Muslim protests in Jerusalem

Israeli authorities have been doing construction work near Temple Mount in Jerusalem, sparking protests by Muslims who say the work will endanger their Al Aqsa Mosque which sits on Temple Mount. Never mind the fact that Muslims have been doing extensive unauthorized digging underneath Temple Mount, which may have destabilized the site of their own Mosque! (CNSNews.com)

Temple Mount site is sacred to Jews because for hundreds of years Jews had a temple on that site—long before Muhammad was even born. It is sacred to the Muslims because Muhammad woke up one morning in what is now known as Saudi Arabia, declaring that he had traveled several hundred miles to Jerusalem during the night (no, they didn’t even have cars, much less planes back then!), prayed with Jesus, and ascended to heaven (and got back to the woman he had been sleeping with in time for breakfast)!

According to the earliest biography of Muhammad (written by a Muslim), Aisha, one of Muhammad’s favorite wives, said that Muhammad’s body “remained where it was but God removed his spirit by night.” The woman Muhammad was sleeping with that night said that Muhammad

“went on no night journey except while he was in my house. He slept that night
in my house. He prayed the final night prayer, then he slept and we slept. A
little before dawn the apostle woke us, and when we prayed the dawn prayer he
said…I prayed with you last evening prayer in the valley as you saw. Then I went
to Jerusalem and prayed there” (Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Muhammad, 183-184).

Knowing that people would mock Muhammad, she urged him not to tell anyone and sent her black slave to follow him. Ignoring her advice, Muhammad began telling everyone.

For a fascinating history of Muslims in Jerusalem, see danielpipes.org. Dr. Pipes has a Ph.D in history from Harvard and is an expert in terrorism and Islamic history.