in this event? The account found in the Qur'an states that Muhammad traveled from the Sacred Mosque to a place called "the farthest Mosque" in one night.
YUSUFALI: Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things). Surah 017.001
The distance from Mecca, which is located in Saudi Arabia, to the farthest Mosque, meaning Jerusalem, is 767 miles. It would have been impossible in Muhammad's day to travel from Mecca to Jerusalem and return to Mecca in one night.
The following commentary on Surah 17:1 is taken from Tafsir Ibn Kathir-Abridged Volume 5, Surah Hud to Surat Al-Isra', Verse 38, abridged by a group of scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri, (Darussalam Publishers & Distributors; Riyadh, Houston, New York, Lahore, July 2000):
means the Sacred House which is in Jerusalem, the origin of the Prophets from the time of Ibraham Al-Khalil. The Prophets all gathered there, and he (Muhammad) led them in prayer in their own homeland. This indicates that he is the greatest leader of all, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and upon them. (Ibid., p. 551; bold emphasis mine.)
Muhammad was taken to the Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa that is located in Jerusalem by the spirit being named Gabriel. After arriving Muhammad saw the Old testament Prophets, who were praying in the Mosque. Muhammad joined them in prayer, after the prayers, Muhammad then ascended into heaven and later returned.
Muslims believe that the rock Muhammad was standing on when the ascension took place is housed in the Jerusalem Mosque.
There are some Islamic scholars that believe the night journey was an out of body experience for Muhammad.
Muhammad, we have a problem.
The Mosque still stands, at this point in time, on the "Temple Mount" in Jerusalem. It is where two Jewish Temples stood at different times in history.
The First Jewish Temple.
The First Jewish temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's army in 587AD.
The Second Jewish Temple.
The Roman General Titus completely destroyed the Second Jewish Temple in 70 AD. The Second Jewish Temple was so completely destroyed the there was not one stone standing on top of another. The temple mount stood empty from 70 AD until...
The Masjid al-Aqsa .
691 AD. This is when Amir Abd-ul-Malik built the Mosque that now stands on the temple mount. Muhammad died June 8th ,632 AD.
The problem.
- During the life time of Muhammad there were no places of worship on the temple mount in Jerusalem.
- Islamic Scholars and Historians agree that Mosque referred to in the Quranic passage, Surah 17:1, is the Mosque located in Jerusalem.
- This Mosque was not built until 691 AD. This is 59 years after the death of Muhammad.
The conclusion.
How does one reconcile such an error of fact presented by the Qur'an and Islamic traditions, and still consider, the Qur'an the word of Allah?
It is very likely that Surah 17:1 was added to the Qur'an after the Mosque was built and after the death of Muhammad. In light of this error the reliability of the Qur'an is now questioned. How can anyone consider the Qur'an the complete word of Allah, if the Qur'an contains information that cannot possibly be true?