Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Temple Mount vs. Noble Sanctuary


The comments posted on Al-Monitor’s articles reveal that many Jews and Arabs are unfamiliar with the history of Mount Moriah.

Ironically, Christians, Jews, and Muslims all worship the same God, the God of Abraham. He is called God the Father, Yahweh, and Allah, respectively. Moreover, Islam recognizes the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament) as revealed by Allah.

Why did Muslims choose Mount Moriah as the location to build the Dome of the Rock? Because the site is linked to Mohammed, their prophet. Reportedly, one night Muhammad was carried away by angelic beings. They brought him to Jerusalem where he was transported to the seventh heaven. There, according to legend, he spoke with Allah and received a revelation and instructions concerning prayer. The sacred rock beneath the dome is believed to be the point from which he ascended.

If you’ve read my article entitled “Jerusalem’s Third Temple,” you know that Mount Moriah was also the site of Solomon’s Temple which was destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.  Zerubbabel is credited with rebuilding the Temple. Herod the Great expanded that Second Temple with such lavish splendour that it became one of the wonders of the Roman Empire. Herod's Temple was destroyed by the Roman Emperor Titus.  

So why would Muhammad's legendary night journey, in the early seventh century, take him to a destination that was formerly the location of Jewish Temples? Because, purportedly, Mount Moriah was also the location where Abraham offered Isaac, recorded in the Book of Genesis. While Abraham is the father of Jews through his son Isaac, he is also the father of Arabs though his son Ishmael. That bond with Abraham links Arabs to Mount Moriah.

Hence we have the most hotly contested piece of real estate on planet earth, called Temple Mount by Jews and Noble Sanctuary by Muslims.

6 comments:

  1. Scriptural reference: Genesis 22:1-14

    ReplyDelete
  2. The sacrifice of children was not uncommon among pagans & apostate Israelites (Deuteronomy 12:29-31; 2 Kings 21:6). It must have broken Abraham’s heart when Isaac asked, “But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” However, when God gave His only begotten Son, no offering could be substituted in His place. Christ was indeed “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 1:29; 3:16).

    ReplyDelete
  3. The angelic beings who took part in Muhammad’s night journey were Jibreel (angel Gabriel) and Al-Buraq, the mythological steed portrayed with a human face.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Islam’s Feast of Sacrifice celebrates God’s command to Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael. Like the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Book of Genesis, God spares Ishmael, sending a sheep to be sacrificed in his place.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Quran recognizes the Gospel of Jesus as revealed by Allah. Muslims believe that Jesus is the Christ and the Messiah. They also believe in His virgin birth, ascension, and second coming. They do not believe in the deity of Jesus. He is not exalted above prophets such as Moses or Muhammad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Related articles: “Islam & Jihadists” and “ISIS a.k.a. ISIL”

    ReplyDelete