The Dome is not an Islamic holy site

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Jul 13, 2014 at 03:54

I have read Qur'an, twice, and there is no mention whatever of the Temple Mount; except that the writer notes that the faithful USED TO worship facing it, but they are now instructed to face Mecca. That hardly qualifies either the Al Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock as Muslim holy places. That said, the Muslims continually put forth that this is the case. Be that as it may, the mosque fortunately does not occupy any space considered especially holy to the Jews.

The Dome of the Rock does indeed occupy such a space, as, according to many, it sits atop the Holy Place of the former Jewish temples. It was constructed on the site of an early Christian church, which, in turn, sat on the site of the ruined temple. The purpose for its construction, or rededication, as a Muslim SHRINE (not mosque) was to connect Islam with Christianity, and to awe Christians into converting to Islam. These Christians were to enter the Dome, face the outer wall (AWAY from the Holy Place), and proceed COUNTER-clockwise to read the Islamic inscriptions written there. By following this sinsiter route, they would dishonor their connection to the Jewish temple and thus to Christianity.

This is what little I have gleaned from the Internet; so correct me, if I am wrong. The Dome sits on the spot where Abraham is supposed to have offered up his son Isaac (or, in Islamic legend, Ishmael). It might therefore be construed that the Muslims would direct some veneration TOWARD the place. Instead, they located their big mosque to the south of the Dome, between it and Mecca -- so that five times a day, the Muslims of Jerusalem pray with their BUTT ENDS facing the Dome. This is not being done out of reverence for a Muslim "holy" site, but as an act of blasphemy against the God or Christians and Jews. The Israeli government should not be encouraging such activity.

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