The Dome of the Rock

Probably the most recognized sight in Israel, the golden dome of this Islamic shrine brightly reflects the hot, Middle Eastern sun. Begun in AD 688 and finished in AD 691, it is the first major sanctuary built by Islam. It was built by Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik to commemorate the place of Muhammad's ascension into heaven.

Although that may have been the most simple, obvious reason for the building's construction, al-Malik may have had more subtle reasons. "By erecting a beautiful building he intended to instill a sense of pride in Muslims over awed by the majestic churches of Christendom, tours of which were organized by the clever Byzantines for simple desert Arabs who tended to equate splendor and power"(The Holy Land, 86). Not only did it provide a tangible symbol of their religion, but it also claimed dominion over the Jewish and Christian religions by its location and decoration. By building on the site of the Temple and also the traditional place of Abraham's near sacrifice of Isaac, the Muslims claimed the site as their own holy place and established the permanency and strength of their religion. The decorations on the interior contain the same symbols used in Byzantine art on Christ, Mary, and the saints - like a victor possessing the symbols of power or value of a defeated nation. A more blatant attack on Christianity is found in the founding inscription which reads, "O you People of the Book, overstep not bounds in your religion, and of God speak only the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only an apostle of God, and his Word which he conveyed unto Mary, and Spirit proceeding from him. Believe therefore in God and his apostles, and say not Three. It will be better for you. God is only one God. Far be it from his glory that he should have a son." A clear statement against the Christian's foundational beliefs in the Sonship of Christ and in the Trinity.

There are eight stairways leading up to the platform on the Dome of the Rock. These stairways are crowned with arches or Qanatir. They are known in Arabic as mawazin, "scales." It is believed that on Judgment Day, God will hang the judgment scales on those arches to weigh human hearts against the truth.

The Dome of the Rock is surrounded by many smaller domes, the most beautiful one being the Dome of the Chain. It is named this because of the legend that Solomon hung a chain from the roof, and anyone who swore falsely while holding the chain was struck by lightening. More likely, it was not used to discern truth but to hold the Treasury of the Haram.

The view from the Dome of the Rock is as beautiful as the view of the Dome itself. This view is toward the Mt of Olives and the gold, onion-domed Russian Orthodox church.