Kur’ân’daki el-mescidü’l-aksâ kavramının kritiği

It is widely known that terms or the meanings attributed to these terms are of vital significance for comprehending the language and message of the text while analyzing and interpreting religious texty. The aim of this paper is to discuss the term ‘al-Masjid al-Aqsa’ in the Qur’an. As broadly known, this term is cited in the first verse of the sûrat al-Isrâ and has a determinant role in understanding the scope of the incident of al-Isra. As a matter of fact, quite different perspectives have been put forward as to the incident of al- Isrâ on account of the distinct meanings attributed to this term. The Holy Qur’an heralds us that Prophet Muhammad was transported from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa during the incident of al-Isrâ. While there isn’t any debate concerning the term al- Masjid al-Haram, differing points of view have been put forward with regard to the term al-Masjid al-Aqsa. For example as the meaning of mosque has been ascribed to the term ‘masjid’, some interesting interpretations have been voiced and so, not only the content of the verse has been deviated from its context but controversial opinions have been put forward concerning the al-Isrâ incident as well. This paper aims to seek an answer to the questions as to the scope of the term al-Masjid al-Aqsa and what this term exactly indicates. It also aims to find an answer as to what the intended meaning of the verse is through analyzing and reasoning the interpretations written within this context.