I am studying the religion of Islam and I have come across many things in Islam that seem fabricated. I will give one example and I just want to seek the truth...One thing was the Mi'raj of Muhammad. It states in the Qur'an that 17:1 he was taken from the sacred Masjid in Mecca-Al Masjidul Al Haram to the furthest Masjid in Jerusalem-Al Masjid Aqsaa and then to the seven heavens but I have read and through my research I've found that Masjid Al Aqsa was erected by Umayyad Caliph, Abdul Malik from the years of 709 to 717 A.D. AND I've read that Masjid al Aqsa was built by Abdul Malik's son Al Walid in 710 A.D. What I'm trying to say is that the 17th chapter was revealed to Muhammad in the year 618 A.D. THEN was Masjid Al Aqsa built 99 years after? How could this Masjid even exist if Muhammad received his ascension- Mi'raj in the year 622 A.D.?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allaah says (what means): {And indeed, it is a mighty Book. Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy.} [Quran 41:41-42]

This means that this book is fully preserved. Nobody can ever make something like it. No corruption or contradiction can ever make their way to it. This is because it was sent down by the Lord of all beings, the All-wise in His Words and His Deeds, the Only One deserving to be thanked for everything He orders or forbids. Allaah says (what means): {Do they not then consider the Quran carefully? Had it been from other than Allaah, they would surely have found therein much contradiction.} [Quran 4:82]

This means if the Quran was created or made up as claimed by the polytheists and the hypocrites, there would have been fabrications and contradictions within it. No doubt, the Quran is free of all kinds of contradictions because it is from Allaah.

Now, if someone thinks that there are contradictions or differences in the Quran or in the authentic Sunnah, he should know that the mistake is in his own understanding and reasoning not in the Quran or the authentic Sunnah texts.

What the questioner mentioned in her query is a clear example of this misunderstanding. In fact, she thought that the mosque of the Dome of the Rock is the same as the Al-Aqsa mosque. Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwan built the mosque of the Dome of the Rock which is completely different from the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Indeed, the Al-Aqsa mosque is the place where the Prophet led the other Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, in prayer in the night of Ascension (Al-Israa'). Its place is well known nowadays and it is where the Al-Aqsa mosque stands now.

As regards the Yellow Dome, which is known as the Dome of the Rock, then this is not the Al-Aqsa mosque; rather, it was built by Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwan .

Regarding the Al-Aqsa mosque it was built 40 years after the Al-Haraam mosque in Makkah. Abu Thar narrated that he asked the Prophet : "Which mosque was the first on the earth? He replied: "The Al-Haraam mosque" Then Abu Thar asked: "And which was next?" He [the Prophet] said: "The Al-Aqsa mosque." Then Abu Thar asked: "And how long a period was there between the two?" He (the Prophet) replied: "Forty years. But wherever you find yourself at the time of the prayer, you should pray, as it is a mosque (i.e. any place is a place to pray provided it is pure)."

So, the claim that Al-Aqsa mosque was built between 707 and 717 is wrong.

The people of the Book have in their scriptures that it is Ya'coob (Jacob) who built the Al-Aqsa mosque which is Ilya mosque Bait Al-Muqddis (Aqsa mosque).

From the above, we know that the fabrication results from the error in the research and not in Islam itself.

So, we advise the questioner not to jump to conclusions. She should be patient and keen on reaching the truth and nothing but the truth.

Furthermore, you should know for certain that there are no fabricated matters in the Quran or the Sunnah of the Prophet and anybody who believes this goes out of the fold of Islam as he is denying the saying of Allaah (which means): {Had it been from other than Allaah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.} [Quran 4:82]

Allaah aslo says (what means): {Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allaah).} [Quran 41:42]

Finally, we would like to attract your attention that you made a mistake when you said that the Ascension (Al-Mi'raaj) of the Prophet was mentioned in the first verse of Chapter 17 [Al-Israa'], but we say that the verse did not mention the Al-Mi'raaj but it mentioned the Al-Israa' and there is a difference between Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'raaj even though they took place in one single night and this was confirmed by authentic evidence.

Therefore, we advise you, once again, not to jump to conclusions.

Allaah Knows best.