Mihrab and Qibla
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Mihrab and Qibla
In the Qur'anic context, the term Al-Mihrab is often used in conjunction with a remembrance of an event in life of prior (effectively Jewish) servants of God. In these cases, the term indicates the "Holy of Holies" of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem.
Examples are the relating of the story of Mary as a child in the "Al-Mihrab" where Zachariah was a Temple Priest (Q 3.37). Another instance is the apparition of the Angel foretelling the birth of John/Yahya to Zacharia (Q 19.1-19) which is also told in the Gospels as occurring "in the Holy of Holies". Based on other texts (The "Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew" and The Gospel of Christ according to Luke(Luke 1.11)), we can confirm that these 2 instances both refer to the "Holy of Holies" of the Jerusalem's (2nd) Temple.
The final such usage is in reference to David and "disputants who climbed into Al-Mihrab" (Q 38.21). Given that king David did not build the Temple (king Solomon did), but rather use temporary structures in its stead, we note that this may be referring to the "Holy of Holies" of the temporary structure, which would also explain how the "disputants" managed to "climb in it".
This Qur'anic consideration of Al-Mihrab provides the amplification of the true meaning of "Mihrab" ? regardless of its suspected "etymological roots"? in Islamic faith and Architecture, when we note the progression of "One central temple" to the distributed Mosques in communities.
The Mihrab then is a "fragment of Holy of Holies" ? the place where, in the Temple Angels and Spirit descended on the Praying servants (i.e. priests). This "fragment" or "analogue" is then reproduced in all the places where men and women go to worship The One God.
In effect, Mihrab serves the same "spatial-spiritual point" of "meeting" between the "community of God" and "the Spirit" as the "Holy of Holies" served for the Temple in Jerusalem.
But from an Islamic point of view, the Mihrab is simply an indication of the direction of the Holy city of Makkah. Unlike Judaism and other religions, Islam doesn't see God as an entity requiring a place like a "Holy of Holies" to 'live' among people. According to Islamic teaching Allah is the one who is "present everywhere" & "every time". He does not require rooms, temples, mosques, churches or synagoges to reside in. The fact that the Kabbah is referred to as God's House in Islam is just symbolic. But this Holy symbol helps all Muslims to unite in prayer all over the globe by facing towards one position.
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihrab
The above is part of an wikipedia article. What are your thoughts on this ?
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Salam bro
Strangely enough I was just thinking about the Mihrab today specifically Mary story, the reason I thought about it is the constant non sense by those denying the Qiblah, and indeed what you said above is almost exactly what I was thinking of, but I really didn't wanted to waste my time with them any more, I will keep refuting their non sense and discord on FI regarding this issue
Sunhan Allah bro that what you posted above is almost what I was thinking of about 6 hours ago
Thanks bro
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Peace Ahmed
I have been thinking about the related verses for sometimes too. Also the connection between the Quraan and other scriptures on the related issues. Although I do not have sufficient knowledge to come to any conclusions on this still, I hope the above article is a start.
I hope you will do some further reasearch on this and let us share your thoughts on this.
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Peace Adjwi
The above article is from wikipedia. So whoever wrote or edited the part ??Islamic point of view?? would have had his/her own definition. Mostly when people say Islamic point of view it means the main stream sunni thought since usual ?majority rules syndrome? even if it is not in line with the Quraan
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The fact that the Kabbah is referred to as God's House in Islam is just symbolic. But this Holy symbol helps all Muslims to unite in prayer all over the globe by facing towards one position.
?????????????
There is no such thing as "Kabbah is just symbolic" and than "Holly symbol". If something is symbolic it can not be holly. This defies common sense.
Muslims united???!!!!!!!! brickwall