Al Jazaar Mosque
[Al Jazaar mosque street entrance, by Erik Törner | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/]
Even as I sit here and type these words, I can hear the muezzin singing out the Adhan from the minaret of Al Jazaar mosque, the final of five calls to prayer throughout the day.
God is great
There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of God.
[The Five Pillars of Islam | Xxedcxx [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)]
A brief history of Al Jazaar mosque is easily accessible on most Akko tourist sites. It is the second largest Mosque in Israel after the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The mosque was built in 1781 on the ruins of a church that was built on the ruins of a mosque from the early Muslim era. The mosque is named after the ruler of Acre at the end of the 18th century.
[Al Jazaar mosque inner entrance, by Erik Törner | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/]
Younger than Christianity, Islam itself does not appear in the Bible. However, the Koran points to Ishmael as the true first son of Abraham. He is considered a prophet, and the ancestor of Muhammad. According to Islamic texts, Abraham brought Hagar and Ishmael to Mecca in response to God’s command, and later returned to build the Kaaba, house of God, making Mecca a holy city.
Most Muslims believe that Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, though the Qur’an does not mention the name of the son. The holiest day of the year, Eid al-Adha, celebrates Abraham’s willing obedience to God in this, during which every observant Muslim family slaughters a lamb in his honor.
[Al Jazaar mosque inside | MartinVMtl [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
As Dave and I went into the mosque, looked at all the beautiful calligraphy on the walls, words from their holy book, and the rich burgundy prayer rugs on the floor, all pointed towards Mecca, we thought about those whom we hold dear who know Allah as their god. Inwardly we pointed our own hearts heavenward, prayed to the God whom we know, trusting in His great love for all those who seek to know Him.