fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids and airline pilots with proper identification, but should no longer be allowed to profile Muslim Males between the ages 17 &40.


The UN gave the area of Palestine designated Israel to Jewish refugees from Nazi oppression etc. predominately because it was their ancient homeland.
The "Palestinian people" admittedly haven't perpetrated Holocaust - YET - but read a history book, specifically the events of 1948 when the Palestinians and FOUR other Arab nations invaded Israel and got their arses kicked by a MUCH SMALLER Israeli army.

The Palestinians had the opportunity to create their own nation post WWI. Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, and other former regions of the Ottoman Empire successfully lobbied England/ the League of Nations to recognize their sovereignty. Palestine was given the option of being their own nation or joining Syria and/or Lebanon in some fashion. Palestinian leaders could not come to an agreement and thus became a British Protectorate.

During the Inter-war period and post WWII, rich Palestinian land owners sold large amounts of land to rich Jews in North America and Europe who then opened the land to migrant Jews. It wasn't until the average Palestinians began objecting that there was serious violence.

There were many mistakes, miscalculations, and inappropriate decisions/actions made by all parties in the creation and maintenance of Israel.
There wasn't even an independent state there before Israel.

Finally, there has been a well-documented Jewish presence in the Land of Israel for over 5,000 years. Abraham, the Father of the Jewish people came from the Land of Israel, many, many years before Mohammed was even born! - & as you probably know, Mohammed was NOT from the Land of Israel, he only died there

Answer 7

I just wanted to add that the Saudis do not even ALLOW non-Muslims to enter Mecca. Israel not only allows anyone to enter Jerusalem, but each religious group has autonomy over their own areas.

Answer 8

Yes its the third most important centre for muslims, but not only that Palestinians are also born in Jerusalam , its their home, thats what makes it important. Cheers!

Answer 9

Hi Shishak... I recognized you somehow......

Anyways... Jerusalem attracts tourism... And that makes it important for anyone.... For Muslims, Jews and Christians....

Answer 10

Stevie -- it was the Romans that created the name Palestine.

So of course they acknowledged it. Before that they called it the Iudaea Province from the word Judah.

learn some history yourself

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iudaea_Province