Dome of the Rock, Arabic Qubbat al-Sakhrah

Dome of the Rock, Arabic Qubbat al-Sakhrah, shrine in Jerusalem was built through the Umayyad caliph 'Abd al Malik Ibn Marwan in the middle of the 7th century CE. The oldest known Islamic landmark.

The structure is located on an elevated flat area which is known for Muslims in the name of al-Haram al-Sharif ("The Noble Sanctuary") and to Jews as the Temple Mount (the site where the Temple of Jerusalem was once located). According to Muslims the rock on that it is situated and on which the Dome is built is believed to be the location from which prophet Muhammad had been transported to heaven to have a meeting with God (an event referred to by the name of Mi'raj). Nearby, at the southern edge of the plaza is the Al-Aqsa Mosque; Muslims believe that the Prophet was transported miraculously to the site to Mecca at that night of the meeting ( see Isra). The phrase "Al-Aqsa Mosque" is commonly used to mean the entire plaza, and in turn, that of the Dome of the Rock itself.

Architecture

The Dome of the Rock's design and its ornamentation have roots to it's design as well as its structure. Byzantine architecture tradition However, it was built in the seventh century and marks an early phase in the creation of an distinct Islamic aesthetic. The structure, which is situated near the middle of a elevated platform, is comprised of an octagonal base , topped with a gilded wood central dome. Its dome measures about 65ft (20 meters) in diameter and set on an elevated drum is raised over a round comprising 16 columns and piers. Around this circle is an octagonal arc of 24 columns and piers. Under the dome, a part that is sacred to the rock has been exposed and secured by a fence. The stairwell leads to a cave underneath the surface of the rock. The walls that surround it form an octagon. Each side about 60 feet (18 meters) tall as well as at a height of 36 inches (11 meters) high. Both the dome and exterior walls are adorned with windows.

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Facts

The exterior and the interior of the structure are embellished the exterior and interior of the structure with marble mosaics, marble, and metal plaques. Even though mosaics are similar to those found in churches, mosaics are similar in style to the ones found within Byzantine and other public church buildings The Dome of the Rock's mosaics do not contain any representation of animals or human forms and instead feature Arabic written script and floral patterns that are interspersed with pictures of objects like crowns, jewels, and other jewels. Arabic religious inscriptions are scattered throughout the Octagonal arcade.

Construction and historical context

The building of the Dome of the Rock was an addition that came relatively late to Jerusalem's solemnity. It was a long-standing and profound significance for the religious community prior to the arrival to the Islam. Following the time that David conquered the city in the year 1000 BCE, and made the capital his the son of his Solomon succeeded him. Solomon constructed Solomon's Temple which became the most sacred center of the religious practices of the early Israelites. It was the Herodian reconstruction of the Temple fell to the Romans at the end of 70CE. it was replaced by a Roman capital city ( Aelia Capitolina) was built at Jerusalem's stead in 135.

After the transition towards Christianity under the Roman emperor Constantine I(the Great) The city was undergoing an era of renaissance. In the 7th century, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was constructed on the place that was believed by Christians as the place of Jesus Christ's death, burial as well as his resurrection. With the support of the Imperial Court the city prospered through seventh century. At the time Jerusalem was seized at the end of 638 under the 'Umar II II, the 2nd Muslim caliph Jerusalem was decorated with magnificent churches, monasteries and hospices.

In the years following Jerusalem's capture In the years following its capture, the newly formed Islamic empire faced conflict and instability and instability, particularly due to the ascendance of Umayyad ruling dynasties. Regaining victory from defeat in the first fitnah that saw revolt in Mecca and the resistance of non-Muslims against Muslim ruling, as well as a rekindled tensions between The Byzantine (Eastern roman) Empire The five-year Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik began to consolidate and consolidate his power across the entire empire. The huge building of the Dome of the Rock, which was prominently positioned among the church buildings of the city, was among his greatest achievements. The inscription on the Dome of the Rock establishes the date of the construction as AH 72, according to the Islamic calendar (691-692 CE), usually interpreted to mean when the structure was finished.

The structural elements in the Dome of the Rock have been preserved to the present however, it has been subject to variations in decoration many times. The various Islamic kingdoms which controlled Jerusalem and included those of the Abbasids and the Fatimids as well as the Ayyubids each requested renovations to the structure, and also included their own inscriptions, ornaments and inscriptions. In time of the Crusader rule in Jerusalem the rock was enclosed by an iron-wrought screen to keep Christian pilgrims from removing holy relics from the rock. The Ayyubids took over the screen and replaced this screen with the wood one that is still encircling the rock now. A significant restoration, commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman II (the Magnificent) in the 16th century, substituted the mosaics on the exterior with colored ceramic tiles. Later in the century of 20th, the damaged ornaments both on the exterior and inside were fixed or replaced at the initiative of the Hashemite royals as well as The Dome received a brand new gold cover.

Relevance and purpose

The Dome of the Rock's main significance today is in its connection to Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven, its inscriptions do not have any reference to the incident. The oldest Islamic reports of al-Haram al Sharif which were written around the time of the 9th century provide some connection to and the complex and Mi'raj, but the connection of the incident in connection with that of the Dome of the Rock did not begin to become prominent a topic until the 11th century.

The purpose or significance behind the Dome of the Rock are unclear, in part due to the lack of commentary from contemporary sources regarding its design and construction. The design of the building differs from an mosque as well as the the ambulatory design isn't suitable to Muslim worship services in congregations. Also, it does not be easily incorporated into other types of Islamic religiose structures.

Certain elements that are part of certain aspects of the Dome of the Rock suggest the idea of placing Islam as the rightful inheritor of this Abrahamic tradition. Its structure is a reference to a group of Byzantine sacred structures called martyria--typically polygonal or circular shrines that were built to commemorate the burials of saints and to celebrate significant events with significance for the religious. A significant influence could be that of the Kathisma of the Mother of God located nearby, an Octagonal martyrium that was located in. The Dome of Rock's impressive dimensions and lavish decorations could be a deliberate attempt to compete with the splendor in the Christian holy sites of Jerusalem particularly its Domed Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The church's Arabic inscriptions that include an assortment of Qur'anic passages and their paraphrases, stress God's unity God (tawhid) in addition to disavow the Christian doctrine that posit Trinity. Trinity as well as the deity of Jesus.

Following the rise of the Abbasid dynasty in the 8th century, some historians started to speculate that 'Abd al Malik constructed the Dome of the Rock as an alternative to the Kaaba as a way to move the site for the Muslim hajj away from Mecca and, at the time, under the direction of rebels that were led by Ibn al-Zubayr, to Jerusalem. Contemporary scholars have challenged this theory due to that the strong Umayyad-bias in Abbasid historiography and evidence to suggest that Mecca remains the main destination for the hajj even during Ibn al-Zubayr's revolt.

Other scholars have proposed the possibility of an spiritual motivation for the construction of the Dome of the Rock, the argument being that its location as well as its architecture and decorative designs are reminiscent of images that are associated in Islamic and Byzantine belief systems about Judgment Day and the possibility of heaven.

The site has also held an important religious significance outside of Islam also. The site is situated in the Temple Mount, where the Temple of Jerusalem was once located The site is of special significance in the context of Jews. This is the Foundation Stone, on which Jews believe that the world was made, is believed to be situated within the compound . It is typically associated by the rock under the dome. The Middle Ages, Christians and Jews recognized as the Dome of the Rock with the Temple of Solomon (Templum Domini); its symbol was used in artwork as well as ceremony objects to symbolize the Temple. There was a Temple in the form of the Knights Templar are located there after the capture of Jerusalem by the crusader force in the year 1099. After that, Templar churches throughout Europe copied its style. In 1099, the Dome of the Rock was used as a church by Crusaders up to the time that Muslim Ayyubids, which was led by Saladin took over Jerusalem in 1187.