Bait al Maqdis/Temple of Solomon :-
First and foremost Bait al Maqdis is the transliteration to Arabic of the Hebrew original of "Beth ha Mikdash" meaning the " the Holy Temple" (of Solomon) and has nothing to do with the city of Jerusalem itself.
The Quran does not mention either the Temple of Solomon or Jerusalem by name. The myth that the Masjid al Aqsa (the Furthest Mosque) is a reference to the Temple of Solomon appears only in the Hadith almost 140 years AFTER the death of Muhammad..
It is VITAL to point out, that in the days of Muhammad, there was no Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem since it had already been destroyed 550 years earlier (70 AD) by the Romans. In the days of Muhammad, the Temple Precinct (Mount) had a CHURCH on it.
It was Muhammad's later followers who created this myth, to associate the newly established cult with solid foundations, both religious and historical, so that it gives itself a respectable ancestry and legitimacy.
In the days of Muhammad, as shown in the Ahadith, Jerusalem was called Ilya (in reference to the name given to it after its destruction by Hadrian, who built the temple of Jupiter over the ruins of the Jewish Second Temple, and renamed the city Ilya Capitolina, in honour of his wife).
Muhammad's descriptions of the Temple are as imaginary, deceptive and as unreal as any mirage in the Arabian desert since the Temple did not exist in his days.
Sahih Muslim Hadith 328 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
The Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him) said: "I found myself in Hijr and the Quraysh were asking me about my night journey. I was asked about things pertaining to Bayt al-Maqdis, which I could not preserve (in my mind). I was very much vexed, so vexed as I had never been before. Then Allah raised it (Bayt al-Maqdis) before my eyes. I looked towards it, and I gave them the information about whatever they questioned me.
I also saw myself among the group of apostles. I saw Moses saying a prayer and found him to be a well-built man as if he were a man of the tribe of Shanu'ah. I saw Jesus, son of Mary, (peace be upon him) offering prayer; of all men he had the closet resemblance to Urwah ibn Mas'ud ath-Thaqafi. I saw Ibrahim (peace be upon him) offering prayer; he had the closet resemblance to your companion (the Prophet himself) amongst people. When the time of prayer came I led them. When I completed the prayer, someone said: Here is Malik, the keeper of the Hell; give him salutation. I turned to him, but he preceded me in salutation"
Muhammad, the alleged greatest of all the prophets, who had just returned from his imaginary but otherwise glorious and incredible night journey to the - non existent- Temple of Solomon, FORGOT what it looked like and needed a very convenient and miraculous but totally UNTRUE reminder from his ever willing and obedient side kick Allah to rescue him with another very convenient Made to Order 'revelation'.
Since in FACT the TEMPLE did not exist in the days of Muhammad, then it is obvious that Muhammad was deliberately and with aforethought, lying and deceiving his ignorant and superstitious followers, or to be charitable, these Hadiths were concocted AFTER he was dead and put in his mouth.
Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Vol. 1, p. 248
"I stood at al-Hijr, visualised Bayt al-Muqaddas and described its signs. Some of them said: How many doors are there in that mosque? I had not counted them so I began to look at it and counted them one by one and gave them information concerning them"
Muhammad was definitely being DECEITFUL when he described a structure that did not exist. Such IGNOBLE behaviour cannot be attributed to any of the prophets of the God of Israel. On the other hand, such deception can easily be expected from the prophet of Allah, since Allah is ONLY the NAME of the pagan supreme rock god of the Ka'ba, called the BLACK STONE.
So much for the 'truthful' messenger of Allah.
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 6.233 Narrated byJabir bin Abdullah
The Prophet said, "When the Quraish disbelieved me (concerning my night journey), I stood up in Al-Hijr (the unroofed portion of the Ka'ba) and Allah displayed Bait-ul-Maqdis before me, and I started to inform them (Quraish) about its signs while looking at it."
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 6.13 Narrated byAl Bara
The Prophet prayed facing Bait-ul Maqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months but he wished that his Qibla would be the Ka'ba (at Mecca). (So Allah revealed (2.144) and he offered 'Asr prayers (in his Mosque facing Ka'ba at Mecca) and some people prayed with him. A man from among those who had prayed with him, went out and passed by some people offering prayer in another mosque, and they were in the state of bowing. He said, "I, (swearing by Allah,) testify that I have prayed with the Prophet facing Mecca." Hearing that, they turned their faces to the Ka'ba while they were still bowing. Some men had died before the Qibla was changed towards the Ka'ba. They had been killed and we did not know what to say about them (i.e. whether their prayers towards Jerusalem were accepted or not). So Allah revealed: "And Allah would never make your faith (i.e. prayer) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered (towards Jerusalem). Truly Allah is Full of Pity, Most Merciful towards mankind." (2.143)
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 5.228 Narrated byIbn Abbas
Regarding the Statement of Allah~
"And We granted the vision (ascension to the heavens) which We made you see (as an actual eye witness) was only made as a trial for the people." (17.60)
Ibn Abbas added: The sights which Allah's Apostle was shown on the Night Journey when he was taken to Bait-ul-Maqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) were actual sights, (not dreams). And the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Qur'an is the tree of Zaqqum (itself).
Fiqh-us-Sunnah; Fiqh 2.70a; Three most excellent mosques~
Jabir reports that the Messenger of Allah said: "Prayer in the inviolable mosque [in Makkah] is like 100,000 prayers [elsewhere]. And prayers in my mosque [in Medinah] is like one thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And a prayer in Bait al-Maqdis [in Jerusalem] is like five hundred prayers [elsewhere]. This is related by alBaihaqi, and as-Sayuti says it is hasan.
Ahmad records that the Messenger of Allah said: "Offering salah in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, save for those offered in the inviolable mosque. And salah in the inviolable mosque is better than salah in my mosque by one hundred prayers."
The Prophet said: "One should not undertake a journey, save to three mosques: the inviolable mosque [in Makkah], my mosque here [in Medinah], and Masjid al-Aqsa [in Jerusalem]." This is related by the group.
Al-Muwatta Hadith 5.17; The Special Time in the Day of Jumua
Yahya related to me from Malik from Yazid ibn Abdullah ibn al-Had from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Harith at-Taymi from Abu Salama ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf that Abu Hurayra said, "I went out to at-Tur (Mount Sinai) and met Kab al Ahbar and sat with him. He related to me things from the Tawrah and I related to him things from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Among the things I related to him was that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The best of days on which the sun rises is the day of jumua. In it Adam was created, and in it he fell from the Garden. In it he was forgiven, and in it he died. In it the Hour occurs, and every moving thing listens from morning till sunset in apprehension of the Hour except jinn and men. In it is a time when Allah gives toa muslim slave standing in prayer whatever he asks for.' Kab said, 'That is one day in every year.' I said, 'No, in every jumua.' Then Kab recited the Tawrah and said, 'The Messenger of Allah has spoken the truth.' "
Abu Hurayra continued, "I met Basra ibn Abi Basra al-Ghiffari and he said, 'Where have you come from?' I said, 'From at-Tur.' He said, 'If I had seen you before you left, you would not have gone. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "Only make a special journey to three mosques: the mosque of the Haram (Makka), this mosque (Madina), and the mosque of Ilya or the Bait al-Maqdis (two names of Jerusalem)." ' " (He was not sure which expression was used.)
Abu Hurayra continued, "Then I met Abdullah ibn Salam and I told him that I had sat with Kabal-Ahbar, and I mentioned what I had related to him about the day of jumua, and told him that Kab had said, 'That is one day in every year.' Abdullah ibn Salam said, 'Kab lied,' and I added, 'Kab then recited the Tawrah and said, "No, it is in every jumua.'' ' Abdullah ibn Salam said, 'Kab spoke the truth. 'Then Abdullah ibn Salam said, 'I know what time that is.' "
Abu Hurayra continued, "I said to him, 'Let me know it - don't keep it from me.' Abdullah ibn Salam said, 'It is the last period of time in the dayof jumua.' "
Abu Hurayra continued, "I said, 'How can it be the last period of time in the day of jumua, when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "a muslim slave standing in prayer", and that is a time when there is no prayer?' Abdullah ibn Salam replied, 'Didn't the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "Whoever sits waiting for the prayer is in prayer until he prays?" "'
Abu Hurayra added, "I said, 'Of course.' He said, 'Then it is that.' "
Sahih Muslim Hadith 3217 Narrated by Maymunah
Ibn Abbas reported that a woman fell ill and she said: In case Allah curse me I will certainly go and observe prayer in Bait al-Maqdis. She recovered, and so she made preparation to go out (to that place). She came to Maymunah, the wife of Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him), and after greeting her she informed her about it, whereupon she said: Stay here, and eat the provision (which you had made), and observe prayer in the mosque of the Messenger (peace be upon him), for I heard Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) say: Prayer in it is better than a thousand prayers observed in other mosques except the mosque of the Ka'bah.
According to all the Hadiths regarding the Temple of Solomon and or Jerusalem, Muhammad considered both of them to start with, SUPERIOR to the Ka'ba and Mecca because he instructed his followers to have the first Qibla towards Jerusalem and not Mecca. He did so WITHOUT any prodding from Allah or Gabriel.
It was ONLY after the refusal of the Jews (Judaized Arabs) of Madina to accept him as a messenger of Allah that he instructed his followers to have the Qibla towards Mecca.
It is important to point ut that during all his life time (Excepting the last year of his life) he and his followers prayed in the Ka'ba and had their later Qibla towards it while it was a House of IDOLATRY containing 360 gods and goddesses in stone. So much for Muhammad's alleged Monotheism and dedication to a One nand Only God.
