WI: Jerusalem is not a holy site in Islam... but somewhere in Hispania is?

[SpaceRome]

In the Quran, there is no direct identification of the 'Al-Aqsa' mosque with its OTL geographic location. That was a somewhat later decision by caliph Umar, that then became a fundamental part of Islamic theology. But what if 'al-Masjid al-Aqsa' - lit. 'the Farthest One' - was not declared to be in Jerusalem, but instead in western Hispania, the actual farthest western point known to muslims at the time? ITTL, Jerusalem isn't given any particular theological significance (or at least no more than other important near eastern cities), while the Umayyads build a massive compound somewhere in OTL portugal.

How would this affect the Umayyad-Abbasid split? How would this affect the two most important Christian-Muslim conflicts in the middle ages - the Reconquista and the Crusades?

 

[Evil Crusader]

Jerusalem very much already was important in Islamic theology by virtue of its descendance from Abrahamic thought; prayers used to be oriented towards it early in Islam, well before any Muslim control of the city. While not immediate, it was incredibly likely, considering the origin place of the 'Al-Aqsa' concept itself - Surah 17 - starts by talking about Israel, that the Mosque would be founded there.
To alter that, you need to radically change Mohammed's trajectory and teachings to an extent there may well not be a similar conquest, let alone Crusades or a Reconquista.

Now, there could be such an important place erected in Hispania too - but its importance would be likely tied with a surviving Umayyad Caliphate there, rather than being a purely spiritual matter.

 

[Lalli]

You should find some theological reason why al-Aqsa would locate in Western Iberia instead Jerusalem. Muslims even didn't reach that region before 8th century. Jerusalem anyway was already important city and holy city for Jews and Christians.

 

[holycookie]

Well I find it almost impossible not to have jerusalem as a holy site. But if Iberia remains Islamic and prosperous over the centuries (without taifas and things like that), the Cordoba's mosque (today the church) could be a very important area for Islam. Especially if it continues to grow over time. Probably gaining the same importance as hagia sophia or even more