Political motives behind the night journey

Submitted by Prashant (United States), May 7, 2022 at 12:00

Dear Dr Pipes: Reader Gila's above letter encouraged me to research the Hamas Chief Yahiya Sinwar. One of the recent news about Yahiya Sinwar was that he has threatened that the battle for Al-Aqsa masque will start after Ramadan. No surprise there. I only expect talk of war from Muslim leadership. They hardly ever talk peace.

This led me to research more about Muhammad's chronology vis-a-vis Al-Aqsa. Muhammad had announced his prophethood in the year 620. While in Medina ten years later in 630, he announced that he had made an overnight journey to Jerusalem on a magical horse to "lead" many other prophets in prayer in Jerusalem. These other prophets also supposedly time-traveled to be led in prayer by Muhammad. Muhammad died in 632. It should be noted that by 630, Muhammad had gotten used to winning cruel violent victories against the neighboring Jewish tribes. In my other message on your site a few days back I had written that Muhammad had ordered an attack on Jerusalem before he died. Just 4 years after Muhammad's death the first Islamic military attack on Jerusalem was orchestrated. Jerusalem was the most pious city for Jews and Christians at that time.

We know that magical horses do not exist. I contend that Muhammad created the myth of the night journey to justify his attack on Jerusalem.

I think non-Muslims should oppose Islamic tendency to claim Jerusalem as their third holiest city. Islam has no claim on Jerusalem. Non-Muslims should also try hard to separate Islamic politics from Islamic spirituality. Muslims will not do that voluntarily.

I was also surprised that even in this contrived myth Islamic supremacist attitude is apparent: Muhammad did not join other prophets in prayer; he 'led' them. I come from a Hindu background. Hindu gods routinely pray to each other. I find Muhammad's self-serving leadership claim a bit egoistic.

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