Hare, John, God’s Command, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017

Abstract

Jerusalem (al-Quds) is a holy place of importance in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. According to Jews, the city became a kingdom and a centre of worship with Prophet David (King David). Also, for Jews, the construction of the temple during the time of Prophet Solomon (King of Israel) provided further sacred character to the city. Additionally, Jerusalem occupies an important place for Christians. Prophet Jesus was born in this region. According to the current Gospels, the earthly life of Jesus ended in Jerusalem and he was crucified there. As for the importance of Jerusalem in Islam – even though the name of Jerusalem does not appear directly in the Qur'an – the Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in heart of Jerusalem, is seen as the holiest place to visit after the Ka‘ba in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, as stated in the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad. As the original direction of prayer for early Muslims, Prophet Muhammad occasionally emphasized the importance of Jerusalem.