Encyclopedia of Islam

See also christianity and islam; conversion;
eUrope; ottoman dynasty; slavery; tanzimat.

Mark Soileau

Further reading: Geoffrey Goodwin, The Janissaries
(London: Saqi Books, 1994); David Nicolle and Christa
Hook, The Janissaries (Oxford: Osprey, 1995)

Jerusalem (known in Arabic as al-Quds
[Holy] and Bayt al-Maqdis [House of the
Holy])
Jerusalem is a holy city for followers of the three
Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam. For each, however, it is holy for different
reasons. For Jews, it is the location of Mount Zion,
the center of the world where the ancient Israelite
Temple of Solomon once stood. For Christians, it is
where JesUs convened the Last Supper with his dis-
ciples and where he endured the Passion, was cru-
cified, died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven.
For Muslims, it is where mUhammad prayed and
entered into the heavens on his night JoUrney
and ascent. Most Muslims consider it to be Islam’s
third most sacred city after mecca and medina,
although they also recognize it is not exclusive to
them alone as the other two cities are. Through the
centuries, devout members of all three religions
have lived and journeyed to Jerusalem on pilgrim-
age. They go to visit and worship at places that are
held sacred by each of these religions. The Western
Wall of the ancient Temple is a major focus of Jew-
ish prayer and piety. For Christians, its most holy
places are the Church of the Resurrection (also
called the Church of the Holy Sepulcher) and the
Mount of Olives, where they believe Jesus ascended
to heaven. Muslims visit and pray at the aqsa
mosqUe and the dome oF the rock in the Haram
al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary, known as the Temple
Mount to Jews and Christians). All three religions
have traditions stating that Jerusalem will be the
focal point of cataclysmic events that will signal the
endtimes and the arrival of JUdgment day.

prE-ISlAMIC JEruSAlEM

Jerusalem is among the oldest cities in the world.

Archaeological evidence suggests human settle-

ment in its environs as early as the fourth mil-

lennium b.c.e. Its early name, Rushalimum (or

Urusalim), appears in ancient Egyptian and Syrian

texts dated to the 19th and 14th centuries b.c.e.

This name may have meant “foundation of the

god Salim”; only much later, after the biblical

period, was its name interpreted to mean “City of

Peace.” Between 2000 and 1500 b.c.e., Jerusalem

developed into a walled city located on the hill of

Aerial view of Jerusalem’s Old City showing the Dome

of the Rock and the Haram al-Sharif (top), and the

Church of the Holy Sepulcher (the domed structure at

the bottom) (National Geographic Magazine)

Jerusalem 391 J