Jerusalem and Its Cultural Heritage In the framework of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue.(Part-1)

Undoubtedly, the holy city of Jerusalem occupies an eminent position in the conscience of believers in general and Muslims in particular, for it was the homeland of our grandfather Abraham, (PBUH), the holy place of worship for the former Prophets and Messengers of Allah, (PBUT), the place to which our Prophet, Muhammad, (PBUH), the last of all of Allah's Prophets and Messengers, was taken from Mecca on his night journey, and from which he (PBUH) was made to ascend into the heavens.
In Jerusalem is Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (The Furthest Mosque), which Allah, All-Mighty, mentioned in more than one Verse of His Holy Quran, the first Qiblah for Muslims, the second most Holy mosque (the Sacred Mosque of Mecca being the first) and the third most Sacred Place in the world (the Sacred Mosque of Mecca being the first, and the Prophet's Sacred Mosque of Medina being the second). Travel should not be made except to it after that to the Sacred Mosques of Mecca and Medina. Allah has conferred His Divine Blessings upon its vicinity. By virtue of the holy Prophet's night journey to it and ascension to heaven from it, the holy city of Jerusalem has become the symbol of Muslim identity. Due to the above-mentioned facts, the Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture called to an international symposium about Jerusalem and its cultural heritage within the framework of the

Muslim-Christian dialogue in Rabat, capital of the kingdom of Morocco, from 19 to 21\10\1993. The Islamic organization confirmed that the purpose of the symposium is to highlight the religious, historical and civilizational importance of Jerusalem and to expose plans of making Jerusalem a Jewish city and deforming its Arabic and Islamic features. The symposium is also meant to invite Islamic, Arab and International organizations to support the cultural heritage of the city. The symposium was attended by a great number of Arab, Islamic and international personalities, some of whom were thinkers, researchers, scholars, academics, heads of the organizations, committees and establishments that are concerned with affairs of Jerusalem. Thirteen Islamic countries, one of which was the Syrian Arab Republic, sixteen international Islamic and Arab organizations, and twenty academic researchers took part in the symposium. The symposium went along five main pivots:

First Pivot: Jerusalem along ages of history.
Second Pivot: The sacred heritage of the city.
Third Pivot: Deformation of the Islamic identity of the city and making it a Jewish city. Fourth Pivot: Jerusalem and the world.
Fifth Pivot: Future of Jerusalem and the other Arab Palestinian cities under the Israeli occupation.

Dr. M. R. Al-nabulsi