Asalamu 3alykum
Dear brother Wakas
I'm sure you are trying to say something here, if you have a better position on this matter please share it. I would love to hear it, as I'm sure you know that I've taken this view from the articles brother Joseph has written, at least to what I understood from them so don't attribute any faults of mine to his articles. I find they seem to be consistent.
As far as your requests I will try to provide the evidence Insha'Allah, of course I am not conclusive on these kinds of topics as there is some differences of opinions and they all seem to have their merit.
I provided the verse number 2:144 to your 4th quote as evidence. When Allah(swt) tells prophet Muhammad(pbuh) " We shall turn you to a Qibla(direction) that comforts you/pleases you/is dear to you" Does that not give a hint of a place that he was always around.
From verse 8:34 there seems to be evidence that the polytheists have some authority in stopping believers from entering the Masjid Al-Haram. Seems like believers are trying to enter as the right was already given to pray in that direction in verse 2:144. God made it clear that they are not its guardians. This I suppose can be interpreted in different ways, but to stay consistent I would be inclined to interpret this as they are not the only ones who have the right to this place. This belongs to those who live in the area, and those who are righteous should be its guardians as the land should be in the hands of those who are believers and good.
The next verse 8:35 clearly states that the prayers that was being performed at the House(Masjid Al-Haram) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. This of course was not from those who were believers.
8:34 But why should Allah not punish them while they obstruct [people] from al-Masjid al- Haram and they were not [fit to be] its guardians? Its [true] guardians are not but the righteous, but most of them do not know.
8:35 And their prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping. So taste the punishment for what you disbelieved.I would take back what i said about being the place they inherited, as I would say this is unknown. I can only assume the only other opinion would be that Bekka and Mekka are the same localities and that it was built by prophet Abraham(pbuh). Which after reading the article below one would think otherwise.
regarding what you said
Your view contradicts 2:144 which explicitly states "indeed those who have been given the writ/decree know that it (al masjid al haram) is the truth from their Lord".
This is not necessarily a contradiction. If understood that those who believe from the people who were given the Scripture/writ really understood that this is also a place of direction that God has instituted for the new believers. That not only their Qibla is acceptable but also that of Masjid Al-Haram.
Don't most of the people who were given the scripture not accept Masjid Al-Haram to be a direction of prayer authorized by God?
I'm having a hard time answering or replying because I do not understand what your views are?
Did not a party of the believers seem to take another direction for their Qibla and were questioned for it according to verse 2:142? If so why would they take that direction? The next verses answer as to why God has allowed it, but verse 2:144 clearly authorizes a different directly to be the Qibla and it is that of which is pleasing to Prophet Muhammad(pbuh).
I do have to admit that Verse 2:149 and what you mentioned "Your view contradicts 2:144 which explicitly states
"indeed those who have been given the writ/decree know that it (al masjid al haram) is the truth from their Lord" does seem to be a valid point in that Masjid Al-Haram was always a place of worship by former people(if that is what your getting at).
However, it could possibly be a well known place to the People of the Book or a place that was dedicated to God at one point in time but still seems to be a different place to that of Bekka.
God knows best.
Please let me know your thoughts
Salam
PROPHET ABRAHAM'S (pbuh) ORIGINAL SANCTUARY - AT MAKKAH (MECCA) OR BAKKAH (BACA)?
http://quransmessage.com/articles/makkah%20bakkah%20FM3.htm