Pointless challenge

Submitted by Taj Ashaheed (United States), Apr 3, 2006 at 17:20

The point of Badawi's challenge is easy to understand given the usage of the term "jihad" and "holy war" as interchangeable as well as the misconception regarding just what jihad is - a misconception bolstered by ignorance from Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

However, the challenge to find a specific reference to Jerusalem is really pointless. Sure, there is general perspective among islamo-critics that Masjid al Aqsa wasn't in Jerusalem - except an objective study of the Quran, arabic linguistics, islamic jurisprudence, and hadith literature gives overwhelming evidence that Masjid al Aqsa was synomomous with the Jewish Temple as a term.

One brief example: Surah 17, ayat 7 clear refers to the Temple as a "masjid" (mosque). Hence, according to the Quran, there was a "masjid" in Jerusalem before the one built in the 8th century. (Interesting how Pipes missed this quranic reference...)

In the end, "so what?", if the actual name of Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Quran? Take for instance the fact that the city of Madinah is not mentioned either. Does this mean that Muhammad did not live there???

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