The Dome of the Rock: Site sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike Located on the Temple Mount it stands on one of the most contested religious sites in the world. Despite common conceptions, the Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but a shrine which protects beneath its high ceiling, a sacred rock. The Dome is probably the most spectacular building in the Old City*, topped with a dazzling golden dome visible from afar, the interior layered with glittering ceramics, mosaics and Arabic calligraphy. (1) (*Old City of Jerusalem) The Dome of the Rock (Arabic: قبة الصخرة, translit.: Qubbat As-Sakhrah, Hebrew: כיפת הסלע, translit.: Kipat Hasela) was initially completed in 691 CE at the order of Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik during the Second Fitna and is one of the oldest works of Islamic architecture. The sites significance stems from religious traditions regarding the rock, known as the Foundation Stone**, at its heart, which bears great significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims.(2) The Dome of the Rock is situated in the center of the Temple Mount, the site of the Jewish Second Temple. The location is holy to Christians primarily because of the role the Temple played in the life of Jesus. The Temple was destroyed in 70 CE by the Romans, who built a temple to Jupiter on the site. (2) According to some Islamic scholars, the rock is the spot from which Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Further, Muhammad was taken here by Gabriel to pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Other Islamic scholars believe that the Prophet ascended to Heaven from the Al-Aqsa Mosque.(2) The Foundation Stone and its surroundings is the holiest site in Judaism. Though Muslims now pray towards the Kaaba at Mecca, they once faced the Temple Mount as the Jews do. Muhammad changed the direction of prayer for Muslims after a revelation from Allah. Jews traditionally regarded the location of the stone as the holiest spot on Earth, the site of the Holy of Holies during the Temple Period.(2) The most propitious site for Jewish prayer is the spot that is nearest the Foundation Stone. Because Muslim authorities refused to permit Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, the custom developed of praying near the Western Wall, since it was the site nearest to the Foundation Stone, or on the Mount of Olives facing the site of the Temple. Between 1948 and 1967, when Jordanian authorities refused permission to Jews to enter the Old City of Jerusalem, Jews made pilgrimages to rooftops on Mount Zion and prayed towards the site of the ancient Holy of Holies. According to Jewish tradition, the stone is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac; Muslims believe it was Ishmael, not Isaac, who was to be sacrificed. On the walls of the Dome of the Rock is an inscription in a mosaic frieze that includes the following words from Quran (19:33–35), which are considered blasphemy to Christianity: 33. So peace is upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! 34. Such is Jesus, son of Mary. It is a statement of truth, about which they doubt. 35. It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is.(2) According to Goitein, the inscriptions decorating the interior clearly display a spirit of polemic against Christianity, whilst stressing at the same time the Quranic doctrine that Jesus was a true prophet. The formula la sharika lahu (God has no companion) is repeated five times, the verses from Sura Maryam 19:35–37, which strongly reaffirm Jesus prophethood to God, are quoted together with the prayer: Allahumma salli ala rasulika waabdika Isa bin Maryam – O Lord, send your blessings to your Prophet and Servant Jesus son of Mary. He believes that this shows that rivalry with Christendom, together with the spirit of Muslim mission to the Christians, was at work at the time of construction.(2) **It is also known as the Pierced Stone because it has a small hole on the southeastern corner that enters a cavern beneath the rock, known as the Well of Souls. It is the holiest site in Judaism (Midrash Tanhuma, chapter 10); Jewish tradition views it as the spiritual junction of Heaven and Earth. Jews traditionally face it while praying, in the belief that it was the location of the Holy of Holies in the Temple.(3) (1)touropia/famous-domes/#sthash.SlcBrHTS.dpuf (2)en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock (3)en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_Stone (downloaded on 25.06.2014)
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:39:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015