[Martin Tell]

I thought Muslims also claimed that Mo ascended to heaven from the Temple Mount.

[Maceman]

I thought Muslims also claimed that Mo ascended to heaven from the Temple Mount.

As I mentioned, I am not an expert on Islan or its history, so I don't know whether what you have said is accurate. I don't recall ever hearing that, but it seems to me that if that's what Muslims think, then they would consider Jeruslam to be their FIRST holiest site.

[sharktrager]

In the Hadith the Muslims speak several times of Jerusalem being holy as being the place where Mohammed ascended to heaven. The Hadith is a holy book, so it's references are valid. And the references are specific about Jerusalem. But, these references were compiled, and may have been edited, as much as 100 years after the death of Mohammed.

"I was brought al-Burg who is an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place his hoof at a distance equal to the range of vision. I mounted it and came to the Temple (Bait-ul Maqdis in Jerusalem), then tethered it to the ring used by the prophets." (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 101).

That said, the references show that the belief that Mohammed ascended to heaven in Jerusalem is somewhat hard to swallow. Mohammed was asleep in Medina, and was supposedly awakened and taken to Jerusalem during the night on the back of a mythical beast.

It is also interesting to not that the ascent in to heaven is not mentioned in the Koran at all. While it is possible that it could have happened and been omitted, it seems unlikely that it wouldn't be mentioned. This is especially true since the ascent includes meeting Adam, Abraham, Moses and Allah himself.

The Hadith also claims Mohammed visited the Temple itself, which is impossible as it was not standing at the time, and hadn't been for over 500 years.

In other places it is said the one of Mohammed's wives repeatedly said he was not physically taken from his bed, but only spiritually.

The fact is, the holiness of Jerusalem to Muslims does coincide more with it's subsequent seizure by post-Mohammed Muslims than it does to any events during Mohammed's actual life.