On Jerusalem Day, I would like to remind my fellow Muslims that neither Prophet Mohammed nor his companions regarded Jerusalem as holy or (Haram حرم), reserving this reverence only for Mecca and Medina. Neither the Prophet nor his companions actually called it “Jerusalem” or even “Al-Quds”; they referred to it by the common Latin Roman name “Aelia Capitolina” (مدينة إيلياء), chosen by the Romans when they expelled the Jews from Israel and renamed the land “Palestine” after it was called “Judea”. However, Jewish Israeli prophets like King David, whom we honor and revere and even name our kids after (ironically), established it as the capital of Israel 3,000 years ago when David became the King of Israel. PS: The name Al-Quds (Arabic equivalent to Jerusalem) comes from the Hebrew word בית המקדש (Beit Hamikdash) which is the Jewish Temple. History 101. You’re Welcome.
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