#Islam like #Judaism facing a holy site to pray

10.24: web.relig/islam/like Judaism facing a holy site to pray:
. another way Islam patterns itself after Judaism,
facing a holy site while praying .

Why Do Jews Face Jerusalem When They Pray?

. No matter where in the world a Jew finds himself,
his heart and prayers are directed toward Jerusalem.
The reason for this spans over two thousand years of Jewish history, throughout which the Children of Israel
have longed to return to their ancestral Land.
. The Psalms caution, “If I forget Jerusalem,
then let my right hand forget its own strength.”
(Psalms 137:5)

Stuart Federow · Rabbi at Congregation Shaar Hashalom:

. the Bible is explicitly clear on why we
face Jerusalem when we pray. Please go read I Kings 8,
where King Solomon dedicated the Temple.
He explicitly stated that there would come a time
when the Temple be no more,
when the Jews would be scattered.
What then should they do to obtain
forgiveness from Gd for their sins?
It reads, 1 Kings 8:46-50
"... 48,
And with all their heart and soul are turned again to you,
... and make their prayer to you[the god],
turning their eyes to this land [Israel]
which you gave to their fathers,
and to the town which you took for yourself, [Jerusalem]
and the house which I made for your name:
49
Then give ear to their prayer
and to their cry in heaven your living-place,
and see right done to them;
..."
In other words, in order to obtain
forgiveness from Gd for our sins,
all we have to do is repent for our sins,
pray facing Israel, Jerusalem, and where the Temple stood,
stop sinning and begin to obey Gd again,
and Gd will forgive us.

Got Questions Ministries:

God tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem
in Psalm 122:6-9: "O make prayers for the peace of Jerusalem;
may they whose love is given to you do well.
..."
From this passage, we see that praying for
peace and good to come to God’s holy city
benefits those who pray. God promised
blessings on those who bless Israel
and curses on those who curse her
(Genesis 12:3),
and since Jerusalem is depicted as the center of Jewish life,
it follows that those who pray for her peace and security
will be granted peace themselves.