Islam, Jews and the Temple Mount: The Rock of Our/Their Existence

This study provides a comprehensive survey of early Islamic sources that recognize the historical Jewish bond to the Temple Mount (Masjid al-Aqsa) and Jerusalem, challenging the views of contemporary Muslim scholars who deny any Jewish ties to the site. It highlights how this denial has become the cultural rationale for UNESCO decisions regarding holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron, undermining the legitimacy of Islam's sanctification of Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock. The book is a valuable resource for readers interested in Islam, Judaism, religion, and political science and history in the Middle East.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive study presents the first extensive exploration of the abundant early Islamic sources that acknowledge the historical Jewish connection to the Temple Mount (Masjid al-Aqsa) and Jerusalem. By examining these sources in the context of contemporary Muslim religious scholars, thinkers, and writers, who, in the backdrop of the Arab-Israeli conflict, deny any Jewish ties to the Temple Mount and propagate the assertion that no Jewish Temple ever stood on the Temple Mount, the book sheds light on the evolving cultural rationale that has shaped UNESCO's decisions regarding holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron. These decisions, which employ Muslim Arabic terminology and overlook the Jewish and Christian history and sanctification of these sites, inadvertently undermine the legitimacy of Islam's sanctification of Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock, as well as the credibility of the most important Arabic sources, which constitute the classics of Islam and provide the foundation for its culture and identity.

To address this issue, the book identifies and presents the Jewish sources in the Bible, Babylonian Talmud, and exegesis upon which these Islamic traditions are based. This volume serves as a valuable resource for readers interested in Islam, Judaism, religion, political science, and history in the Middle East, offering a deeper understanding of the historical and religious complexities that shape this region.

Weight: 190g
Dimension: 138 x 285 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367500047