In another post I had written about some of my understaning and comparison of it with ayman's excellent article on names.

See http//www.free-minds.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=994

I want to develop that a little further here. The centrality of this issue to modern quran interpretation cannot be overestimated. If the physical structure of the Kaaba in modern day Mecca is considered such a focal point of what Islam is about then I believe that the true meaning of "MASJID-AL-HARAM" has just as great an importance in our understanding of the spiritual message of the quran.

Just to remind those not inclined to visit the other thread. Arabic's grammar is such that the addition of "MA" to a triliteral root gives us the implementation (place) of that concept. An example is DARS (root is DRS) is the concept of study gives MADARASA which many will recognise is the word for a university or higher institution of study.

I believe there is sufficient evidence to make SJD the root commonly interpreted as "prostrate" to really mean "acknowledge". So that MASJID becomes the implementation of acknowledge acknowledgement. There is also the concept of 'understanding' in this which makes it difficult to give one single English word to mean SJD exactly.

SJD = acknowledge
MASJID = implementation of acknowledge = acknowledgement
AL-HARAM = the forbidden

therefore MASJID-AL-HARAM = acknowledgement of the forbidden

now if we move on to MASJID-AL-AQSA we can see that this means

AL-AQSA = furthest

therefore MASJID-AL-AQSA = furthest acknowledgement or understanding.

This means the furthest or highest acknowledgement and understanding of spirituality from a human perspective. It is one thing to acknowledge the law of God through the things He has forbidden and another to be taken to the highest understanding. The prophets are given this as a part of their role so that we see in Surah 171 the meaning is

Subhana allathee asra biAAabdihi laylan mina almasjidi alharami ila almasjidi al-aqsa allathee barakna hawlahu linuriyahu min ayatina innahu huwa alssameeAAu albaseeru

"Praise be to GOD who moved His servant at night from the acknowledgement of the forbidden to the highest understanding which We blessed throughout, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs for He is the One Who Hears and Sees." Quran 171

I'd be interested to hear what others think of this interpretation of MASJID-AL-AQSA.

I strongly recommend reading ayman's article which although long has many of these ideas and more in somewhat different but yet similar ways.

Regards.