Why the Destruction of the Temple Matters for Understanding Islam by Rudolph P. Boshoff

For my upcoming debate with Molana Ismail Moosa, I had the opportunity to speak to my friend Samuel Green about the topic of discussion. Samuel, as usual, sent me a talk he gave on “The Temple and Islamic Theology,” which is excellent and worth listening to. I thought to sum up some of his thoughts here in this article. My summary thought would be: “The temple is a key to understanding biblical theology—but its absence is the key to understanding Islamic theology.”

This may sound like an unusual connection. What does the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD have to do with the rise of Islam 500 years later? Surprisingly, a lot.

From Temple Judaism to Rabbinic Judaism

Before we discuss Islam, we must understand how Judaism itself transformed after the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD:

CC

This transformation reshaped Jewish religious life entirely, forming what we now call Rabbinic Judaism—the form of Judaism that influenced the world Muhammad grew up in.

Muhammad and Rabbinic Judaism

Islamic hadith sources, such as Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, confirm that:

“The Prophet used to copy the People of the Book in matters for which he had no commandment”
(Sahih Muslim, Book 4, Hadith 602)

Muhammad was aware of and influenced by Jewish and Christian practices, especially rabbinic Jewish customs present in Arabia.

Examples:

• Muhammad initially prayed toward Jerusalem for 16–17 months (al-Bukhari 41:1).
• Islam preserves the practice of directional prayer, likely influenced by temple practices.
• The Ka‘ba, built by Abraham according to Islamic tradition, lacks the temple theology of God indwelling His sanctuary.

The Temple’s Doctrinal Framework

The Temple system was not just a building—it was the theological heart of biblical faith:

• God’s dwelling with His people (Ex. 25:8; John 1:14)
• Priesthood and mediation (Ex. 28; Heb. 5)
• Sacrifice for atonement (Lev. 16; Heb. 9)
• Messiah as Temple builder (2 Sam. 7; John 2:19–21)
• Israel as a Priestly Nation (Ex. 19:6)
• Eschatological Temple in New Creation (Ezek. 40–48; Rev. 21)

Remove the Temple, and these concepts fall like dominoes.

What’s Missing in the Qur’an?

When you open the Qur’an, you don’t find:

• God dwelling among people (Qur’an emphasizes return to God, not God coming down)
• Atoning priesthood
• Sacrificial system for sin
• Messiah building the Temple
• Paradise is described in worship language

Instead, Paradise in Islam is reward-focused, not presence-focused. The temple vision of worship, mediation, and reconciliation is simply absent.

Why Does This Matter?

a. Understanding Muhammad’s Context

Muhammad isn’t interacting with biblical, Temple-centered Judaism, but with post-Temple rabbinic Judaism—a version already adapted for a world without sacrifice or priesthood.

b. Clarifying Differences with Muslims

When Muslims say Islam is “closer to Judaism” than Christianity, ask: Which Judaism?

They likely mean rabbinic Judaism, not the Judaism of Moses, Solomon, and Jesus.

c. Understanding Jesus Requires Temple Theology

Without the Temple, we lose:

• The logic of incarnation (“The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” – John 1:14)
• The meaning of sacrifice and atonement (Hebrews 9)
• The significance of Jesus’ resurrection as a new temple (John 2:19)

d. Teaching Christians for Effective Witness

Equipping believers with temple theology is one of the best ways to prepare them for thoughtful, respectful, and informed conversation with Muslims.

Conclusion: The Temple Shapes the Gospel

Removing the temple from the Bible would be like removing the skeleton from a body. And that’s what we find in the Qur’an—a shell of shared language but no theological framework for atonement, incarnation, or presence.

Understanding the absence of temple theology in Islam helps us see just how central the temple is to the storyline of Scripture and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Further Reading & Sources:

• The Temple and the Church’s Mission – G.K. Beale
• Jesus and the Eyewitnesses – Richard Bauckham
• God Dwells Among Us – G.K. Beale & Mitchell Kim
• Hadith References from Sunnah.com
• Qur’an reference: Surah 17:1 – Al-Isra