At-Tur
At-Tur (Arabic: الطور, lit. 'The Mount') is the fifty-second chapter (sūrah) of the Quran, consisting of 49 verses (āyāt).[1] It is classified as a Meccan surah, revealed in the early phase of Prophet Muhammad's mission in Mecca, likely around the fifth year of his prophethood.[2] The surah derives its name from the opening oath by "At-Tur," interpreted in Islamic tradition as the mountain—possibly Mount Sinai—where God spoke to Moses, underscoring themes of divine revelation and covenant.[3] Structurally divided into two rukus (sections), it employs successive oaths by cosmic and earthly signs—the inscribed Book on a secure tablet, the frequented House (likely the Kaaba), and the raised canopy—to affirm the reality of the Day of Judgment and human accountability.[4] Central to its message is a vivid depiction of eschatological events, including the punishment of disbelievers through cosmic upheaval and infernal torments, contrasted with the eternal rewards of paradise for the righteous, such as companionship with houris and divine provisions.[5] The chapter refutes skepticism regarding resurrection by invoking rational arguments from creation's order and challenges opponents to produce a comparable discourse, positioning the Quran as inimitable evidence of its divine origin.[6]Geography and Location
Topographical Features
At-Tur occupies the upper reaches of the Mount of Olives ridge, a limestone formation in the Judean Hills east of Jerusalem's Old City, separated by the Kidron Valley.[7] The neighborhood is positioned atop or near the mount's highest summit, traditionally identified as at-Tur at 818 meters (2,684 feet) above sea level, providing panoramic views westward over the city and eastward toward the Judean Desert.[8] This elevation places it approximately 60-100 meters above the Old City's average height of around 760 meters.[7] The terrain consists of steep, rocky slopes descending sharply to the west into the Kidron Valley and more gradually to the east, forming a natural watershed divide where precipitation flows westward to the Mediterranean basin and eastward into arid wadis leading to the Dead Sea.[8] Historically, the slopes supported terraced olive groves, contributing to the mount's name (Jabal az-Zaytun in Arabic), though urbanization has altered much of the original landscape.[9] The ridge extends roughly 3 kilometers north-south, with At-Tur centered on the central or southern high point amid undulating karst topography typical of the region's Cenomanian-Turonian limestone layers.[10]Position Relative to Jerusalem
At-Tur is situated on the western slopes of the Mount of Olives ridge, immediately east of Jerusalem's Old City and separated from it by the Kidron Valley.[8] The neighborhood lies within East Jerusalem, directly overlooking the Temple Mount and the eastern walls of the Old City from an elevated vantage point.[9] This positioning places At-Tur approximately 1 kilometer eastward of the Old City's boundaries, facilitating visual prominence of key religious sites such as Al-Aqsa Mosque.[11] The proximity underscores At-Tur's integration into the broader topography of eastern Jerusalem, with the Mount of Olives ridge extending northward and southward along the city's edge.[8]History
Pre-20th Century Origins
The Mount of Olives, upon which At-Tur is situated, holds ancient significance in Jewish tradition, first referenced in the Hebrew Bible during King David's ascent while fleeing Absalom around 1000 BCE, highlighting its role as a strategic and spiritual elevation overlooking Jerusalem.[8] Archaeological evidence, including rock-cut tombs from the First Temple period (c. 1000–586 BCE), indicates early use as a burial site, with the western slopes developing into one of the world's oldest continuously active Jewish cemeteries by the Second Temple era (c. 516 BCE–70 CE), containing over 150,000 graves by later counts.[12] In the New Testament, the locale is associated with Bethphage, an Aramaic-named village ("house of unripe figs") on the mount's eastern slope, where Jesus dispatched disciples to procure a colt for his entry into Jerusalem around 30 CE, as described in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29).[13][14] Traditional Christian identification places Bethphage near modern At-Tur, with Franciscan traditions marking a site for a chapel by the 17th century, though the village itself likely represents a later overlay on this ancient footing.[13] Roman and Byzantine periods (1st–7th centuries CE) saw the area integrated into Jerusalem's environs, with olive cultivation and pilgrimage routes sustaining sparse habitation amid Christian commemorations of events like the Ascension. Following the Muslim conquest in 638 CE, the Mount of Olives retained multireligious reverence, with Islamic traditions linking it to eschatological events, such as the site of Judgment Day prayers.[8] Under Abbasid, Fatimid, and Ayyubid rule (8th–12th centuries), the ridge hosted ascetic communities and early mosques, while Crusader occupation (1099–1187) fortified Christian access before Saladin's recapture emphasized its prophetic status in hadith literature. Mamluk administration (1260–1517) documented waqf endowments for maintenance of shrines, preserving the site's sacral landscape without major urban development in the At-Tur vicinity. The Ottoman era (1517–1917) formalized At-Tur as a distinct Muslim village, known historically as Tur Zayta for its olive groves, serving as a residential cluster for families tending religious endowments and pilgrims, with the population remaining small and agrarian amid Jerusalem's walled confines.[15] European explorers in the 19th century, such as those from the Palestine Exploration Fund, noted At-Tur's modest stone houses and olive terraces, underscoring its continuity as a peripheral settlement tied to the mount's enduring holiness rather than independent economic prominence.[16]British Mandate and Early 20th Century
During the British Mandate for Palestine, established in 1920 following the Allied conquest of Jerusalem in December 1917, At-Tur functioned as a predominantly Arab village on the western slope of the Mount of Olives, administered under the Jerusalem sub-district.[17] The neighborhood's population, reflective of broader Arab demographic trends in the area, was recorded in the 1922 Mandate census as 1,037 residents, consisting of 806 Muslims and 231 Christians, with no Jews enumerated.[17] By the 1931 census, At-Tur's population had grown to approximately 1,654, remaining overwhelmingly Muslim with a small Christian presence, amid natural increase and limited migration patterns typical of rural Palestinian villages during the interwar period.[18] Urban planning initiatives under British rule, such as the 1922 Patrick Geddes town plan for Jerusalem, aimed to modernize infrastructure but had minimal direct impact on peripheral areas like At-Tur, which retained its agrarian character with olive cultivation and proximity to religious sites driving local economy.[19] Tensions from Arab-Jewish communal violence affected the region, including the 1929 disturbances sparked by disputes over the Western Wall, which spread to eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods; however, no major documented clashes originated specifically in At-Tur.[20] The Arab Revolt (1936–1939) further strained Mandate control, with British forces suppressing unrest in surrounding Arab areas, though At-Tur itself saw no unique recorded incidents beyond general security measures. By 1945, near the Mandate's end, the population reached 2,800, underscoring steady growth amid escalating partition pressures.[21]Jordanian Period (1948-1967)
Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, At-Tur, situated on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, fell under Jordanian military control as part of the broader Arab Legion occupation of the eastern sector of the city.[22] In April 1950, Jordan formally annexed East Jerusalem and the West Bank, incorporating At-Tur administratively into the Hashemite Kingdom and granting Jordanian citizenship to its residents.[22] This annexation more than tripled Jordan's population but faced limited international recognition beyond Britain and Pakistan.[23] Jordan systematically violated the 1949 armistice agreements by denying Jews access to religious sites in East Jerusalem, including the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives adjacent to At-Tur, where burials had occurred for over 2,500 years.[22] [24] The cemetery endured severe desecration under Jordanian rule: approximately 38,000 tombstones were uprooted, smashed, and repurposed for road paving, construction materials, and even latrine floors; graves were vandalized and left in disarray, with some used as garbage dumps.[24] [23] [22] At-Tur itself, a predominantly Arab Muslim neighborhood with a Christian minority, functioned as a residential area for local Palestinians, though broader East Jerusalem experienced economic stagnation and minimal infrastructure investment compared to Jordan's capital, Amman.[23] Christian holy sites on the Mount of Olives within or near At-Tur, such as churches, remained accessible to pilgrims under Jordanian oversight, reflecting the kingdom's policy of permitting non-Jewish worship while enforcing restrictions on Jewish presence.[22] No significant Jewish population resided in At-Tur during this era, as the 1948 fighting and subsequent policies expelled or prevented Jewish settlement east of the armistice line.[23] The period ended with Jordan's loss of the territory in the 1967 Six-Day War.[22]Israeli Reunification (1967-Present)
During the Six-Day War from June 5 to 10, 1967, Israeli Defense Forces captured East Jerusalem, including the Mount of Olives ridge where At-Tur is located, from Jordanian forces, ending 19 years of Jordanian administration that had barred Jewish access to the area and desecrated sites like the adjacent Jewish cemetery.[25] On June 27, 1967, Israel issued a military order extending its jurisdiction and administration to the eastern sector of the city, effectively incorporating At-Tur into the unified Jerusalem municipality and applying Israeli law, though this annexation remains unrecognized under international law.[26] Residents of At-Tur, predominantly Arab Muslims with a small Christian minority, were offered Israeli citizenship but most opted for permanent residency status, granting them rights to reside, work, and access municipal services and national health insurance while maintaining Jordanian passports or applying for Palestinian documents.[27] Post-1967 Israeli administration facilitated significant infrastructure improvements, including expanded utilities, roads, and public services, contributing to robust population growth in At-Tur from approximately 4,300 residents in 1967 to 24,320 by 2013—a more than fourfold increase that outpaced growth under prior Jordanian rule.[27] The neighborhood hosts major medical facilities such as Al-Maqased Hospital and Augusta Victoria Hospital, serving East Jerusalem's Arab population, and its socioeconomic profile reflects typical East Jerusalem Arab areas with average monthly household incomes around NIS 1,783 in the early 2010s and educational attainment averaging 11 years.[27] Restoration efforts extended to the adjacent Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery, where Israeli authorities repaired damage from Jordanian-era vandalism that had destroyed or smashed about 38,000 tombstones, reopening it for burials and enabling Jewish access after two decades of prohibition.[24] Tensions have periodically arisen amid the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with At-Tur residents participating in protests and occasional violence during events like the First and Second Intifadas, including stone-throwing incidents targeting Jewish visitors to the cemetery or Christian pilgrims.[27] Israeli security measures, such as police presence and barriers along the ascent road, have been implemented to protect access to holy sites, reflecting ongoing disputes over the area's status despite de facto Israeli control providing services to residents and freedom of worship for Jews, Christians, and Muslims—contrasting with Jordanian restrictions on non-Muslims.[24] As of 2025, At-Tur remains integrated into Jerusalem's municipal framework, with its population continuing to expand due to natural growth and limited new housing approvals, though Palestinian sources criticize building permit restrictions as exacerbating overcrowding.[27]Demographics
Population Growth and Statistics
In 1945, during the British Mandate period, At-Tur had a population of 2,800 residents.[27] This figure rose to 4,300 by 1961, under Jordanian control.[27] Post-1967 Israeli administration of East Jerusalem facilitated accelerated expansion through family growth and limited in-migration, with the population multiplying by more than 4.5 times between 1967 and 2013.[21] [27] As of late 2015, the neighborhood's residential population reached 24,320, including sub-areas like Ash-Shayah and A-Sawaneh, positioning At-Tur among East Jerusalem's larger communities behind only Beit Hanina and Shuafat.[21] Independent estimates placed it at 26,460 in 2016, reflecting ongoing natural increase driven by high fertility rates typical of Arab-majority areas in the city.[28] This growth outpaced Jerusalem's overall annual rate of about 1.9% during the 2010s, attributable to demographic factors rather than significant net migration, as constrained by limited housing permits and land availability.[29]| Year | Population | Source Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | 2,800 | British Mandate statistics via Jerusalem Post reporting[27] |
| 1961 | 4,300 | Jordanian-era census data[27] |
| 2013 | ~20,000+ | Post-1967 growth factor applied to baseline[21] |
| 2015 | 24,320 | Jerusalem Institute residential estimate, including sub-neighborhoods[21] |
| 2016 | 26,460 | IPCC profile based on municipal data[28] |