Group+2.3+Al+Haram+al+Sharif+(Dome+of+the+Rock)

=Al Haram al Sharif (Dome of the Rock) =

Introduction
The Dome of Rock also known as //Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah// in Arabic and //Kipat Hasela// in Hebrew is a very important sacred landmark in the three major Abrahamic religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The site is located on Temple Mount in Old City of Jerusalem, a walled area within the modern Jerusalem.The building within it houses a massive piece of rock also known as the Foundation Stone, which according to Islamic tradition was the spot from where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ascended to Heaven and had his Night Journey. The site is significant to Jews and Christians because it is where Abraham was to sacrifice his son in the name of God; Jews also believe the site is the supposed location of the Second Temple of Solomon which was destroyed during Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. During Roman reign Jews revolted to rebuild the Temple which resulted in the ban of Jews from temple site by the Romans. Later in 7th century Muslims conquered Jerusalem; the current structure was erected by Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik in 691 CE, and remains as a fine example of early Arabic architecture, and witness to the violent history of the region throughout time.


 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/Close-Up.jpg width="295" height="233" caption="First Temple"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Second_Temple_view.jpg width="310" height="223" caption="Second Temple"]] || [[image:http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/398891928_1938015368_z.jpg?zz=1 width="214" height="237" caption="Dome of Rock, built on the remnant of the destroyed temples."]] ||

Timeline of Dome of Rock

 * 2000 BCE || Abraham-Journey three days to Mt.Moriah site of the Foundation Stone to sacrifice his son Issac. ||
 * 1000 BCE || David-He returns the Ark to Jerusalem; plans to build the First Temple but not permitted to build it. Erects an altar of sacrifice on Mt.Moriah ||
 * 950 BCE || Solomon- Builds the first temple ||
 * 910 BCE || Pharaoh Shishak- Loots the temple ||
 * 587 BCE || Nebuchadnezzar- Temple destroyed ||
 * 541 BCE || Jews Return and begin building the Second Temple ||
 * 40 BCE || Herod the Great-renovates the temple and renames it Herod’s Temple ||
 * 70 CE || Romans destroy the Temple ||
 * 685-705 CE || Abd al-Malek erects Dome of Rock ||

Alleged UFO sighting over Dome of Rock
On 27th of February, 2011 two witnesses at a lookout on Mount Zion filmed a glowing object hovering skyline of Jerusalem. The object slowly came down on top of the holy Islamic shrine the Dome of Rock, it flashed on the Dome and then shot back up to the sky and disappeared. Sightings like this have occurred before but they were declared as hoaxes; but this latest event was confirmed by four different perspectives. UFO enthusiasts believe this to be a real UFO sighting, while some claim this to be the Hebrew god Elohim. Nicholas Pope former employee of UK’s Ministry of Defense said “"If these are real, they are some of the most incredible videos ever shot. If they are not, then this is a very well-planned and coordinated hoax designed to eliminate elements of doubt.” He also said the speed at which the object flew back up to the sky implies that it is unmanned because the G-force created by the speed is unendurable by man. He suggested that it maybe work of the Israeli Army they possess high-tech drones which may be capable of moving at such speed.


 * [|Clips of the UFO sighting over Dome of Rock]**

Works Cited:

"Jerusalem." //http://www.history.com//. Ed. Bernard Wasserstein. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. .

"Dome of the Rock." //Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online//. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <[]>.

Landay, Jerry M. "THE DOME OF THE ROCK, ISRAEL." //Sacred Places//. Ed. Christopher C. Witcombe. N.p., 1972. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. .

Scham, Sandra. "Letter from Jerusalem: A Fight Over Sacred Turf ." //Archaeology//. Archaeological Institute of America, Nov. 2001. //Volume 54 Number 6//. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. .

Marshall, and Thomas A. //Jerusalem's Holy Places//. Washington D.C.: Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 1998. 76. Print.

"'UFO' Hovers Over Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock Shrine Read ." //Fox News//. N.p., 3 Feb. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. .

"JERUSALEM UFO 2011 - The 3 TRUE sightings ." //YouTube//. Web. 14 Mar 2011. .

"Foundation Stone." Web. 14 Mar 2011. .

"First Temple." Web. 14 Mar 2011. .

"Second Temple ." Web. 14 Mar 2011. .

"Dome of Rock." Web. 14 Mar 2011. .

Dolphin, Lambert. //Highlights in the History of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. .

By : Munaz Muntasir

The Dome Through the Ages
Being in Jerusalem, a site of both ancient and modern contentions, the Dome of the Rock has gone through a multitude of changes. In the 12th century the K night’s Templar used the mosque as a base of operations during their crusades. They even brought back the design and modeled their European churches on the mosque’s architecture.

In 1187 Saladin recaptured Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock, and reestablished it as a Muslim site. The Haram was reconsecrated as a Muslim sanctuary, the cross on the dome’s top replaced by the golden crescent of Islam, and a screen was placed around the Foundation Stone at the bottom. Saladin’s nephew al-Malik al-Mu'azzam Isa and later the Ottoman ruler Mahmud II would renovate it further, each respectively adding a porch to the adjacent al-Asqua mosque and the Dome of the Prophet.

Modern
In 1967, after winning the Six-Day War, Israel captured the Temple Mount and with al-Haram al-Sharif. Israeli Shlomo Goren entered the mosque with a Torah and soon after hoisted a Jewish flag over it, but later ceded control back to the Muslim //waaf// (religious trust) in order to "keep the peace." Currently, the Muslim religious trust still manages the area. Still, Jewish prayer books and other instruments are not permitted inside, but Jews are discourage d from entering the site due to the ambiguity of the borders of the Jewish Holy of Holies, an area forbidden to all except a rabbi on Yom-Kippur. As of 2006 non-Muslims could tour the area between the hours of 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. during summer and 7:30-10:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. during winter. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering after 2:30 p.m. and may not enter on Fridays, Saturdays, or Muslim holidays.

Today at the base of the mount sits a Jewish museum intended to give visitors the experience of being on the Mount during the time of Herod. The exhibits display the Israeli conception of the mount at the time of the Second Jewish Temple and does not include the Dome of the Rock or any of the other mosques that are part of the complex.


 * __Sources:__**

Peterson, Andrew (1994). //Dictionary of Islamic Architecture//. London: Routledge.

"Scham, Sandra. Letter from Jerusalem: A Fight Over Sacred Turf." //Archaeology Magazine//. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. 

C. E. Bosworth, //Raja' ibn Haywa al-Kindi and the Umayyad Caliphs//, Islamic Quarterly 16 1972: 43 and n. 5.

Pictures from "Dome of the Rock (BiblePlaces.com)." //BiblePlaces.com - Photos of Israel from the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands//. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. .

Grabar, Oleg. "//The Umayyad Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem//." Ars Orientalis, Vol. 3. 1959. MS. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. //JSTOR//. Web. 4 Mar. 2011. .

Andrew Najor

Religious Significance
 <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> Haram al-Sharif, or more commonly known as the Dome of the Rock, is very religiously significant to the three monotheistic religions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. For Muslims, the site of the Dome of the Rock is believed to be the place where Muhammad, Allah's last prophet and messenger, ascended into heaven. There is a passage in the Qur'an in Sura 17 that states, “Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, Whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He Is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things)” ("Surat"). According to the English translation of the hadiths and Caliph 'Umar who was a companion of Muhammad, the 'farthest Mosque' refers to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem; the Temple Mount is the location of the modern day Dome of the Rock ("The Night"). Thus, Muslims believe that Muhammad journeyed to the Temple Mount and there he ascended into heaven. According to Islamic tradition however, it is also believed that for this journey Muhammad was accompanied by the Archangel Gabriel and rode on a winged, horse-like creature (Porter). Once Muhammad and Gabriel reached the Temple Mount, they encountered the prophets of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus amongst others (Porter). After leading the prophets in prayer, Muhammad ascended into heaven and received instructions and the obligatory Islamic prayers from Allah for himself and his followers (Porter). This event is often compared to the Transfiguration in Christianity. Muhammad then journeyed back to Mecca with Gabriel (Porter). Because of Muhammad's immense involvement with the Temple Mount location, the Dome of the Rock has been name Haram al-Sharif, which is translated to “noble sanctuary.” The Dome of the Rock is considered to be the third holiest site in the Islamic faith after Mecca and Medina ("Islam, Israel").

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Dome of the Rock also holds much religious significance for Jews and Christians as well. It is even considered the most holy location by the Jews. For Jews, it is believed that this is the site where Abraham was tested by God and commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac (Kalimi). It is also believed to be the site where Jacob dreamed of angels ascending into heaven upon a ladder. More importantly to Jews though, this is the site where the Ark of the Covenant sat inside the Holy of Holies within the First Temple (Solomon's Temple). It is also thought to be the site of the Second Temple (rebuilt temple) as well. According to passages in the Old and the New Testament of the Bible, the Dome of the Rock is also the location where the Third Temple is to be built during the end-times ("Islam, Israel"). This rebuilding of the temple is referred to as the Abomination of Desolation. The Abomination of Desolation is very controversial because for it to occur, Haram al-Sharif must be destroyed and the Third Temple must be built in its place (Armstrong). This could lead to extreme tension <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">s between Islam and Israel. The belief that the First and Second Temples were built upon the Temple Mount has some significance in Christianity as well since Jesus often mentioned and used the temples. It is also where many important events in Jesus' life are assumed to have happened. Many Christians believe that the Temple will be reconstructed on the same location during the second coming of Christ ("Islam, Israel"). Even the belief that the rock is where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac is significant for Christians because Abraham and Isaac were part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Even though the Temple Mount is significant for Jews and Christians for many of the same reasons, Christians do not place as much importance on its location for worship as do Jews.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Works Cited

Armstrong, Karen. "The Holiness of Jerusalem: Asset or Burden?" Journal of Palestine Studies 27.3 (1998): 5-19. JSTOR. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. University of California Press. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2537831>.

"Islam, Israel, Jerusalem and Bible Prophecy." Islam and World Events. Truthnet. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. <http://www.truthnet.org/islam/Islam-Bible/10Islam-Israel-Jerusalem/IslamIsraelJerusalem.htm>.

Kalimi, Isaac. “The Land of Moriah, Mount Moriah, and the Site of Solomon's Temple in Biblical Historiography." The Harvard Theological Review: Vol. 83, No. 4 (Oct., 1990), pp. 345-362. Cambridge University Press. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/1510170>.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Porter, J. R. “Muhammad's Journey to Heaven.” Numen: Vol. 21, Fasc. 1 (Apr., 1974), pp. 64-80. BRILL. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3269714>. "The Night Journey of Sura 17." MuslimHope.com. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. <http://www.muslimhope.com/NightJourney.htm>.

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">"Surat Al-'Isra.” The Holy Quran. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. <http://quran.com/17>. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">Pictures from <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">[|http://commons.wikimedia.org] (public domain) By: Sarah Mazur

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">Location, Construction, and Dimensions:

The Dome of the Rock, erected by the Muslim ruler Abd el-Malikk, is located at the “center of a platform known as the Temple Mount” (Sacred Destinations). It is believed to be the oldest extant Islamic monument still in existence (Encycolpedia Brittanica). The site originally housed the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Almost 600 years later, The Dome of the Rock was erected in the place of the Temple. The two engineers who most credit is given for the construction is Yazid Ibn and Raja Ibn Haywah. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan’s vison for the building would be that it would go beyond typical shrine or place of worship, but also be practical and functional. He was quoted to have said that he hoped that the Dome of the Rock would “house the Muslims from cold and heat”. (Wikipedia).

**Location**:
The location of the Dome of the Rock is religiously significant to Muslim and Jews. “The sacred rock over which the Dome of the Rock is built was considered holy before the arrival of Islam” (Sacred Destinations). This is the location where it is believed, almost universally in the Jewish culture, that Abraham (one of the fathers of Judaism and furthermore Christianity) was preparing to sacrifice his son according to God’s will. It is also believed to be the spot where King Solomon’s Temple and Herod’s temple used to reside. (Sacred Destinations). The location was also a clever one chosen due to its situation on bedrock. Despite the “numerous earthquakes over the centuries”, the Dome of the Rock has had small damage to the integrity and build of the structure, unlike many surrounding structures that were lost in earthquakes (Bible Places).

One of the main purposes of the Dome of the Rock was to compete with many of the flourishing religious establishments around. Many Christian architects used the dome in their structures, which then became adopted into Islamic culture. In its major characteristics the Dome of the rock follows the architectural practices of the Christian empire (The Hope).

**Construction**:
The structure is basically octagonal because it has 8 sides. The building has a very large resemblance to many of the Christian styled buildings of the time (The Hope). This similarity of style, but effort to shine over the rival buildings shows the desire behind much of the architecture: to make a better building than other flourishing religions in the time. Most of the techniques of construction — the arches on piers and columns, the wooden domes, the grilled windows, the masonry of stone and brick” are all twinned styles of Christian buildings (The Hope).

The Dome of the Rock also was an inspiration to much Islamic art that would be developed after the construction of this building. There were two “decorative principles” (The Hope) that were introduced by the Dome of the Rock: the use of non-realistic applications of shapes and continuous variety. The non-realistic use of realistic shapes is very evident in the decorations on the interior of the Dome of the Rock, on mosaics for instance. A good example of what this looks like come from “The Hope” and it says “When they felt that a more brilliant decoration was needed, the artists did not hesitate, for instance, to transform the trunk of a tree into a jeweled box”. The artists fearlessly broke of out the mold that many used to confine themselves to result in the rich and deep decorations adorning the interior and exterior of the structure. The next piece of decoration technique is continuous variety. When viewing the designs used to create the murals in and outside of the Dome of the Rock, they seem to all resort to using a number of similar features, without using a pattern or defined repiition: the acanthus scroll, the garland, the vine scroll, the tree, and the rosette. Both of these forms of art are depicted through many pieces of Islamic art (The Hope).

**Exterior**
The actual done resembles the shape of Byzantium mertyriums: a place where the relics of a martyr are kept, as well as a location where a saint or martyr is buried (Dictionary) displaying outright how religiously important the structure itself is. The Dome embodies much spiritual importances. Interior The interior of the dome truly is spectacular with its myriad of decorated mosaics, marble, paintings, and designs. Many religious inscriptions can be found inside of the dome itself, commissioned by various artists to paint.

**Dimensions**:
“A.C. Cresswell in his book Origin of the plan of the Dome of the Rock notes that those who built the shrine used the measurements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The diameter of the dome of the shrine is 20.20m and its height 20.48m, while the diameter of the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is 20.90m and its height 21.05m” (ZenCart). Walls: made of porcelain and have the same octagonal design: 60 feet (18 m) wide and 36 feet (11 m) high
 * The dome is mounted on an elevated drum consisting of a circle of 16 piers and columns.
 * Surrounding this circle is an octagonal arcade of 24 piers and columns.


 * Works Cited**:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Bible Places//: "Dome of the Rock." Bible Places. Bible Places. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. <http://www.bibleplaces.com/domeofrock.htm>.
 * //Dictionary:// "martyrium." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 Mar. 2011. <Dictionary.com @http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/martyrium>.
 * //Encyclopedia Brittanica:// "Dome of the Rock." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <[]>.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Sacred Destinations//: Hayes, Holly. "Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem." Sacred Sites at Sacred Destinations. 13 Jan. 2010. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-dome-of-the-rock>.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//The Hope//: Ettinghausen, Richard. "Dome of the Rock." The Hope: To Realize the Vision of Jerusalem in Our Lifetime. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.thehope.org/domerock.htm>.
 * //ZenCart:// Dome of the Rock." Dome of the Rock. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.minisgroup.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=122>.
 * All images from <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> [|http://commons.wikimedia.org] (public domain)

By: Erin O'Donnell