Jerusalem in the Abrahamic religions: In the context of faith

Jerusalem is a city of great significance that has been regarded as sacred throughout history by followers of the three Abrahamic religions. It is the place where many revered prophets, believed in by adherents of Semitic faiths, lived and conveyed their divine messages. As one of the few cities considered vitally important by the majority of the global population, Jerusalem has often been a focal point of contention across different historical periods. The city, whose past mirrors its present in many ways, has repeatedly witnessed wars, massacres, and exiles fought in its name. Despite the conflicts, the periods in which Jews, Christians, and Muslims were able to coexist peacefully in Jerusalem serve as a beacon of hope for the future. This coexistence suggests that resolving the deeply rooted and seemingly intractable international dispute surrounding the city may not be as unattainable as it appears. In this study, the sacredness of Jerusalem from the perspectives of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is examined through a review of relevant literature, with a primary focus on their holy scriptures. The research explores whether the religious significance attributed to Jerusalem contributes to the underlying causes of ongoing tensions. In doing so, the study also investigates the theological imperatives within each religion that may drive the desire to claim sovereignty over the city. The findings indicate that in Judaism, the sanctity attributed to Jerusalem is not explicitly based on their holy texts; rather, it has emerged over time, influenced by historical tragedies and the perception of the city as an unattainable homeland. The fact that their ancestors lived in Jerusalem has also reinforced their emotional and historical ties to it. In Christianity, while Jerusalem is referenced in the scriptures in a spatial context, its importance appears to be more political in nature, especially during the process of spreading the faith. In Islam, Jerusalem has been integrated into the religious life of Muslims since the earliest periods and is directly praised in the Qur'an and other religious texts. The limited number of theological studies addressing the issue of Jerusalem from a faith-based perspective adds a unique value to this research, which focuses on the city's religious significance within the three Abrahamic traditions. Key Words: Theology, Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Faith