Western Wall: El-Mabka and Al-Buraq



The Western Wall (Photo by Golasso)

Rabbinic and secular estimates differ regarding the time

span that Solomon’s Temple was in existence – but they

both agree that this First Temple of Judaism lasted for

centuries.  It was then destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar II

after the Siege of Jersusalem in 587 BCE (secular

estimate), or in 412 BCE (rabbinic estimate).

Years later, Cyrus the Great and Darius (both Kings of

Persia) made it possible for the Second Temple to be

built.  Herod the Great (the Donald Trump of his era)

then renovated it circa 19 BCE, and it became known as Herod’s Temple.  Herod did things in a big way, and the Temple Mount was no exception.  He widened

“Solomon’s” natural Mount by building four huge walls

around it and filling in the empty spaces.  This resulted in a trapezoidal platform which added acreage to the Old City of Jerusalem, and formed a base for the new Temple.

According to Wikipedia, what’s now often called the Western Wall is “a remnant of the ancient wall that

surrounded the Jewish Temple’s courtyard.”  It was traditionally called El-Mabka (“the Place of Weeping”)

by the Arabs, and Wailing Wall by the British.  That was because Jews would journey there in order to lament the Temple’s destruction.  The Jewish Virtual Library reports that after the 1967 war, many Jews preferred calling it the Western Wall – feeling that the wailing period was now over.

Muslims also began renaming the Wall.  Palestinians began calling it Al-Buraq in honor of Muhammad’s “Night Journey.”  This journey, which is honored each year during the Islamic festival of Lailat al Miraj, took place after Archangel Gabriel brought the Buraq (a winged steed) to Muhammad.  Muhammad then rode atop the Buraq from Mecca to Jerusalem on the first part (Isra) of this Journey.  The Qur’an and Hadith report that Muhammad tied the Buraq to the Western Wall, then led the earlier prophets in prayer.  After that, Muhammad remounted the Buraq and visited with God in Heaven.  God then gave specific instructions regarding Islamic prayer.  This second part of Muhammad’s Night Journey is called the Mi’raj.

Resources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/lailatalmiraj.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buraq

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/wallname.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isra_and_Mi'raj

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Temple

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Mount

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Temple

Copyright June 29, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved