The Holy Temple of Jerusalem is the greatest problem of our age that has now-a-day (FEBURARY 2007) turned to a bloody and dreadful conflict between the Jews and Muslims. So it is worthy to cast a look in brief, in the historical events of the place, which follows:
The Temple is said to have been built at first by the instigation of SOLOMON(AS), throughout the reign of whom it served as the central sanctuary for the whole Israelite nation. After Solomon's death, when the kingdom had split in two parts, it was used only by the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Then the Temple was plundered and damaged once or twice by the enemies, but it stood until 445 B.C, when the Babylonian's army under NEBUCHADNEZZAR burnt down Jerusalem and also its Temple. In the Bible; 2KINGS-25 the incident has been written thus:-
in the reign of Kin Nebuchadnezzar, his advisor and commander of his army, NEBUZARDAN, attacked Jerusalem and burnt down the Holy Temple, the place, and houses of all important people in Jerusalem, and his soldiers ruined the city walls, They took with them to Babylonia those skilled workmen who were not killed, and left in Judah some of the poorest people who owned no property; putting them to work in the vineyards and fields.
The Babylonians broke in the bronze columns and the carts that were in the temple, together with the large bronze tank and took the pieces of bronze with them. They also took away everything that was made of Gold and silver, as well as the bronze objects that king SOLOMON had make for the Temple.
The Temple was then rebuilt under NEHEMIAH and EZAR as per order of the Persian King ARTAXERXES between 515 and 250 B.C. Nehemiah was then in SUSA the capital city of Iran. He lived among the courtiers of the king and was respected by his majesty.
Reports came to Nehemiah that those who had retuned to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylonia lived in a great misfortune and difficulty, and that the walls of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple were still ruined.
Nehemiah was a true man of God and a Jewish official at the Persian court. When he heard of the bad situation of his home town; he sat in supplication and praying to God, the Lord of Abraham, for several days, asking Allah to forgive the Israelites and also to make the heart of the King of Persian merciful to him. So his prayer was answered, and soon after he was sent by the king as governor to Jerusalem with all the needed support. There with the help of EZAR, another religious leader he revived the Jewish community and established biblical Law as the constitution, (O.T.NEHEMIAH 1-4).
In 167 B.C the Temple was turned into a heathen idol temple by ANTIOCHUS, one of Alexander's successors. In 63 B.C, POMPEY THE GREAT forced his way into the Temple but he took no plunder.
In 19 B.C HEROD THE GREAT decided to rebuilt the Temple without interrupting the services of worship and did well. This Temple stood so, until 70 A.D a Jewish revolt led by Simon Barkokhba, the Jews captured the town, along with the whole of Judae, and held it until 135 A.D, when, the Romans killed Barkokhba and suppressed the revolt. On the ruins of Jerusalem, Romans built a new colony, and Jews were forbidden to enter the Town and Temple. This ban was enforced upto 324 A.D.
In the 4th century under Emperor Constantine, Jerusalem reassumed its ancient name and its religious importance. In the mid – 5th century, through the efforts of the Roman Empires EUDOCIA, wife of Theodosius the second, the Jews were officially permitted to resettle in Jerusalem.
In the 7th century the Persians supported by the Jews waged a war against the Romans in the Palestine. The Jews were allowed for a time to re-establish a government making Jerusalem their religious center in 614 A.D.
The Persians captured the city, destroyed much including the Holy Temple. Shortly after they granted the control of Jerusalem to the Christians.
There has revealed a Sureh in the Qur'an, RUM or Ruman Empire, the immediate reference of which isi said to have been the said event of Persians in Jerusalem. The beginning of the Sureh is as follows:
The Roman have been defeated; in a land nearby. (i.e. in Palestine). But soon after this defeat of theirs the Romans will be victorious – within a few years. With Allah was the decision of past and future. On that Day (in which Roman gain victory) the believers will rejoice.
The Roman Rule over Jerusalem was restored for a brief time in 629 A.D. when Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persians and the Jews, as it is foretold in the above S 30: 1-4.
So exhausted were both the Roman and Persian armies by this war, that, in 638 A.D. they were both defeated by the Muslims during the reign of Umar the second Caliph.
Umar did not disturb the Christian Chruches, and also permitted a number of Jews to return.
In 661 A.D. the Muslim Caliph Abd-Al_malak built the Doom of the Rock.
In the first Crusade, led by Godfery of Bouillon in 1099 A.D. Jerusalem was captured and Muslims were put to sword, and Jews were burnt in their synagogues!?
In 1187 A.D the crusaders were defeated by SULTAN SALAH-AL-DIN-AYYUBI, and Muslims recaptured Jerusalem.
In 1229 the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick-2 leading the sixth crusade, procured all Jerusalem except the Temple area from the reigning AYYUBIDS SUTAN, and for more than a decade both Muslims and Christians worshipped in the city.
In 1244, Jerusalem was captured by the TURKISH KHARAZMIANS, and put an end to Christian rule for about 675 years.
Throughout this era which Jerusalem was in the hands of Muslims, Christian shrines were respected, and the Jews exiled in Europe were allowed to return, in order to escape persecution.
(translator's Note)
