The name Al-Quds is an abbreviation for "The
Jewish Temple"
by Rabbi Joseph Katz
The Arabic name for Jerusalem is "el-KuDS"
which is abbreviation for another Arabic name used for Jerusalem until
the last century, "bet el-maKDeS". Under the Arab rule, in the 10th
century Jerusalem was always called "bet el maKDeS"
The name "BeT el-MaKDeS" is a translation
of the Aramaic and Hebrew "BeiT ha-MiKDaSH", which means Temple.
But Islam has no Temple, only the Jews did.
Thus the Arabic name for Jerusalem makes
no reference to Mohammed's trip to Heaven, but rather refers to the Jewish
Temple.
For instance Jordan still lists
"Beit El Makdes Tourism & Travel"
http://members.fortunecity.com/tourism1/travelagency.html
Islamic Itineraries offers 1. Night / 2
Days in Beit El Makdes
with a picture of the Temple Mount
http://www.aweidah.com/umrah2.htm
There is a Turkish description of the conquering
of Beyt El-Makes
by Suleman at
http://homepages.infoseek.com/~atturak/trk85.html
In general it can be seen that significant
Islamic interest in the Temple Mount does not precede 1967.
This page was produced by Joseph
E. Katz
Middle Eastern Political and Religious
History Analyst
Brooklyn, New York
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