By: Habiba Mohamed

     The older Islamic "Dome of the Rock" mosque is considered one of the most important mosques in the Islamic world, and it is the oldest surviving Islamic structure which is distinguished by its unique architectural design, wonderful decoration and prominent location. As it is located in Palestine, in the southeastern part of the city of Jerusalem, in the center of the place where the mosque was built far. The "Dome of the Rock" is characterized by its golden dome and beautiful decorations.

  The "Dome of the Rock" was built in the year 72 Hijra in the era of the Umayyad caliph Abdul Malik ibn Marwan and under the supervision of the engineers Raja ibn Haywa Al-Kindi and Yazid ibn Salam, to attract Muslims to Jerusalem, for the transfer of the capital from Medina to Damascus and the residence of the Umayyads in the Levant, and the mosque is located in the middle of a large rock plateau called Haram al-Sharif and is located along its axis of the tribal mosque.

 The "Dome of the Rock" is a building with eight ribs and four doors, and inside it is another valuation based on supports and cylindrical columns. And in the southwestern section of it, there is a large marble rock called "the honorable rock", occupying a great place in the hearts of Muslims, because the Prophet Muhammad  had limped through it to heaven, and some call it the foot of Muhammad, and this means that it was honored by the Prophet`s standing on it, which makes it the most valuable Islamic site. and The height of this rock is approximately 1.5 meters, with irregular shape. Its diameter ranges between 13 and 18 meters, and there is at the top of the rock in the middle a circular dome with diameter of about 20 meters and a height of 35 gold plated and above it a crescent about 5 meters high.

The mosque was named by this name because it is located on a large rock important for the three religions, Islamic, Christian and Judaism, as Muslims believe that the Prophet  limped in the sky from this rock in Isra and Mi`raj. 

Visitors who visited the Dome of the Rock Mosque expressed their great admiration for the mosque`s aesthetics and ancient cultural heritage. They praised the preservation of this historical edifice and its role in preserving the Islamic identity, and visitors consider the mosque an important tourist destination that adds a historical spirit to their visit.

 And from the controversial thing that people have, their confusion between the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock Mosque, the Al-Aqsa Mosque has a dark dome, while the Rock Mosque has a golden dome, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the largest mosque in the world and the most important for Muslims, and it is the first of the two qiblas and the third of the Two Holy Mosques. And on the other hand the Dome of the Rock Mosque is part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is about 144,000 meters, and it includes the Dome of the Rock, the Tribal Mosque, the Marwani Chapel and some The other monuments number about 200 landmarks.

 And despite its greatness, The "Dome of the Rock" was subjected to a lot of damages, due to a strong earthquake in 407 AH and was rebuilt in 413 AH in the era of the Fatimid Caliph "Al-Zahir Billah" and then again exposed to a stronger earthquake in 460 AH in the era of the Caliph "Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah" that caused the mosque to be completely destroyed , and then it was rebuilt in 467 AH.

Saladin also restored the Dome of the Rock after it was liberated from occupation and renewed its internal walls and covered its dome with gold.

Finally, the Dome of the Rock is a unique Islamic edifice, combining religious, historical and artistic significance. It is a symbol of Islam in the world, and embodies the place of the city of Jerusalem in the heart of the Muslim world.