8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 1/19
1
The Mystical Significance of
Jerusalem in Islam
• I) Symbolic Importance ofJerusalem during the living ofProphet Muhammad
• II) Spiritual Rise of the Prophet
in Jerusalem
• III) Slides on the town ofJerusalem
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 2/19
2
Symbolic Importance of
Jerusalem
• In year 612, Muhammadinaugurated his preaching inMekka.
• The revelations attacked therichness of the Mekkan Leaders
and denounced idols.• The Hegira or the emigration to
Medina in 622
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 3/19
3
The Life Time of Muhammad
• For Jews, Muhammad was astrange character.
• Muhammad did not accept thatGod chose the nation of Israel.
• Muhammad recognized Jesusas an authentic Prophet.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 4/19
4
The Life Time of Muhammad
• The Christian monks did notpay any attention to him.
• Muhammad did not call JesusSon of God.
• He rejected the concept ofTrinity.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 5/19
5
The Life Time of Muhammad
• The physical relation of afather and a son is a humanconcept.
• The Muslims must not attributeanthropomorphic concepts toGod.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 6/19
6
Symbolic Importance of
Jerusalem
• Abraham sent to Mekka his elderson Ishmael.
• Abraham founded a temple in
Mekka for his elder son Ishmael,as he founded a Temple inJerusalem for Isaac.
• Ishmael was sacrificedsymbolically at Mina close to
Mekka.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 7/19
7
Symbolic Importance of
Jerusalem
• Jewish piety considers theTemple to be the center of theuniverse.
• Muslim piety considers Mekkaas the center of the earth.
• The change of qibla (directionof prayers) from Jerusalem to
Mekka
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 8/19
8
Symbolic Importance of
Jerusalem
• The change of Qibla made itpossible to the Prophet todistinguish his followers from the
others.• In this City,
seventy thousand Prophets died,Abraham founded a Temple,
Muhammad stopped there during
his night journey (isra’ ) and rise(mi‘raj ).
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 9/19
9
Symbolic Importance of
Jerusalem
• The Rock of Jerusalem and theBlack Stone of Mekka ascoming from the Sky and
belonging to the Paradise• On the Day of judgment,
a wall will be erected toseparate good from evil
people.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 10/19
10
The Dome of the Rock
• Was built in 691 by theUmayyad Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik
• The heritage of Islam and itstriumph over Judaism andChristianity
• Invites the Christians to adhereto the Qur’anic principlesdecorating the Dome
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 11/19
11
Rise of the Prophet
• The night journey from Mekka toJerusalem (isra’ )
• The mi‘raj where he rises to the
seventh sky• Muhammad left the print of his
foot on the Rock of Jerusalemlike Abraham on the Ka‘ba andJesus at the Chapel of Ascension.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 12/19
12
Rise of the Prophet
• For Ibn Ishaq (d. c. 773):• A major sign of his mission
• A manifestation of the Powerof God
• A proof for the human intellect• A gift of Mercy
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 13/19
13
Rise of the Prophet in Jerusalem
• The experience of the Prophetis used as model
• The night of the journey recallsthat Jerusalem which was the
first qibla will be also their last,that is is for their mystics, theCity of supreme Hegira.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 14/19
14
Jerusalem
• Jerusalem is for Islam what Romeis for Christianity.
• The place of origin and the place of
return to God• Three degrees of divine
intervention:• I) a seizure
• II) an ecstasy
• III) a transforming union
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 15/19
15
Rise of the Prophet
• The sacred Mosque of Mekkarepresents the station of the heart.
• The one who is at this station
perceived the signs of the Lord.• The Mosque of al-Aqsa of
Jerusalem represents the station ofSpirit.
• The one who is on this level
understands the real meaning ofthe divine signs.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 16/19
16
Rise of the Prophet
• According to Haydar Amuli, a SufiShi‘ite of the XIVth c.,
the Prophet succeeded in reaching
the divine Essence like Abrahamwho reached the same spiritualstation.
• The Mosque of Mekka signifies theheart of reality which is haram,
that is forbidden to the others toenter.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 17/19
17
Rise of the Prophet
• The significance of the mostdistant Mosque in Jerusalem isthe presence of the spirit.
• The Mosque of Mekka, whichsymbolizes the heart, is the
qibla of the Muslims as theheart is the qibla of all the
physical limbs and innerorgans.
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 18/19
18
Rise of the Prophet
• The first internal organ to appearin the formation of the embryon isthe heart;
similarly the Ka‘ba was the firstHouse established on earth.
• The al-Aqsa Mosque which is hisSpirit has been added to him asAllah confirms:
“And breathed into him my Spirit(XV: 29)”
8/12/2019 Miraj Sufi
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/miraj-sufi 19/19
19
Rise of the Prophet
• The Spirit in the station of al-Aqsais in the highest station ofwitnessing and unveiling as ‘Ali (d.
661) said: “and my heart lives by theknowledge of You and my spirit by
my witnessing of You.” • The Spirit is also the qibla of the
heart of the man just as the heartis the qibla of all the body.