Why is Jerusalem important to Muslims?
The city has strong evocative and emotional associations and has its own place in the hearts of Muslims. It is considered the third-holiest city in Islam after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. It derives its religious prominence from being the first Qibla, the initial direction toward which the Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslim community turned their faces in prayer. The direction was changed a year and a half later to Mecca by "divine command."
The most notable Muslim site in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock, which, like the Ka'ba, is built over a sacred stone. This stone is holy to both Jews and Muslims, but for different reasons. It is not a mosque, but a Muslim Shrine, and they believe that the sacred rock is important because this stone s believed to be the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven during his night journey. The name Muhammad is mentioned four times in the Qur'an (Muslim Holy Book):
Aal Imraan 3: 144; Did you suppose that you would enter Paradise before God has proved the men who fought for Him and endured with fortitude? You used to wish for death before you met it, and now you have seen what is it like. Muhammad is no more than an apostle: other apostles have passed away before him. If he die or be slain, will you recant? He that recants will do no harm to God. But God will recompense the thankful.
Furthermore, the architecture of the Dome of the Rock itself has religious meaning. The great golden globe that crowns it was originally made of gold, but was replaced with copper and aluminium, The aluminium is now covered with gold leaf, a donation from King Hussein of Jordan. the golden dome demonstrates God's almighty power and it is a symbol to Muslims that God is above all and that only God is worthy of worship. Also, the columns supporting the inner octagon and the centre circle are of different sizes because they were recycled from previous structures and rebuilt many times over the past centuries. The crosses on some show them they might have been taken from churches, the columns obviously support the dome structure but they also symbolise the Muslim belief that God supports and sustains all life.
The city has strong evocative and emotional associations and has its own place in the hearts of Muslims. It is considered the third-holiest city in Islam after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. It derives its religious prominence from being the first Qibla, the initial direction toward which the Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslim community turned their faces in prayer. The direction was changed a year and a half later to Mecca by "divine command."
The most notable Muslim site in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock, which, like the Ka'ba, is built over a sacred stone. This stone is holy to both Jews and Muslims, but for different reasons. It is not a mosque, but a Muslim Shrine, and they believe that the sacred rock is important because this stone s believed to be the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven during his night journey. The name Muhammad is mentioned four times in the Qur'an (Muslim Holy Book):
Aal Imraan 3: 144; Did you suppose that you would enter Paradise before God has proved the men who fought for Him and endured with fortitude? You used to wish for death before you met it, and now you have seen what is it like. Muhammad is no more than an apostle: other apostles have passed away before him. If he die or be slain, will you recant? He that recants will do no harm to God. But God will recompense the thankful.
Furthermore, the architecture of the Dome of the Rock itself has religious meaning. The great golden globe that crowns it was originally made of gold, but was replaced with copper and aluminium, The aluminium is now covered with gold leaf, a donation from King Hussein of Jordan. the golden dome demonstrates God's almighty power and it is a symbol to Muslims that God is above all and that only God is worthy of worship. Also, the columns supporting the inner octagon and the centre circle are of different sizes because they were recycled from previous structures and rebuilt many times over the past centuries. The crosses on some show them they might have been taken from churches, the columns obviously support the dome structure but they also symbolise the Muslim belief that God supports and sustains all life.