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This book sheds new light on Jerusalem's status in early Islam. The sanctity of the city is already discerned in the Qur an. The vision of redemption that the Qur an displays coincides with the messianic expectations that have swept throughout the entire region, especially among the Jews, due to the attempted renewal of Jewish liturgy in Jerusalem following the Persian victory over Byzantium in 614.
On the other hand, the Qur an also portrays the holiness of Mecca and the Kaba. This book shows how it promotes their pre-Islamic holiness around the image of Abraham and Ishmael. The changing balance between the sanctity of Jerusalem and the sanctity of Mecca, in favor of the latter, is noticeable in the Qur an as one proceeds from the Meccan suras to the Medinan ones. The change occurs against the background of the twist in relations between Muhammad and the Jews. This book also points out the correlation between Muhammad's situation in Medina and events in Palestine involving the victory of the Byzantines over the Persians in 628, as alluded to in the opening passage of Surat al-Rum (30).
Thie work illuminates the growing sanctity of Jerusalem following the arrival of the first Muslims to Palestine. As in the Qur an, Mecca continued to struggle to preserve its status as a holy city vis-à-vis that of Jerusalem. Key aspects of this struggle are reflected in traditions in which patterns of sanctity move from Jerusalem to Mecca, and which this book also scrutinizes.
About the author
Uri Rubin (z"l), Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Summary
This book sheds new light on Jerusalem's status in early Islam. The sanctity of the city is already discerned in the Qurʾān. The vision of redemption that the Qurʾān displays coincides with the messianic expectations that have swept throughout the entire region, especially among the Jews, due to the attempted renewal of Jewish liturgy in Jerusalem following the Persian victory over Byzantium in 614.
On the other hand, the Qurʾān also portrays the holiness of Mecca and the Kaʿba. This book shows how it promotes their pre-Islamic holiness around the image of Abraham and Ishmael. The changing balance between the sanctity of Jerusalem and the sanctity of Mecca, in favor of the latter, is noticeable in the Qurʾān as one proceeds from the Meccan sūras to the Medinan ones. The change occurs against the background of the twist in relations between Muḥammad and the Jews. This book also points out the correlation between Muḥammad's situation in Medina and events in Palestine involving the victory of the Byzantines over the Persians in 628, as alluded to in the opening passage of Sūrat al-Rūm (30).
Thie work illuminates the growing sanctity of Jerusalem following the arrival of the first Muslims to Palestine. As in the Qurʾān, Mecca continued to struggle to preserve its status as a holy city vis-à-vis that of Jerusalem. Key aspects of this struggle are reflected in traditions in which patterns of sanctity move from Jerusalem to Mecca, and which this book also scrutinizes.
Report
"In conclusion, Between Jerusalem and Mecca: Sanctity and Redemption in
the Quran and the Islamic Tradition is a meticulously researched and thoughtprovoking
exploration of the religious, cultural, and historical dimensions of two
of Islam's most revered cities. Uri Rubin's scholarly expertise and insightful analysis
make this book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding
of the significance of Jerusalem and Mecca in the Islamic tradition." Afsan Redwan in:
The Muslim World Book Review, 4/2024
