The Conclusive Argument — Page 66
66 If you say it is a false tomb then you should prove it. And and there is a distance of three kos * between Bethlehem and the City of Quds. The tomb of Jesus, peace be upon him, is in the City of Quds and is still intact. There is a church, the largest of all churches, which houses Jesus’ tomb. The tomb of Mary, the Righteous, also lies therein and both tombs are situ- ated separately. In the time of Ban i Isr a ‘ i l, Quds was known as Jerusalem and it is also called Orshalem. After Jesus’ death, this town was given the name Aily a ’, and since Islamic conquests until now it has been known as Quds. The non-Arab people call it Baitul-Muqaddas. Although I do not exactly know the distance between Tripoli and Jerusalem, with respect to routes and man a zil [way stations], I know it approximately. There are many roads from Tripoli to Jerusalem. One of them is to travel to Beirut from Tripoli and there are a couple of moderate-dis- tance way stations between them. The distance covered from dawn till afternoon is known as manzil. There is one manzil from Beirut to Saida, one from Saida to Haifa, and then one from Haifa to Ukka; and from there to S u r there is also one manzil. The land of Sh a m is called S u riyah on this account; i. e. in reference to this ancient town of S u r. Then there is a long manzil from S u r to Yafa. Yafa lies by the seashore. There is a short manzil from Yafa to Jerusalem. Recently, a train service was introduced from Yafa to Jerusalem. If a passenger travels to Jerusalem from Yafa, he reaches there within an hour. So, by this reckoning there is a land distance of nine days from Tripoli to Jerusalem, but the distance by sea is quite short. If someone were to travel from Tripoli to Jerusalem by steamboat, he would reach Yafa in one day and a night, and then within an hour from Yafa to Jerusalem. Peace be on you. May God keep you in peace and be your Protector and Helper, and grant you triumph over the enemies. A m i n. ’ (Author) * A kos is a measure of distance, the length of which is approximately two English miles. [Publisher]