Al-Aqsa Mosque

Masjid Al Aqsa and the wailing wall is a disputed territory between jews and muslims of today but who are the rightful inheitors of such a disputed place and this dispute can only be solved in the light of Quran since it is the criteron over complicated matters.

Jewish Claim of Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa)

According to Jewish tradition and scripture,[4] the First Temple was built by King Solomon the son of King David in 957 BCE and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE – however no substantial archaeological evidence has verified this.[5] The second was constructed under the auspices of Zerubbabel in 516 BCE and destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 CE. Jewish tradition maintains it is here that a third and final Temple will also be built. The location is the holiest site in Judaism and is the place Jews turn towards during prayer. Due to its extreme sanctity, many Jews will not walk on the Mount itself, to avoid unintentionally entering the area where the Holy of Holies stood, since according to Rabbinical law, some aspect of the divine presence is still present at the site.

Source: Wikipedia

Muslim Claim of Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa)

Among Muslims, the Mount is the site of one of the three Sacred Mosques, the holiest sites in Islam. Amongst Sunni Muslims, it is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Revered as the Noble Sanctuary, the location of Muhammad’s journey to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, the site is also associated with Jewish biblical prophets who are also venerated in Islam. Umayyad Caliphs commissioned the construction of the al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock on the site.] The Dome was completed in 692 CE, making it one of the oldest extant Islamic structures in the world. The Al Aqsa Mosque rests on the far southern side of the Mount, facing Mecca. The Dome of the Rock currently sits in the middle, occupying or close to the area where the Holy Temple previously stood.

Source: Wikipedia

Claims Vs Quran

Muslims claim Al-Aqsa was the first Kibla Direction before the revelation of Quran after which Allah commanded the change of Kibla but a claim is just a claim unless it stands on evidence from the Quran.

Quran 3:96

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah – blessed and a guidance for the worlds.

Allah has clearly mentioned in the Quran 3:96 that Al-Aqsa or Temple mount was never the first kibla or first masjid being dedicated to Allah but Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah built by Abraham and his son Ishmael as mentioned in Quran 2:125.

Quran 2:125

وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], “Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer].”

The verse clearly debunks the muslim claim of Al-Aqsa being the first kibla, Further more Allah speaks of restoring the kibla direction 2:144

Quran 2:144

قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

Allah has clearly stated in 2:144 that Allah has restored the direction and Jews know the original and first house of Allah built was Masjid Al Haram in Makkah and it has been restored.

Jewish and Islamic Kiblah According to Quran

Quran 2:148

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّـهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

 For each [religious following] is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

Allah has made different direction for the jews and different for muslims in the light of Quran 2:148 so they have nothing to do with each other’s direction but both are commanded to follow direction and race towards good deeds, How can jews follow the direction commanded if it is being hijacked based on weak arguments by so called muslims when Allah has separated their direction by commanding them to face masjid al haram.

First Kiblah of Bani Israel

Quran 10:87

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَأَخِيهِ أَن تَبَوَّآ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And We inspired to Moses and his brother, “Settle your people in Egypt in houses and make your houses [facing the] qiblah and establish prayer and give good tidings to the believers.”

Since Quran is a detailed book it mentions the Qibla being made exclusively for bani israel and direction of prayer for them was none other than their own houses which later shifted to Masjid Al Aqsa also known as temple mount.

Solomon’s Temple

Temple mount or solomons temple or wailing wall which ever the name is was never a temple according to Quran but a Masjid as mentioned in Quran 17:7 when it was destroyed by the romans.

Quran 17:7

إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ الْآخِرَةِ لِيَسُوءُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَلِيَدْخُلُوا الْمَسْجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَلِيُتَبِّرُوا مَا عَلَوْا تَتْبِيرًا

[And said], “If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to yourselves.” Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the Masjid in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.

Word “Masjid” means a place of prostration and Temple of Solomon was where jews prostrated to Allah so it has always been a Masjid but a Jewish Masjid in islamic terms.