Ever since days of Plato, western religious opinion has always been that personal immortality pertains only to rational parts of soul. The biological and emotional parts should be allowed to let go with body. The reason behind this move is not difficult to seek. For one thing, a personal soul without desires and emotions is more likely to be peaceful. For another, nothing but its more divine-like of aspects should be allowed to persist into eternity. But truth of matter is that in more sophisticated of religious deliberations, personal immorality with memory has in fact never been thought of as a desirable commodity. Some, such as more philosophical of Buddhist schools have always held a more radical point of view. It is that if eventual freedom from all sufferings is to be achieved, to let go of biological and emotional is not sufficient. Memory and identity of self that it entails should also be transcended. The reason is that for as long as memory and self-identity persist, personal ambition would continue to lurk. What that nurtures again would be psychological torment. Thus, if all suffering is really to be overcome, all personal interests and concerns (and thus memories) should also be put to rest. To be able to do that, according to Buddhist thought, is to enter state of torment-less bliss called nirvana. This is a state of being free not only from burden old memory, but of any sense of self. It should thus be seen that contrary to popular understanding, nirvana is not a personal kind of place. What that implies is that those who enter would not know who they were. Such a state of being, if I may say so, is quite analogous to situation of Adam and Eve before they ate fruit of ‘tree of life’. Before they ate, according to story, they had no sense of themselves -- being unable to recognize even their own nakedness.

Of course, early Christianity also had much to say about burden of our old and depraved selves. You see, one of its unique claims is that human race does not only inherit genes of Adam and Eve, but also their original sin (what in fact was emergence of memory and self-identity, as I have just indicated). Thus, one of its key battle cries is about renewal of incarnated souls (not unlike Islamic concept of self-directed jihad). It is believed that this could be brought about by an act of faith as facilitated by Divine grace. Only in this way, or so it is said, could soul be redeemed or made ready for kingdom of heaven.

The trouble with such a doctrine is that a couple of subsidiary wrinkles need also to be ironed out. One is belief that departed and redeemed souls are not amnesiacs. They need to know who they were for purpose of final reckoning. The other is belief that straight entry for such personal souls into heaven would bring with them traces of human depravity unfit for what is also supposed to be a holy kingdom. It is thus a case of ‘either-or’ but not both. To tackle this problem, some of those who were supposedly in know were smart enough to propagate idea that disembodied souls would first be herded into a sort of quarantined center or transit hall; and that it is only after final judgment that ones that have really been redeemed would be admitted into heaven. This center or hall is known in Catholic circles as purgatory – a more sanitary sounding kind of place than classical underworld mentioned in Apostle Peter’s account of where Jesus went before his resurrection.

Baitul-Maqdis in Palestine was first Qibla (direction in which Muslims face when praying) too, and Muslims prayed facing Baitul-Maqdis for around 14 years, after which Allah ordered Qibla to be changed towards Kaabah in Makkah.

Early History

The Canaanites are earliest known inhabitants of Palestine. They were thought to have lived in Palestine in third millennium BC. Then Pharaonic Egypt controlled area for much of second millennium BC. Prophet Musa, alayhi-salam, was born in Palestine during this time. When Egyptian power began to weaken, new invaders appeared: Hebrews, a group of Semitic tribes from Mesopotamia; and Philistines, after whom country (Philistia) was later named, an Aegean people of Indo-European stock. The Israelites, a confederation of Hebrew tribes, defeated Canaanites, but struggle with Philistines was more difficult. The Philistines had established an independent state on southern coast of Palestine and controlled Canaanite town of Jerusalem. The Philistines were superior in military organization and severely defeated Israelites in about 1050 BC.

Then, in around 995 BC, Prophet Dawood, alayhi-salam, Israel's king, united Hebrew tribes and eventually defeated Philistines. The three groups (Canaanites, Philistines, and Israelites) assimilated with each other over years. The unity of Israelite tribes enabled Prophet Dawood, alayhi-salam, to establish a large independent state, with its capital at Jerusalem. After death of Prophet Dawood, alayhi-salam, in around 961 BC Prophet Sulayman, alayhi-salam, his son, became new king of Israel.

Construction and Destruction of First Temple

Prophet Sulayman, alayhi-salam, built a magnificent place of worship, First Temple, which housed Ark of Covenant, a sacred chest holding tablets inscribed with Ten Commandments. Soon after his death, kingdom was divided into two parts: northern Israel and southern Judah. Pagan Assyrians overran Israel in 721 BC. They destroyed First Temple. In 538 BC Persian emperor Cyrus defeated Babylonians and Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem.

Construction and Destruction of Second Temple

In 515 BC Jews built Second Temple at same site of First Temple. Alexander conquered Palestine in 332 BC. Three centuries later, Romans entered Jerusalem. Herod, client king for Roman Empire expanded Second Temple but destroyed religion. Then Prophet Isa, alayhi-salam, was born, around 4 BC. Jews joined with Roman paganism to persecute Prophet Jesus and his followers. In 70 CE, Titus of Rome laid siege to Jerusalem. The Herodian Temple eventually fell, and with it whole city. Seeking a complete and enduring victory, Titus ordered total destruction of city. A new city named Aelia was built on ruins of Jerusalem, and a temple dedicated to Jupitor was raised.

Christian Rule of Palestine

In 313 CE Roman emperor Constantine I legalized Christianity. Palestine, as Holy Land, became a focus of Christian pilgrimage. Most of population became Hellenized and Christianized. In 324 CE Constantine of Byzantium marched on Aelia. He rebuilt city walls and commissioned Church of Holy Sepulchre, and opened city for Christian pilgrimage.

In year 620 CE, Isra' wal Mi'raj took place. On this night, in a miraculous way, Prophet was taken on a momentous journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and from there to heaven. The Night Journey was a great miracle that Muslims believe was given to Prophet Muhammad as an honor and also to impress upon Muslims importance of Jerusalem to them. The Night Journey from Makkah to Jerusalem is called al-Isra' and ascension from Jerusalem to heaven is called al-Mi'raj. Both of these events took place on same night. Angel Gabriel took Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem. There he met all Prophets and Messengers and led them in prayers. Then it is reported that Prophet stood at Sacred Rock (al-Sakhrah al-Musharrafah), went to heavens. He arrived back in Makkah same night.

Muslim Rule of Palestine

The Byzantines who ruled Jerusalem at this time were very harsh. They not only barred Jews from entering Jerusalem, but also persecuted Christians who did not follow same sect as them. On other hand, Muslims had reputation for mercy and compassion in victory. So when Muslims marched into Palestine in 638 CE, people of Jerusalem gave up city only after a brief siege. They made just one condition, that terms of their surrender be negotiated directly with Khalifah Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, in person. Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, agreed to come and entered Jerusalem on foot. There was no bloodshed or massacres. Those who wanted to leave were allowed to leave, with all their goods. Those who wanted to stay were guaranteed protection for their lives, property and places of worship.