A NEW MUSLIM VISION: REBUILDING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE TOGETHER

A NEW MUSLIM  VISION: REBUILDING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE TOGETHER

To cast believers out is a  heinous and cruel policy, an offense not only to men, but to  Islam.

By:  Sinem Tezyapar Published: March 12th, 2013 Latest update: March 14th,  2013

The Temple as seen in the Holyland Model of  Jerusalem, a 21,520 sq. ft., 1:50 scale-model of the city of Jerusalem in the  late Second Temple Period. The unique importance of the Temple Mount to Judaism and to Islam  makes the location vulnerable to tensions and conflicts between Jews and  Muslims. Usually, these incidents originate in rumors such as: “The Jews are  coming today to bomb the mosques and build their Third Temple.” Obviously, false  accusations and baseless suspicions like these turn the site from a holy place  of prayer and love into a site of violent political demonstrations. And,  consequently, potential escalation of tension brings more restrictions and  discomfort to all. Who benefits from this? Surely not the  believers. While the Israeli government ensures limited public access to the  Temple Mount regardless of religious beliefs, only Muslims are allowed to pray  at the place, which is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif. Otherwise, the  government has prohibited everyone except Muslims from worshipping there since  1967, due to security concerns. Nevertheless, Muslims, too, are occasionally  restricted. The Jordanian Waqf which administers the site has restricted  non-Muslims from entering the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque since the  year 2000. What’s more, non-Muslim religious symbols are not allowed to be worn  while entering the site.

Freedom of worship is an essential issue. The Temple Mount, where the  First and Second Temples stood, is the holiest place to the people of Israel.  However, it is no less holy to both Muslims and Christians. Since this is a  location that God has announced to be a “house of prayer for all nations,” it  should be a place of festivity for all believers. As all who call on the God of  Abraham are brothers, Jews and Christians should be able to offer prayers there  in dignity and peace along with Muslims. To cast believers out from such a  place, to prevent worship there, is a heinous and, quite frankly, cruel policy,  which is an offense not only to men, but to Islam. God Himself condemns anyone  who forbids worship:

Likewise, the Tanakh declares the will of God to make this unique  spot a common sanctuary where all people learn to coexist and pray  together:

Anywhere one prays to the One and Only Almighty God is a house of  prayer. Therefore, it is an atrocious thing to forbid anyone from praying at the  Temple Mount. The longings of Bnei Israel to pray in that place can never be an  offense to a Muslim. On the contrary, it is very pleasant to see Jewish people  praying at the Temple Mount. Indeed, all the faithful people should be able to  pray there. As a matter of fact, in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and  others houses of worship, foreign tourists often come and pray. Some perform  their religious obligations according to their own faith, and it is something  quite beautiful to see.

As a devout Muslim, I take pleasure when Jews pray to Almighty God,  and their praying anywhere in the world, including at the Temple Mount, would be  a glad tiding for me as well. As a devout Muslim, it would be a joy for me to see Prophet Solomon’s  Temple rebuilt as well. No, you did not hear me wrong. Prophet Solomon’s Temple  being rebuilt in all its magnificence and glory would be a great delight for me,  as it would be to any Muslim. Under different circumstances, in an atmosphere of  trust, love and brotherhood, Muslims would welcome this with enthusiasm. The  Temple of Solomon is also a historically important place, and rebuilding it  would be a wonderful occasion for all believers to contemplate. Every Muslim,  every believer, will want to experience the spirit of those days again, and  strive to bring the beauty of those days back to life. Actually, it is  everyone’s aspiration for that city to be adorned, to be beautified, and to  regain the magnificent glory it had in the days of the Prophet  Solomon.

Solomon’s Temple being rebuilt does not entail any harm to these  shrines. So I beg my Muslim brothers and sisters not to take my words in a  direction that I do not intend. They should not feel unease at all, because the  al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock will stand until the Last Day. Nobody  will be able to harm them, because they are under the protection of  God. There is a broad expanse of land around the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the  Dome of the Rock. The land there is quite convenient in that respect, and the  Temple can be placed just a little way from Qubbat As-Sakhrah, and a little  ahead of Masjid el-Aqsa. The Prophet Solomon—King Solomon as the Jews call him—is a prophet to  Muslims too. All Muslims have profound love for him. Prophet Solomon had a  superior understanding of beauty and aesthetics, and no doubt, rebuilding of his  Temple in its original form would be a splendid undertaking. Decorated exactly  as it was, with the same beautiful ornaments, covered in gold, adorned with  fruit trees and beautiful gardens, and restored to its former glory, would be  splendid! It is of course very exciting to remember those beautiful days, to  rebuild this beautiful compound, and let this beautiful prayer house be open to  all. This very much excites me as a Muslim and excites other believers as well.  The very thought of Christians, Jews and Muslims cooperating to rebuild this  house of worship, together hand in hand, and worshipping there together, is a  matter of joy.

Think of the waste of energy and resources consumed all over the  world by the contention between Arabs and Jews, which could be used to beautify  these holy places, to put them in a brilliant state, instead! There is plenty of  space, and there are overwhelmingly sufficient resources for everyone to live  there in peace and tranquility and enjoy their freedom of worship. How have we allowed these unending wars, sporadic clashes, security  walls, unnecessary discrimination and restrictions to bar us from being able to  embrace each other as brothers? Why do we take it for granted that we are under  any obligation to perpetuate these senseless conflicts? Why does everyone simply  presume that this is the way things are meant to be? We all want suffering to  end and peace to prevail in the region! Obviously we cannot achieve this peace  as long as we lack the spirit of unity. The Jews have the exact same vision, with the Third Temple being a  center for all believers, not only for Jews:

We will rebuild—not only the Temple of Solomon, but those of all the  prophets too. As a matter of fact, apart from the Prophet Solomon’s Temple, the  other prayer houses of other prophets, the places where they inhabited, should  be rebuilt as well. The places where they worshiped should be restored and  glorified. Similarly, they should be opened, and Christians, Muslims and Jews  should be allowed to visit them at the same time. The places where the Prophets  Abraham, Joseph, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron lived should be restored and beautified  also.

The main entrance to the Old City is the Jaffa  Gate. This gate was built by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538. The name  in Arabic, Bab el-Halil, or Hebron Gate, means “The Beloved,” and refers to  Prophet Abraham. In the entrance hall of the Gate, there is a stone on which the  following text is engraved: “There is only one God and Abraham is his  friend.” It is written this way because Jews and Christians were also  using this gate along with Muslims, and the text refers to our common belief in  the Prophet Abraham. So this should be the spirit in this site: We all worship  the same One God and we are all children of Prophet Abraham!

Let us embrace each other with respect and love! Let us talk  together, and envision better days in which we can all pray, and unite in  celebration and brotherhood in this Prayer House of our blessed Prophet Solomon,  and praise the glory of Almighty God together! Let every Christian, every  Muslim, every Jew unite in this one godly desire! Let us endeavor to achieve  this together, and let us believe that it is possible for everyone to perform  their prayers in joy and peace!

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