Interrelation of Jerusalem and Mecca and of the Temple and the Ka‘ba in medieval Islam
Jerusalem and Mecca are two most renowned holy cities worldwide. Conspicuously, an enormous quantity of writing and scholarly treaties has been written about both cities. However, there is very little that has been done in a comparative study. Arguably, the majority of comparisons that has been done between Jerusalem and Mecca are the link of the holiness of Jerusalem among Islam to that of Mecca in Islam. This paper seeks to analyze the interrelation of Jerusalem and Mecca and of the Temple and the Ka‘ba in medieval Islam.
The similarities between Jerusalem and Mecca, Jews and Muslims are striking. First, while Jews pray three times a day facing Jerusalem, Muslim Pray five times a day facing Mecca. Lazarus-Yafeh (198) notes that Muslim perceives Mecca to be the navel of the world, the same way Jews perceive Jerusalem. While Jews believe Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac in Jerusalem, Muslims believe this incidence took place in Mecca (Lazarus-Yafeh 198).Lazarus-Yafeh (199) informs that the functions held at Ka’ba in Mecca are similar to those that are held by Jews in Jerusalem example is; serving as pilgrimage’s destination. In accordance to Lazarus-Yafeh (199) the Ka’ba and the temple are both referred to as inimitable structures. Lazarus-Yafeh (200) indicates that Solomon’s sanctuary was instated on Yom Kippur, every tenth day of the year; similarly, the Ka’ba receives its novel cover every ten day of the year.
Later, the Umayyad caliph built a magnificent structure, the renowned Dome of the Rock, exactly on the place where Jewish Temple had existed. Notably, this outstanding building is the first Islamic monument that still stands today in its almost original form. Berger (36) indicates that the Dome of the Rock had its name from a huge rock Al-sakhra that was in its centre, and upon which, Muhammad the prophet stood prior to his ascending to heaven. The rock is similarly important in Judaism since it’s is a symbolic foundation upon which the world was made and a place where Isaac was bound. The Dome is not a mosque; however it is often referred to as one, because the holy site is in the atrium at al-Aqsa mosque.
The Architecture of the sanctuaries in Jerusalem has the incarnation of the focal concepts of Islamic and Jewish religion. So important are religious structures in Jerusalem that major conflict in Middle East is claims to Jerusalem. Specifically, claim for the Temple Mount by Israel who represent Judaism and Islam by Muslims in the Middle East nations. Arguably, more than being a pilgrimage point, the Temple Mount is considered to be the centre of the world. Kister (194) further emphasizes that the rock upon which the temple is build is considered to be the original stone from which the universe was created.
The connection between the Jews to Jerusalem is primeval and powerful. Firestone, further notes that, over three thousand years ago, Jerusalem was made a holy city by Judaism and all through that period the Jews has remained steadfast to it (Firestone 268). The Jews pray facing Jerusalem and constantly mention the city’s name in prayers. Lazarus-Yafeh (201) states that the annihilation of the Temple appears come out strongly in Jewish consciousness. Jerusalem has had a vital chronological role as it is the only city with a Jewish majority for the past century.
Berger (32) indicates that the Umayyads cleverly built a prestige for their dominions – they elected the second mosque in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount and named it al masjid al-aqsa, Al-Aqsa Mosque (The Furthest Mosque). With such initiatives, Umayyads retroactively gave Jerusalem a role in Muhammad’s life (Berger 47). Berger states that the association of Jerusalem with the Mosque falls into wider tendency of identifying place names in the Quran (48). Berger notes that Umayyad’s motivation to instill a Muslim presence in Jerusalem was strictly utilitarian. Jerusalem is the centre on Monotheism (48). It is land of many prophets like; David, Moses, Abraham, Solomon, Muhammad and Jesus. These prophet taught oneness of God.
According to the article Some Account of the Kaba (602) Mecca is the perpetual city of Islam and all non-Muslims and sternly forbidden. Arguably, Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish people while Mecca belongs to the Muslims. Additionally, medieval Muslims like the geographer Yaqut, acknowledges that Mecca is Holy to Islam as Jerusalem is to the Jews.
Work Cited
Berger, Pamela C. The Crescent on the Temple: the Dome of the Rock as Image of the Ancient Jewish Sanctuary. Leiden Boston: Brill, 2012.
Firestone, Reuven. An introduction to Islam for Jews. Philadelphia: JPS/Jewish Publication Society, 2008.
Lazarus-Yafeh, Hava. Jerusalem and Mecca. Judaism; spring 1997; 46, 2; ProQuest Central pg. 197-205
Kister M.J., “'You Shall Only Set Out for Three Mosques' A Study of an Early Tradition,” Le Museon 828 (1969): 173–96.
Some Account Of The Kaba, Or Temple Of Mohammed At Mecca, In Arabi Felix, Now Yaman. The Town and country magazine, or, Universal repository of knowledge, instruction, and entertainment; Dec 1791; 23; British Periodicals pg. 602
