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Masjid Al-Aqsa

Reader comment on item: More on the Muslim Claim to Jerusalem
in response to reader comment: The mosque was not destoyed. it remains till this day !

Submitted by Lactantius Jr (United Kingdom), Feb 19, 2010 at 17:53

To "Al-Aqsa"

Thank you for your response, inviting anyone to prove you wrong in your claim that Masjid al-Aqsa is next to the Dome of the Rock.

Muslims claim that Muhammad's alleged 'night journey' (isra) is mentioned in Surah 17:001 of the Qur'an, which says,

"Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest mosque-------------" (Subhana allathee asra biAAabdihi laylan mina almasjidi alharami ila almasjidi al-aqsa allathee barakna hawlahu linuriyahu min ayatina innahu huwa alssameeAAu albaseeru") and when this Surah was revealed ~621AD, the Sacred Mosque already existed in Mecca, but where was "the farthest mosque?" It was apparently identified with places inside Arabia; either Medina, or a town called Ji'rana, about ten miles from Mecca, which Muhammad visited in 630 AD. Palestine had not yet been conquered by the Muslims, and contained not a single mosque.

Ahmad Muhammad 'Arafa, a columnist for the Egyptian weekly Al-Qahira, which is published by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, published an article on 5th.August 2003, rejecting the established Islamic doctrine that Muhammad's "Night Journey" took him from Mecca to Jerusalem. 'Arafa, presented a new analysis of the Qur'anic text, and the fact that this article was published in a government journal adds to its political significance.

'Arafa concludes that the "Night Journey" was not to Palestine; rather, it was to Medina. It began at the Al-Haram Mosque [in Mecca] after the Prophet had prayed there with his companion, and both of them had left it, and the journey ended at the mosque of As'ad ibn Zurara, in front of the house of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari, in Medina, where the Prophet built the mosque known as the Mosque of the Prophet.

Al-Qahira (Egypt), August 5, 2003.

cited by http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD56403

Turning to the Sahi Hadith of Bukhari, we read,

Narrated Abu Dhar:

I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Which mosque was first built on the surface of the earth?" He said, "Al-Masjid-ul-Haram (in Mecca)." I said, "Which was built next?" He replied "The mosque of Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem)." I said, "What was the period of construction between the two?" He said, "Forty years." He added, "Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, for the best thing is to do so (i.e. to offer the prayers in time)."

Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 585:

which places the erection of the Kabah at approximately 998 BC., since the construction of the first Temple was not completed by Solomon until BC. 951, refer to 1 Kings 6:1-7:51 at http://www.biblegateway.com/ with the Qur'an claiming that Allah selected Abraham and Ishmael to build the Kaaba,

"And remember Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (With this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing."

Surah 2:127

but the most that can be said about when Abraham lived, is that it was sometime in the earlier part of the second millennium before Christ

"Biblical Chronology" http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03731a.htm

The problem with all of this is that the first Jerusalem Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian armies in 587 BC. Furthermore, General Titus and his Roman soldiers leveled the Second Temple in AD. 70, more than five centuries before this alleged night journey to Jerusalem took place. In fact, the building that eventually became Masjid al-Aqsa did not come into existence until AD. 705 when Amir Abd-ul-Malik Marwan's son al-Walid built it, http://www.noblesanctuary.com/AQSAMosque.html, which proves it cannot have been the one visited by Muhammad.

Masjid al-Aqsa contains no early references to the supposed night journey, and this is a strange omission, since Muslims claim that Masjid al-Aqsa was erected in commemoration of Muhammad's alleged 'isra. The inscriptions that do mention the alleged night journey are later additions made by Abdul Hamid II in 1876, nearly eleven hundred years after the alleged event.

In light of all this "Al-Aqsa," I ask you the following questions:

  • What mosque did Muhammad visit, enter and pray at before ascending to heaven?
  • With the Qur'an mentioning an alleged journey to a mosque that didn't exist during Muhammad's lifetime, how can you consider the Qur'an to be the word of Allah?
  • With both the Quran and Sahi Bukhari containing historical error, how can you trust either of them to provide you with reliable information about the life of Muhammad ?
  • Is your confidence in the Qur'an undermined by the Quran claiming to mention a mosque which was visited by Muhammad who died in 632AD, when the mosque was not completed until AD 705, proving it cannot have been the one visited by Muhammad.
  • If you cannot find an answer to this historical problem within the Qur'an, why do you remain a Muslim?

Turning now to your claim that the Bible and Torah are sacred books to Muslims, and you are not saying they are wrong, I'm glad you're not, because the Qur'an gives massive support to the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, The Qur'an repeatedly says that it confirms the previous Scriptures, for example Sura 3:3 says that Allah:-

"-----------sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospels."

There are many, many Qur'anic references to the Judaeo-Christian Scriptures, and the Qur'an gives them such noble titles as:-

"the book of Allah" " the word of Allah"

"a light and guidance to man" "a decision for all matters"

"a guidance and a mercy" "the lucid book"

"the illumination (al-furqan)"

"the gospel with its guidance and light confirming the preceding law"

"a guidance and warning to those who fear Allah"

Typical of every mention of the Torah and Gospels "Al-Aqsa," there is no word about textual corruption. Sura's 2:97, 2:285; 3:3,7,23,48,65,84,93,184,199; 4:44,47,51,136,162-164 5:15,46,68-69; 6:91&92,154; 10:37; 11:17; 16:43; 17:2; 20:133; 21:7; 23:49; 26:196; 32:23; 35:31; 41:45; 46:10-12; 54:43; 57:25&27; and 87:18-19 all confirm, rather than repudiate or "complete" the Torah and Gospels, with the texts often being referred to as "inspired."

The Qur'an uses, for example, the following words:-

"musadiqalima mahum" (confirming what is with them)

"musadiqalima baina yadih" (confirming what is between their hands)

"musadiqalima makum" (confirming that which is with them)

Sura's 2:41,89; 3:3; 4:47; 5:48; 35:31 and so on.

Sura 5:43-49 for example, starts by saying:-

"But why do they come to thee for decision, when they have the Torah before them? Therein is the plain command of Allah, yet even after that they would turn away

Christians are told to look into their own Scriptures to find Allah's revelation for them:-

"Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by the light of what Allah hath revealed, they are no better than those who rebel."

Sura 5:47

and even Muhammad himself at one point, is exhorted to test the truthfulness of his own message, against the contents of the previous Divine revelations to Jews and Christians:-

"If thou wert in doubt as to what we have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee, the truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord, so be in no wise of those in doubt."

Sura 10:94

I quote the massive Qur'anic support of the Old and New Testaments, not because the Qur'an is authoritative for me, it isn't, but as a Muslim you are bound by it, and must accept what it says about the Bible, which you say is sacred to you as a Muslim, and thus gives you the responsibility to carefully read the Bible and accept what it says, and I conclude by quoting a Qur'anic Surah, from the translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, an Egyptian born, al-Azhar and Cambridge Universities educated hafiz Qur'an.

Abdel Haleem has taught Arabic at Cambridge and London Universities since 1966, including courses in advanced practical translation and the Qur'an. He is now (2005), Professor of Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Here is how he translates Surah 5:46

"So let the followers of the Gospel judge according to what Allah has sent down in it. Those who do not judge according to what Allah has revealed are lawbreakers."

Surah 5:47

I do judge by it "Al-Aqsa," and I look forward to reading your response about "the farthest mosque" that Muhammad allegedly visited on his "night journey," and showing you from the Old and New Testaments which are sacred to you as a Muslim, just what the God of the Bible has done to deal with your past, to work in your present, and to guarantee your future, should you accept His loving care of you.

With kind regards and best wishes

Lactantius Jr

Submitting....

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Reader comments (110) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
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6Moses and Jesus were never, will never be and WOULD never be Muslims [1077 words]The Grand Infidel of KaffiristanAug 30, 2008 23:54137656
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2Moses and Jesus were Muslims? [134 words]KatteyNov 18, 2008 17:47137656
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1More drivel from our dear Ahmad [558 words]dhimmi no moreNov 30, 2008 07:18137656
2If you follow God's words then you are a Muslim [396 words]sTsDec 1, 2008 03:18137656
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1Moses and Jesus were Muslims? [128 words]AnneDec 3, 2008 23:34137656
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2A Muslim, any person who submits to the will of God [518 words]sTsDec 5, 2008 00:48137656
The Qur'an is perfect? Really? How about surat al-rajm? [286 words]dhimmi no moreDec 5, 2008 07:23137656
Our dear Samer; It seems that your Allah says in the Qur'an that the Bible is not really corrupted [147 words]dhimmi no moreDec 5, 2008 07:35137656
A muslim is any person who submits to God's will- response to Ts [133 words]DebbieDec 5, 2008 20:37137656
It seems that the star of David adornes the main building of al-Azhar University [199 words]dhimmi no moreDec 6, 2008 10:42137656
Our dear Samer and more drivel [361 words]dhimmi no moreDec 6, 2008 11:01137656
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sTs, you have a very simplistic view [196 words]ZenDec 13, 2008 01:23137656
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2a response to Moses, Jesus, Mohammad are ALL Muslims by reader Ahmad [513 words]IfrahimJan 5, 2009 22:38137656
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Q17:1 [641 words]dhimmi no moreJul 27, 2008 13:16135742
3muslim greed, more greed and fascism [216 words]G.VishvasJul 23, 2008 05:53135582
The Qur'an does not say the Prophet was taken to Jerusalem [123 words]Akbarally MeherallyJun 26, 2008 07:25133453
The Temple Mount as a Flashpoint [29 words]Yisrael MedadMar 12, 2008 06:48122473
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What Muslim holy sites? [195 words]KatteyDec 15, 2007 21:34116228
Hey [68 words]demonarundoMar 9, 2008 16:45116228
Islamic historical Propaganda [267 words]KatteyMar 10, 2008 23:24116228
here is the truth [142 words]demonarundoMar 12, 2008 07:53116228
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islam thinks the whole world belongs to allaha [76 words]phil GreendAug 31, 2007 19:15107411
I am Muslim [51 words]demonarundoMar 9, 2008 16:32107411
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I understand that history is a VERY flexible narrative [103 words]Dan the YidAug 17, 2007 04:0095748
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24"Jerusalem's not in the Qur'an, and Muhammad was never there" [678 words]Lactantius Jr.Jun 5, 2007 15:5067422
1Lactantius Jr, I think you misunderstood my comments [217 words]InfidelJun 5, 2007 23:1867422
Arabs have been doing Temple denial for a long time [219 words]ElliottNov 6, 2008 08:2167422
Not mentioned in the Torah either [23 words]sTsDec 1, 2008 03:2067422
1"Which Bible books, which Temple?" [646 words]Lactantius JrDec 3, 2008 07:0667422
5Zabour and Zubur [691 words]sTsDec 4, 2008 07:1067422
More on Jerusalem and other topics [658 words]sTsDec 4, 2008 11:1167422
Which Jerusalem Temple did Muhammad visit? [320 words]Lactantius JrDec 5, 2008 05:1267422
"What remains for you to do now" [125 words]Lactantius JrDec 5, 2008 06:2567422
The word ZBR in the Qur'an, the Psalms of David and al-Isra'eeliat in the Qur'an [443 words]dhimmi no moreDec 6, 2008 09:1767422
ZBR and an addendum [123 words]dhimmi no moreDec 7, 2008 08:2967422
Jerusalem in the OT [92 words]dhimmi no moreDec 7, 2008 09:0267422
Mohammed visits Mt. Sinai [97 words]Dale BrownDec 6, 2009 21:2767422
The mosque was not destoyed. it remains till this day ! [238 words]Al -AqsaJan 21, 2010 15:2067422
Masjid Al-Aqsa [1462 words]Lactantius JrFeb 19, 2010 17:5367422
Mosque people were flaming racist until now. [194 words]HilmeFeb 28, 2010 09:2967422
"living in peace with one another" [128 words]Lactantius JrFeb 28, 2010 17:2367422
1You don't know what your saying [288 words]Omar SalehMay 17, 2010 23:1067422
Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Qur'an and even Tabari had no clue what is really al-masjad al-aqsa and you our dear Omar think that you know? Masha'allah [982 words]dhimmi no moreMay 19, 2010 07:4767422
1To: dhimmi no more [177 words]OmarMay 19, 2010 22:5667422
Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Qur'an and even Tabari had no clue what is really al-masjad al-aqsa part duex [27 words]dhimmi no moreMay 20, 2010 17:2767422
Our dear Omar and his excuse that the battery ran out [300 words]dhimmi no moreMay 20, 2010 18:0967422
Q17:1 revisited [64 words]dhimmi no moreMay 20, 2010 18:2067422
Our dear Omar and tahreef al-Qur'an [330 words]dhimmi no moreMay 22, 2010 08:0167422
1Jerusalem, the Abode of Peace [181 words]AngelaJun 14, 2010 09:2067422
1Jerusalem is in the quraan and the prophet muhamed was there [25 words]yomnaOct 1, 2011 17:3767422
1Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Qur'an and Muhammad was never there continued [399 words]Lactantius JrOct 5, 2011 04:4367422
false statement about jerusalem [40 words]saqibFeb 19, 2013 00:2567422
The Qur'an is silent about Jerusalem [131 words]dhimmi no moreFeb 20, 2013 07:0467422
Only Christ! [10 words]hammarJul 13, 2013 15:0067422
answer [56 words]bla bla black sheepApr 21, 2017 19:4867422

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